You all probably know this trick but my brother showed it me year or so ago and I thought I'd share it. I hate cleaning, adjusting and lubricating the chain its messy and time consuming and I rather be riding or getting on with life than that level of maintenance. Its also my experience that I tend to over lubricate the chain and end up with lube flung over the back wheel, the back of the bike and sometimes the back of me! One of the reasons is that when the lube I use is sprayed on the chain it comes out thin and clear so its hard to see where it is and whether I have applied it to the complete length of the chain, so I tend to run the chain round several times to be sure I've covered the chain and so I end up putting too much on. But ... if you twist a bag-tie around one of the inner links on the chain you now have a landmark to work to; see below. They're thin enough not to jam in the final drive, so start applying the lube while rotating the wheel (by hand not the engine for obvious reasons!) and when the tie arrives where it started you know when you've covered the full length of the chain. Remember to remove the tie when you've finished for obvious reasons! Thanks Bro, really helpful tip. Now how do I apply just enough lube? I saw a really helpful video on chain lubricating by FortNine and he made the obvious point that you really only want the lube on the inside of the chain run (i.e. the topside of the bottom chain run and the underside of the upper chain run because that's the side of the chain that comes into contact with the sprocket. How do I do that accurately with as little lube as possible? I found this neat little tool. It's made in America and I couldn't find a UK importer, so shipping charges made this rather pricey (I can't remember how much). But, combined with the tie trick above, it does mean that you can accurately get just enough lube on the inside of the chain surfaces (where it will do the most good) and with the least amount of fling to clean up after a ride. Hope this is of some help to some. Enjoy the ride.
What I've done on my chain(s) is clean and degrease the link plate and paint it white with either tippex or tyre paint which lasts longer. I have chain oilers on the road bikes but the dirt bike gets off road spray lube from a can.
I bought a GreaseNinja in 2019 which cost $22.70. It's really good, it directs the lube through two internal ports onto the chain and it's still going strong. I've just ordered another one actually through their ebay shop, (son's birthday present) which was £31.44 from the States. Still worth it I reckon as it works and it lasts. I use nail varnish now to mark a link on the chain as it doesn't rub off like tippex etc.
Most modern machines have chains with the soft link a different colour, this is for quick identification come chain and sprocket renewal, so it is easy come chain cleaning and lube nothing else is needed, also with modern chain lubes you can easily see where you start (if no colour soft link is present). I am not sure why it needs to be more complicated than it needs be.
I don't think I am making things complicated, just the opposite. The 2018 Street Cup chain didn't come with a different colour soft link, neither did the 2018 Tiger XCa that my brother owns. As for the lube; Muc Off All Weather (which I use) applies clear, thin and watery: It only thickens and adopts a pink shade a few minutes after application. So with my ancient eyesight, I can't tell when I'm overapplying lube without the simple method I shared. Just offering the benefit of my limited experience.
The MucOff stuff contains an ultra violet reflective dye and shows up bright purple with a UV torch which is useful. As an aside, I use spray chain lube instead of wax for rustproofing underneath the car. It doesn't dry out and crack, sticks like STAB and is cheap.
I used to use that messy spray on lube....want to stick to everything and every thing wants to stick to it....and usualy had over spray where you did not want it. An old timer gave me a tip which is my goto method now. Use EP90 gear oil...bit thinker than engine oil so wont run off to quick. And to apply.....poor a small amount into a saucer and use an old tooth brush dipping into your oil....only need to wet the chain on all 4 faces.....just wet not dripping. Any that is flung off...there is aways a bit.....only lands on the wheel rim is easy wiped off. Like you I thred a short section of thin wire through the link were you start. A 5min job at most.
@Sheila plenty of tips in this thread. I also use Kerosene to clean the chain every 3 months and then regrease using Motul spray. I have seen a video of a spray end being applied to the tube to direct the spray to the chain
Click on the following link for a comprehensive review of chain cleaning and lubrication. https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesoci...ance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-chain-lube
Appreciate the link! Until I got the Bonny a few weeks ago I haven't had a bike with a chain in decades. Got a lot to learn it appears.
We buy 25 litre drums of chain oil. I think they’re about £80-85. Which is definitely cheaper than chain lube.
