So my task for tomorrow is to get my chain waxed. I have not really seen much about cleaning it, my dad thinks I don't need to worry (apparently for years he rode his Kawasaki without even knowing the chain needed attention , granted when the department serviced it I am sure they waxed it... but he never did). Some seem to highly recommend cleaning, others do not. Is a basic spray with WD-40 and scrub with an old toothbrush the ticket or...

I use a bit of kerosene and a toothbrush. Make sure you have plenty of old newspaper on hand as it gets a bit messy.

Yeah a bit of kero, a grunge brush (don't really need it but makes life a lot easier) and a toothbrush for hard to reach places.

I do it every second time I wash the bike (around 1000km each time I clean the chain).

Grunge brush

On my GS, I relied solely on WD40 for the 1st chain (23,000 out of it). Kept it cleaned and only mildly lubed so needed redoing after every tank refill (just to give me an idea of distance done between lubes).

For cleaning, do as the manual suggests, use Kero.

For lubing, I have been trying Lanolin. And while it lubes beautifully, it is somewhat sticky and the crud that would stick to the chain was driving me nuts. I've since switched to Belray Super Clean chain lube. And this stuff is the Bomb. Four times the price of WD40. But the chain stays clean and runs smoother. So far this chain has around 16,000 on it and doesn't show any signs of having tight spots and sounds Much quieter running over the sprockets as I lube it, than when I was using WD40.

In short: Clean with Kero.

Michael

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=35352.0

For the first chain I used Bel-Ray o-ring chain lube. Nasty, sticky stuff that would sling off and make a mess of the wheel and tire.  Now I'm using the Dupont stuff from the thread above. Cheaper, cleaner, and much more life on the chain.

Not to derail the thread but how do i know when my chain is in need of replacement? My sprockets are still fine but i dont know about the chain. 13,xxx miles right now...

Clean it with either kerosene or diesel applied with a brush, I use diesel because it's cheaper.
If you are in US, use Dupont Multi-use lube, I've seen so many people recomending it that I just paid $20 to ship two cans(that are worth $10), but it still on its way to me.

Quote from: Twism86 on March 29, 2011, 09:39:28 AM
Not to derail the thread but how do i know when my chain is in need of replacement? My sprockets are still fine but i dont know about the chain. 13,xxx miles right now...

You'll get tight spots. Leave it and eventually you'll start hearing noise as the chain tries to bend around the front cog - like a sort of grinding noise.

Michael

Quote from: Yuri. on March 29, 2011, 10:33:46 AM
Clean it with either kerosene or diesel applied with a brush, I use diesel because it's cheaper.
If you are in US, use Dupont Multi-use lube, I've seen so many people recomending it that I just paid $20 to ship two cans(that are worth $10), but it still on its way to me.

I just picked up two cans @ Lowes. $5.08 a can. Hopefully, it's as good as all the raving reviews. 

I've been doing the cleaning with Kero, but using White Lithium in a spray can for a lube every 1000 miles or so. I've seen no mention of anyone here using that. Is it generally not a good idea, or just that no one else does?

I've used it before, purely because I had a can laying about and I'd run out of my normal lube - I found it flung rather easily...

You can use a pickle. I've heard good things about this method. The only complaint was from someone who said it made his chain smell like pickles. Not sure why anyone would be sniffing their chain, but to each his own. 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/chain-pickle/

It definitely didn't help they posted this on April 1th. I'm not buying it, in both senses.

LOL, just looked at the spiffy spokes too!

Quote from: Yuri. on April 03, 2011, 12:11:11 AM
It definitely didn't help they posted this on April 1th. I'm not buying it, in both senses.

Oh now I feel silly.

Quote from: chilloutdamnit on April 03, 2011, 01:38:01 AM

Quote from: Yuri. on April 03, 2011, 12:11:11 AM
It definitely didn't help they posted this on April 1th. I'm not buying it, in both senses.

Oh now I feel silly.

Don't worry. There is always someone sillier. There will be guys out there actually trying this.

None of you guys use chain cleaner?

Quote from: Sahana on April 03, 2011, 04:40:44 PM
None of you guys use chain cleaner?

Kero is chain cleaner

Seeing as Suzuki recommends it in the owners manual, I'll use it. 

Michael

Quote from: mister on April 04, 2011, 01:06:35 AM

Quote from: Sahana on April 03, 2011, 04:40:44 PM
None of you guys use chain cleaner?

Kero is chain cleaner

Seeing as Suzuki recommends it in the owners manual, I'll use it. 

Michael

Some chain cleaners might work a little better(meaning faster cleaning) than kerosene or diesel, but I don't think it's worth the extra cost and trouble to look for a good one.

See, where I grew up in North Carolina every gas station sold kerosene as well; we used kerosene heaters. Here in Florida, though, I haven't seen a single place that sells it. My boyfriend's been riding for almost 20 years and he uses chain cleaner; he said kerosene works great on the chain but isn't so good for anywhere else on the bike you might end up with some. I've only had to clean & lube my chain once (I've only owned my pretty lady for 5 weeks) and the chain cleaner did seem to work pretty well in combo with a chain brush, but it's time for me to do so again so... Also, how much kerosene does it usually take (I need to know how big the container I'd have to buy should be)? Anybody use a spray bottle?