Author: hybrid
Last updated: 04-04-07

This is probably one of the most often asked questions I get via PM. There seems to be a controversy on how a chain should be maintained but Im going to show you how I do it. This is very easy maintenance, and should be done approximately every 500 miles.

Take your time and do this well, and your chain and sprockets will last you a long time.

Step 1: Clean the chain
For sake of ambiguity I decided to just use chemicals that are easily found at any auto parts store and my personal favorite MOTUL off road chain lube.

Spray the entire chain and rear sprocket with a healthy amount of lubricating oil.

Figure 1: Penetrating lubricant to clean chain

Figure 2: Spray a liberal amount of lube on the chain

Step 2: Safety note and wipe chain

Now I want everyone who reads this tutorial to have their fingers later on in life. For everyones safety... please use common sense. NEVER GRAB YOUR CHAIN WITH YOURE ENGINE RUNNING IN OR OUT OF GEAR. There is absolutely no reason to start your bike and use the engine to turn the wheel for you. It's dangerous and there are many stories of people losing fingers.

Keep the motorcycle on the rear stand, in NEUTRAL, and grasp the chain with a towel in hand on the BOTTOM RUN (underneath the swingarm) and turn the wheel CLOCKWISE (assuming your chain run is on the left side of the motorcycle) BY HAND. Pull the chain thru your towel and keep spinning it.

This may take several applications of penetrating lube and several towels before its clean enough for the next step. A clean chain is a happy chain.

Figure 3: Grasp chain and rub dirt and lubricating oil off

Step 3: Lithium - Not just a medication for Vietnam Vets!

I love "sprayable white lithium" - this is the secret to my chain setup. It's an absolute powerhouse when it comes to lubrication. It is my absolute must do step to chain maintenance. You can omit this step, but I think you'll be sorely dissapointed with the long term results of not using it.

In the first step, I only sprayed from the inner side of the chain on the penetrating lube. I did this because Im trying to flush out the dirt and debris from the inside - out.

With the white lithium I start in the same place, spray from the inside outwards. Refer to Figure 5.

After finishing the entire chain from the inside, go to the outside of the sprocket and spray the outer edge.

I'm not so much trying to spray the link plate faces but to get lubrication around the o-ring and between the links and rollers. I want to protect the o-ring, as it is sealing in the factory grease in-between the roll pins and the rollers.

This is paramount for longevity. A link missing o-rings may as well be a dead link.

I let the white lithium sit for approximately 15 minutes to set up and become tacky before wiping off the majority of it. YES I SAID MAJORITY OF IT. Like I stated before I want the innards to be lubed not decorated.

This is a messy job and if you do it right youll be cleaning up after yourself to finish the job.

Figure 4: White Lithium Grease

Figure 5: Spray from the inside toward the outside

Figure 6: Spray the outer edge of the sprocket

Figure 7: This is a messy job

Step 4: Another note on safety, wipe off lithium

In case I wasnt clear the last time, let me reiterate:

NEVER EVER START YOUR ENGINE OR USE IT TO HELP WIPE YOUR CHAIN DOWN

Hopefully some of you monkeys understand what I'm saying, and take this as the gospel for keeping your fingers on your hand.

Grasp the chain with a towel in your hand, and gently squeeze it while turning the back wheel clockwise. Pull the chain thru the rag for 2 complete cycles. This will have removed most of the excess lube, but left a good majority of it on the needed parts.

Again - GENTLY SQUEEZE THE CHAIN FOR THIS WIPE DOWN.

Figure 8: Grasp chain and turn the wheel.

Step 5: Apply chain lube

My reason for using the MOTUL™ "OFF-ROAD" formula is simple - it's bright and ugly.

It's the perfect candidate for showing you when you need to touch up a chain lube. The hideous "Hi-lighter" green look to it is there for dirt bikers to see that the chain is still lubed. If it's good enough for a dirtbike, it's good enough for any streetbike.

"Does it fling?" Yes it can, if youre in a big hurry to ride after a good maintenance.

"Cant I just use CHAIN WAX?" I hate chain wax because it actually traps the dirt and sand in it and acts like a tiny chainsaw on your chain.

Apply the MOTUL™ chain lube very liberally. I like to see it completely saturated and I also do the same pattern as I did with the white lithium. First on the inner side and then on the outer side.

Figure 9: Motul Off-Road Chain Lube

Figure 10: Spray from the inside outward

Figure 11: Spray the outside edge of the sprocket

Figure 12: Green chains - not just for Kawasaki fanboys!

Step 6: Wipe off excess

After letting the MOTUL™ set up for about 15 minutes I again grab a clean towel and clean the excess of the chain.

I know some of you arent listening so Im gonna say it one more time:

NEVER USE THE ENGINE TO TURN YOUR REAR WHEEL AND HELP YOU CLEAN THE CHAIN! YOU HAVE 8 FINGERS AND 2 THUMBS. LET'S KEEP IT LIKE THAT!

You know, having an opposable thumb is one of the really cool things about being part of the ape/primate species. I love mine.

Gently grasp the chain with the new towel and slowly turn the rear wheel CLOCKWISE (again kids, this is for left side drive bikes) and rotate 2 TIMES.

The chain should have quite a bit of "ectoplasm" left on it, as a really sweet indicator of chain lube conditon.

Figure 13: Wipe the excess chain lube off

You're done cleaning and lubing your chain.

Yup, its true - clean a chain so that the links arent binding. and you now probably have what I had:

WAY TOO MUCH SLACK.

You will probably need to adjust your chain tension now.