Cleaning and Lubricating your motorcycle chain can protect and increase its life, thus giving you a smooth ride for thousands of kilometers or miles. This is a simple Do-It-Yourself method with regular tools and over the shelf materials and is a must for any motorcycle rider out there. Follow the below mentioned steps for a quick and effective method to clean and lube your motorcycle chain.
Cleaning your motorcycle Chain
Put your bike on a center stand or on rollers, if it doesn’t have one.
Remove the Chain covers or guards. A simple long handle screw driver with the correct head tip does the job. Inspect if the chain has heavy wear and tear or the sprockets are worn out (The teeth would have become sharper or bent). If so, stop here and get the Sprocket and chain replaced.
If they are still in good shape, get the Chain cleaned with a grease solvent spray. A simple WD40 spray often does the job. Once sprayed upon, wait for 10-15 minutes to let the cleaner do it’s job. Then wipe the chain clean with a rag cloth. If there are any old grease or dirt lodged near the sprockets, this would be a good time to clean it.
Let the Chain dry off completely after cleaning it.
Lubricating your motorcycle chain
Use a motorcycle specific Chain lubricant spray for greasing the chains. Aim for the inside loop of the chain and at the links and O-ring. Use One hand on the spray bottle and the other to move the wheel. Be careful not to overspray.
Once done, mount the covers back on and let the lubricant settle over night. Next day, Take your bike for a ride at low speeds for few kilometers or miles for the lube to grease further. That’s it. Enjoy your smooth ride! Ride Safe!
Check out this post to tune your motorcycle engine for optimum performance and fuel efficiency. Leave a comment below if you have any questions. Thanks!
