Chain lube query

[sam206]

Hello all,

So I have reviewed most of the chain lubrication related threads and I have an unresolved question for all you experts. The original chain and sprocket on my '81 GS 750EX look great: no rust, no dry or damaged o-rings and 24,000mi. on it. Following the maintenance guidelines in the shop manual, I clean with kerosene and lube up with motor oil. Its messy, gets everywhere, and doesn't seem to cling to the chain, so I find myself greasing about once a week. I see that many of you out there recommend Maxima chain wax, and an assortment of other commercial chain lubes/waxes. Will these potentially damage the o-rings like the manual states? I forgot to ask the original owner what he used when I purchased the bike from him. Is the manual simply a little dated, with modern chain waxes being suitable for o-ring chains? Can anyone help clear this up for me? Thanks!
-Sam Hushagen

[chuck hahn]

well heres a tech tip probably noone had mentioned. if you use the spary chain lube from a dealership like i do..you want to put it on at the end of a days ride and let it soak in and dry off. The catalist they use so it will spary has to evaporate real good or otherwise it will just be real runny and slop all over .. Always lube it at the end of the day and it wont sling all over the place on you.. grease..like from a grease gun for a car... not a chance in hell of that staying and doing any good. take the chain off and wash it out with some kerosene or dieasel fuel, spary all the fuel out with a compressor and relube properly is my advise..

[oldgrumpy]

chain lube.. spray can

gentleman,, after having my gs1000e for about 9 yrs a couple of months ago i decided to clean everthing that wasn,t nailed to the wall and i had thick gunk on the o ring chain anyway i purchased a can of syn.. chain lube from my local petrol take away for abot $15bucks which i didn,t think they would have anyway ,its brilliant i put some newspaper up to block anything going on the rear wheel ,,then as an overkill last week,, i redid it again,, oh yes ,i also did my other baby as well apparently they sell alot of the synthethic lube to the trail bike guys around my country hick town hope this helps regards david

[Guest]

. I see that many of you out there recommend Maxima chain wax, and an assortment of other commercial chain lubes/waxes. Will these potentially damage the o-rings like the manual states? I forgot to ask the original owner what he used when I purchased the bike from him. Is the manual simply a little dated, with modern chain waxes being suitable for o-ring chains? Can anyone help clear this up for me? Thanks!
-Sam Hushagen

Maxima, and lately DuPont's Teflon Wax Lube, are both well reviewed and highly recommended by riders. I will be trying the DuPont product after finishing my can of Maxima....supposedly 1/2 the price, and (used to be?) available at Lowes. To answer your query, both are o-ring safe and can be used with modern chains...the Maxima sets to a tacky goop within about 10 mins of spraying, and then will not fling off much.... absorption & penetration are also better with a warm chain, so use after returning from a ride, for best results. The DuPont product supposedly leaves no residue, so has an edge in terms of appearance.
Tony.

[Turtleface]

I have been using the DuPont Teflon lube. Great stuff! Dries fast and help keeps the chain clean to boot.

I use it as well, good stuff as far as I can tell. Still available at Lowes. Clutch and throttle cables seem to like it as well. Clutch feels far better than with just plain motor oil.

[Clone]

Maxima chain wax is the stuff, but come on, 24000mi on the original chain, throw a new one on just for the peace of mind.

[gearhead13]

Maxima chain wax is the stuff, but come on, 24000mi on the original chain, throw a new one on just for the peace of mind.

IDK, I would be disapointed if I didnt get that many miles on the $200 I spent on my new x-ring chain and sprockets.