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Looking at getting in a load of oil for the winter as my supplies are running low.
Want something to last a few rides as we have 3 regular bike users in the house.
As usual looking for something of good value.
Puitoline chain wax for motocross bikes. Its a solid wax you melt and dunk the chain in. I find it last may hundreds of miles offroad and thousands on road and a kilo tin costing under £40 has lasted me with 7 bikes in the house many years now but is nearly finished. chain and cssette life is also vastly increased.
Its a messy faff to do and a few others on here have tried it - some don't find it as good as I do but many are converts
Its so much better and cheaper than bicycle specific oils IME
Muc-off wet lube. I use it all year, applied sparingly.
Smoove Chain lube - seems to still be running very clean despite 15 hours of riding through slop since I applied it. Chain needs to be very clean / de-greased / dry before applying and then needs to be left a bit.
Bikeradar reviewed it recently with similar results.
Muc-off wet, mostly because they sell it in Tesco so I remeber to buy it.
Put the least on possible and wipe it off and it doesn’t get too grim.
Mud-Off dry lube. Doesn't attract and collect stuff as its non sticky. Nice clean and lubed drive chain.
You can get a litre of weldtite wet lube from Crc for about £12.
It's good stuff and doesn't gunk up as bad as finish line wet.
I use the Muc Off C3 wet stuff cos it's pink and it smells nice. No, really.
(Just buy some flipping oil and bung it on the chain, jeez.)
scotroutes - Member
Muc-off wet lube. I use it all year, applied sparingly.
me too. tried the dry lub once, but wasnt impressed.The dry lube is ok for squeaky door hinges in the hoose tho.
Squirt. Converted a few years ago. Used most, this is better.
Home-brewed wax in an old pan at the minute...
I used to use squirt in the summer, then switch to putoline once it got wetter as I found the squirt washed out too easily.
Tried smoove this summer and found it longer lasting and harder wearing than squirt. So much so that I've not switched over to putoline yet and might not need to.
Putoline is still probably to longer lasting lube but smoove is definitely cleaner, quicker and easier.
Muc Off dry for mtb as it’s usually short (1-2hr) rides so it doesn’t matter as much if it’s washed off quickly. Then just wipe chain and reapply after every ride, takes seconds & chains seem to last just as long as when I faffed with wet lube etc.
‘Gravel’ bike uses Muc Off wet lube as it tends to be our fur longer & used wet roads too so i find dry diesntblast quite long enough this time of year. The noise was driving me insane & frontvshifting really suffered. I do have to clean the chain properly every couple of weeks though.
I used to hot wax my chain too but have slipped out of the habit. So now its x-lite pink wet lube which is really very good.
I started using [url= https://brokenridersuk.com/products/rex-chain-lube ]Rex lube[/url] earlier in the year and it's been very good in a variety of conditions. Think I reapply every 3-4 weeks and I ride 2-3 times a week in all conditions.
[url= http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/products/rex-low-friction-chain-lube ]Rex lube review[/url]
GT-85.
Squirt is great in the summer but just washes straight out once the bad weather arrives, doesn't even last one ride.
Changed to Putoline a couple of months ago and very impressed so far. The commuter gets used everyday and the MTB three times a week, still running on the original application but will probably dip them again this week just in case.
£25 for a 1kg tin and it takes 20mins although I did splash out on a cheap chip fryer to make it easier.
I also dropped in the old Yankee Candles we had, my chains now smell of "Clean Linen"
Smoove user here. I think it's great, stays quite clean and lasts well.
White Lightning Epic Ride here, seems much better than the Muc-Off I was using prior to that.
http://road.cc/content/review/154663-muc-team-sky-hydrodynamic-lube
^^ this.
Apply sparingly otherwise chain goes extra black but it's oh-so-quiet.
FinishLine Dry. Every now and then I try other things and always end going back to it.
Another happy Smoove user. All the benefits of squirt but lasts longer.
Still on leftover engine oil.
As already mentioned, Smoove here, was squirt but just didn't last long enough.
Putoline.
As others said, nothing lasts even a comparable amount of time. Mud doesn't stick, and if you include cleaning its not any slower than conventional lube.
