[Rio]

It's full on monsoon in Indonesia, and I have ridden through some major storms. Got caught in a super squall near the coast yesterday, epic gust nearly blew me off my bike at 75kph in almost solid rain.

I rode through a couple of small floods, and when I got back home, wiped down the bike, lubed the chain and also the ignition keyhole as well as the keyholes for my panniers.

That was just instinctive after the deluge. But was just wondering if anyone else lives in heavy rainfall areas (in Oz for example), and how often you lubricate your chain during the rainy season?

 

[genisis112]

I live in aus. Don't ride in the rain a lot but my golden rule is at least once per tank of fuel. Riding in the conditions you describe I'd probably do it almost every time I rode in the rain.

 

[Michael]

Lube the chain as often as necessary..... it's easy to see, should be obvious, and only tales a moment with a can of spray lube.

It's just common sense really.

 

[Redline]

It's just common sense really.

Remember that this forum has people afraid to go over 5000rpm.

Or as your Indian mate advises... 4000rpm.

 

[Rio]

well actually I do spray it everytime i go through a major rainstorm w minor flooding, but thought maybe I was overdoing it.

Redline, is there an actual equation for higher RPMs to chain wear (obviously same distance traveled etc)? I tend to range between 5 -7/8k (old f..t I am)

 

[bungie4]

Over lube you'll just make your back rim messy. Under lube you shorten its life at best and at worst it breaks and causes catastrophic damage to either you or the bike or both.

Loob is cheap. Have at it!

Seems like a dumb question now.

 

[sendler]

I ride in heavy rain quite often but so far have just used a 500 mile interval, rain or shine. 6000 miles on the bike so far and the chain doesn't seem to be changing at all yet. Lubed with DuPont teflon chain lube.

 

[250 Tom]

The chain is internaly lubricated and sealed with o rings. You only really have to worry about the outside of the chain. I clean mine as needed and then use a chain wax to protect the outside plates from rusting.

 

[Rio]

The chain is internaly lubricated and sealed with o rings. You only really have to worry about the outside of the chain. I clean mine as needed and then use a chain wax to protect the outside plates from rusting.

Ah that's good to know. Now to source chain wax in Indonesia!!!

BTW how are you cleaning the chain? I seem to have more fine grit on it than normal.

 

[steveeeee]

I use kerosene to clean my chain. Works well.

 

[Redline]

24k km on mine and chain is still like new.

I'm thorough when it comes to cleaning and lubing it though. It also cuts down on noise that's then amplified up through the farings.

 

[Strelok89]

I ride in heavy rain quite often but so far have just used a 500 mile interval, rain or shine. 6000 miles on the bike so far and the chain doesn't seem to be changing at all yet. Lubed with DuPont teflon chain lube.

i dubble that lubing every 500km with forch teflon hevy duty chain lube.
and the chain looks as new

 

[Naked_Duc]

i dubble that lubing every 500km with forch teflon hevy duty chain lube.
and the chain looks as new

I use the DuPont degreaser to clean regularly. Spread on and wipe. Then I lube it with Dupont Chain Saver. Spray and let dry. Easy peasy

 

[mnguyen84]

DuPont is a dry lube and works well in the rain. However, the dude is from Southeast Asia, where I doubt it's available. 90/80 grade gear oil is also pretty resistant. But you can tell when you're chain doesn't have any lube on it, especially when it's wet. Rust discoloration will appear.

so...just figure out how many times you need to lube the chain before rust begins to form.

 

[etiainen]

+1 for gear oil. Simple, cheap, keeps the chain lubed and not gritty. Spray on oil gets everything gunky.

 

[spdklls]

I just used generic chain lube first 3,000 miles or so...messy stuff...would fling all over my back tire..chain always looked black

..so switched to dupont degreaser and chain wax...been using it over a 1,000 miles now..back rim looks good, chain still looks silver....

I'm pretty sure your not supposed to use kerosene on an O ring chain..I believe it even says not to use it in the manual, but I may be wrong about that

 

[Wynne G Oldman]

I've switched back to EP90 gear oil applied with a brush, after using various lubes for a while. It's cheap, a bit messy, but seems to do a good job of keeping your chain clean and well lubricated.

 

[etiainen]

I think it says not to use gasoline. Pretty sure kerosene is fine for O-Ring chains.

 

[steveeeee]

Yes, pretty sure kerosene is the way to go when cleaning o ring chains