There are a lot of options when it comes to motorcycle maintenance products. How do you know which motorcycle chain cleaner or lubricant is the best option for you? Is cheaper always better or are there some areas where it’s worth the splurge. I’ve covered some of the research so you don’t have to.
WD-40 is one of the most common products on garage shelves and it’s affordable and easy to find. While there are WD-40 products designed for motorcycle chains, the multi-purpose WD-40 should not be used as a motorcycle chain lube.
If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to cleaning and lubing your chain or other important aspects of chain maintenance, this guide should be a helpful jumping point. From WD-40 to Kerosene, we’ll go over some of the dos and don’ts of motorcycle chain products.
Does DW-40 work as a motorcycle chain lubricant and cleaner?
I will start by saying that WD-40 makes specific Motorcycle Chain Lubrication and Motorcycle Chain Wax. These products are fine to choose on your chain, since this is the purpose they were designed for. Instead, in this section I’ll be talking about general, multi-function DW-40.
First, we’ll start with a bit of basics. What is WD-40? The “WD” stands for “water displacement.” It’s a product designed to prevent rust by displacing water. It is not a lubricant.
WD-40 can be used for a lot of things. Many motorcycle riders like to use it in the cleaning stage. It is okay to use WD-40 as a cleaner to wipe away grime and dry your chain, if you have an all-metal chain.
There’s some debate on whether or not to use WD-40 as a chain cleaner if you have a sealed O-ring or X-ring chain. The WD-40 may penetrate the seals, wearing them out faster and causing the lubrication in the seals to dry out. Because there are so many products specifically for cleaning motorcycle chains, I would opt for one of those options if you have an O-ring or X-ring chain.
Now, here’s the important part. WD-40 might be okay for cleaning a motorcycle chain, but it is not a motorcycle chain lubricant. WD-40 prevents rust but it doesn’t protect your chain from the weather, dust, or the friction of riding.
Even if you clean your chain using this product, you should then wash it with soap and water or let the DW-40 fully evaporate before applying water.
You should use a lubricant after cleaning your chain. In the following sections, I’ll talk more about why and how to lubricate, as well as giving you some products that are safe to use as a lubricant, unlike WD-40.
Why is it important to use chain lubricant?
So what’s so important about using a proper motorcycle lubricant? Motorcycle chains are a backbone of a motorcycle. Simply put, you need a chain in order to ride. However, they also put up with a lot of wear and tear.
Therefore, it’s important to focus on some chain maintenance every 300-600 miles. This is just an estimate; the exact number will depend a lot on the conditions of your ride, the length of your rides, and the environment in which you store your bike between rides.
Proper chain lubrication softens the effects of friction and keeps your chains in good condition for longer. It helps prevent uneven or excessive wear to both the chains and the sprockets. In addition, a good lube should be resistant to water and dust to keep your chains cleaner for longer, another thing that will increase their lifespan.
Ignoring lube is a good way to shorten the longevity of your chain and your bike. You’ll find yourself fighting accumulated gunk on the chains, dealing with unevenly worn sprockets, or trying to reverse the effects of rust if you opt out of lubricating your chain.
How do you clean and lubricate your motorcycle chain?
What’s the best way to clean and lubricate a motorcycle chain? The process is actually quite simple. Many motorcycle riders admit to not paying enough attention to their chain and letting it go untouched for far too long. Really, there’s no reason not to take the time to clean and lube your chain regularly.
After any ride, it’s good practice to wipe down your motorcycle, including the chain, with a cloth. After a particularly wet or dirty ride you should take some extra time, using water and soap to wipe down the bike and drying with a clean cloth.
After you’ve driven about 300 miles, it’s time to clean the chain. There are several great motorcycle chain cleaner products out there. While WD-40 won’t damage a metal chain, the multi-purpose product won’t be as effective as a designated chain cleaner.
WD-40 might damage your chain if you have a sealed chain with O-rings or X-rings, since it will penetrate through the seal. Instead, use the WD-40 chain cleaner or another motorcycle chain cleaner.
Kerosene is a common choice for cleaner; we’ll get into whether or not it’s a good idea to clean your chain with kerosene in the next section.
Once you’ve selected your cleaner and wiped down the chain, removing any grease, dust, and other grime, you can wash the chain again with water and a mild soap. This will help remove any last residue from grease or from the cleaner itself.
Dry the chain before you apply lube. You can dry it yourself with a dry cloth or let it sit for a while to air dry before you come back to it. Letting the chain dry will ensure the lube clings to the chain properly and will prevent lube sling when you ride.
Liberally apply lubricant to your chain, spinning the tire gently as you spray. The exact application will depend on which lubricant you’ve purchased. Many great spray on lubricants offer easy application, though some riders prefer paste lube or wax lube.
After you’ve applied the lubrication, it’s important to let it sit to seep into the smaller parts of the chain and to dry. You should wait at least ten minutes, but ideally a couple of hours before riding in order to minimize your chance of fling and to prevent getting covered in lube yourself when you ride.
Is it okay to clean a motorcycle chain with kerosene?
Motorcycle forums have many posts asking about using WD-40 as lube and kerosene as cleaner. We’ve already discussed the reasons WD-40 isn’t a good choice of lubricant or cleaner, but what about kerosene?
If you have an all-metal chain, meaning not sealed, then you can use kerosene to clean your chain. Kerosene isn’t as strong as some other products used to clean, like gasoline, so it’s safer to use as long as you’re in a well-ventilated area.
However, if you clean your chains with kerosene, you may want to also wipe it down with water. Kerosene may leave a film which will inhibit the stickiness of the lube. It’s a good idea to wipe off the chain after using kerosene and let it sit for a couple minutes before applying lubrication.
What about for a sealed chain? It’s up to you whether or not you want to use kerosene to clean your sealed chain. You are probably safe to do so without any noticeable consequences. However, over time, the use of kerosene as a cleaner may wear down the seals, lowering the lifespan of your chain.
Many motorcycle riders swear by using kerosene as a cleaning product. If you choose to use kerosene, make sure you do so in a well-ventilated area. Wipe off any residue after using and check your seals often to make sure there is no extra wear and tear from the cleaning.
As always, make sure you finish your cleaning process with a good dose of lubrication.
Should you use oil or wax to lubricate your motorcycle chain?
One final question people often ask about chain cleaning and lubrication is: oil or wax? These are the two main types of lubrication, and both have their use for motorcycle riders.
Oil based lube can also be called “wet lube” and is best for use in wet conditions. They are highly water resistant and prevent rust. However, oil lubes attract a lot of dirt and grime. After riding with an oil lube, you may notice a lot of dirt around the chain which will need to be cleaned more frequently.
Wax lubes, or “dry lubes” don’t attract as much dust and dirt as oil lubes. However, they also don’t have the same water-resistance. In fact, some wax lubes can’t hold up to any water, so even driving through a puddle could cause problems.
One note with wax lube is that you need to focus even more on cleaning the chain before application. Any residue on the chain can keep the lubricant from sticking and cause problems down the road.
Ultimately, the choice of oil or wax is up to you. There are many, many types of motorcycle chain lube out there. You can find my guide to finding the best motorcycle chain lube and you may need to do some trial and error before finding a lube that works for you.
It’s okay to experiment a little with lubrication types and brands. Just remember, please don’t use multi-purpose WD-40 as a lube replacement! If you want your chain and bike to last, invest in a proper lubricant and apply often.