Muc-off wet lub is utter shite, great on first application in garage, back in at end of ride its all gone dry and is proceeding to gum up all the drive train.
Pro link gold if I can find it, trouble is LBS only sell muck off.
I bet the mechanics on team sky don't use Muc-off.
It makes no difference.
"In addition, the chain used for
the lubrication study was fully
degreased and was re-tested for efficiency.
This degreasing operation consisted
of a five-minute scrub with
kerosene followed by a cleaning with
Castrol Degreaser. The measured efficiency
of the de-lubricated chain for
the 52–15 combination at 60 RPM and
100 W was 90.3% and at 200 W was
96.5%. These efficiencies are essentially
the same as those measured for the
chain in the re-lubricated condition."
Just give it a spray with GT85 to stop it rusting and you'll be fine.
5 litres of chainsaw oil off the bay for 13.50 delivered...
Juice lube Viking here. Clean and quiet.
Pro gold / pro link ...... it’s the shizzle
Squirt.
Rock n Roll extreme = Lovely clean chain.
The green Finish Line, all year round.
TF2 wet on the MTB, it's ok but goes gunky. Rock n roll holy cow on the gravel, great in the dry but needs to be warm when applied so that's a pain.
Thinking of trying putoline.
It makes no difference.
It certainly makes a difference to how long you can ride for until the chain sounds like it's scraping itself to death.
Pro Gold Pro link Extreme is excellent I find
So, to summarise this thread, just use anything.
Still found nothing to compare to Putoline wax. It's an enormous pain in the chuff but it works better and lasts better than anything else I've used.
I like....
Rock n roll blue - as per comments on here the latest batch does seem a bit watery.
Squirt - for the dry(er) months, I must get some Smoove to try
W&S no.5 - must be made from unicorn tear or something, but it does work well and keeps a clean drive train
As you can tell from my lube choices I do like a clean drive train.
Edit: Keen to try ProGold ProLink Xtreme as heard good things about that.
I really rate the Fenwicks Stealth lubes. Previously, used squirt which doesn't last in anything other than dry conditions. Stealth is applied in a similar fashion, one link at a time and needs to be left to dry for 3-4 hours, but it last multiple wet rides and the chain stays pretty clean. I like it.
White Lightning Epic Ride here, seems much better than the Muc-Off I was using prior to that.
Was my firm favourite the last few years but then found it really hard to track down.
TF2 wet on the MTB, it's ok but goes gunky.
This is the Weldtite stuff I was referring to. And I agree about the gunk, I have a very aggressive wiping regime when using it.
My ~£7 1 litre bottle, lifetime supply, of Muc Off Wet C3 Ceramic from PX last year... Bargaintastic!
old candles, some beeswax and some carnauba wax in a deep fat fryer.
does the job, drivetrain stays very clean. seems to cope with wet rides ok. not that much a faff to do either (with quick links)
I wipe down chain and re-lube after each ride so whatever is cheap and cheerful does me.
Rock n Roll Holy Cow on the wet weather commuter at the moment, seems pretty good. Squirt on the dry weather commuter, squirt is pish if it rains though.
Was using muc-off wet lube but my chain was filthy with it.
A mix of chainsaw chain oil and white spirits. Its a little mucky but I ride in all conditions and it keeps working no matter what the conditions.
At the end of the winter i strip everything and deep clean and use dry lube until the mud appears again in November.
I'm an absolute shocker when it comes to lubeing my chain, never think about it till its screeching and even then it just gets a squirt of GT85. The Mrs is even worse, hers looks like its been at the bottom of the sea, covered in rust and mud.
I don't mind it being a bit of a faff when I do it, I just don't do it often, do the putoline users think it might suit,
I use Fenwicks Stealth Lube,
Its really stodgy and hard to apply, but it doesn't drip.
Chain is lasting well been on there for about 2 years.
EP90 oil. Got a gallon left from something. Use an ordinary oil can to apply. Messy maybe but so is winter riding. Chainsaw oil is too expensive for chainsaws let alone bikes. Use veg oil.
3 in 1 oops meant Muck Off Wet only because its available in a small bottle that fits in my tool pouch.
Incidentally do you lube from new or run a new chain in before you lube?
sweepy - MemberI'm an absolute shocker when it comes to lubeing my chain, never think about it till its screeching and even then it just gets a squirt of GT85. The Mrs is even worse, hers looks like its been at the bottom of the sea, covered in rust and mud.
I don't mind it being a bit of a faff when I do it, I just don't do it often, do the putoline users think it might suit,
Yes. For a commuter I did it twice a year for a 14 mile round trip. On an MTB it lasts a hundred or two miles in horrid conditions - many hundreds in good conditions
I don't know if I'm doing putoline wrong but it lasts 3 MTB rides tops for me. I quite often get the chain submerged in rivers/puddles and I presume it just washes out. I don't think that anything else would last any better but atm I'm just using the cheapest lube that wiggle sell and reapplying each ride as it's just easier.
Fenwicks Stealth. Found nothing as good.
Wilkinsons bike oil here, it's like a quid. Apply, take off excess, ride, wipe & re-apply. Faultless.
For a commuter I did it twice a year for a 14 mile round trip.
That's impressive, I lube my chain at least twice a week!
Does putoline run clean?
chvck - is just the outside is dry? ~Are you getting the wax smokey hot? the lube remains in the rollers for a much longer time than it is visible on the outside. In the rollers is where you need the lube. Sometimes you need to wipe the outside of the chain with an oily rag
3 mtb rides would be 100+ miles for me usually.
Edit - are you using degreaser or oil on the chain at all? Both dilute the wax and allow it to come off
Gary - depends what you mean? the stuff itself is filthy and you have to wipe it off the outside of the chain. It is very sticky so attracts dust - but once a thin layer of dust builds up then no more adheres and cassettes remain clean
Being a solid wax it does not move around the chain and cassette. Once its on its on.
but I have now been using it for years. chain and cassette replacements are now really rare events whereas with ordinary lube I was replacing them often
I am evangelical about this stuff. Others less so. I am so confident I will treat anyones chain for them if they want to try it out
Putolene for winter / commuter and Squirt for summer.
The thing I like best about Squirt is it's so easy to use. Apply, ride, quick wipe with a rag after and repeat.
It lasts better than nearly everything I've tried (I think it works best after a couple of applications) and there's no build up of gunk... Very rarely have to do a full degrease.
depends what you mean?
I mean does the chain stay clean looking or it it a filthy black mess.
chvck - is just the outside is dry? ~Are you getting the wax smokey hot? the lube remains in the rollers for a much longer time than it is visible on the outside. In the rollers is where you need the lube.
Yeah getting it smokey hot and no I can hear that the chain is really dry so not just the outside. It really does depend what I ride though, if I avoid rivers then it tends to last.
I'm back using Fenwicks stealth(now called professional chain lube I think), after dabbling with R'n'R Extreme which as previously stated has become thin & watery, although it is clean when it gets really wet and gritty I've found R'n'R just doesn't stay around long enough on the chain...so back to fenwicks and it's pretty good.
You're not alone chvck.
I found putoline to be not worth the hassle for the limited extra durability over a more traditional 'wet' lube.
It also has a hateful stink.
The thing I like best about Squirt is it's so easy to use. Apply, ride, quick wipe with a rag after and repeat.It lasts better than nearly everything I've tried (I think it works best after a couple of applications) and there's no build up of gunk... Very rarely have to do a full degrease.
Same, except maybe a stiff brush was well as a rag off if there is any solids build up, eg jockey wheels. Ran it on my bike from new and didn't do a full degrease for about 8-900 miles, and as stated I like a clean drive train.
Squirt in dry periods
RnR Extreme or ProGold Prolink Extreme rest of time
It lasts better than nearly everything I've tried
If I do a 20 mile wet commute with squirt on the chain, the chain is noisy on the ride home. Doesn't last at all in the wet for me.
I can't get Squirt to last anything close to a day ride. I've tried it a few times based on others recommendations, including cleaning the chain beforehand etc. It simply doesn't work as soon as it sees anything closely approximating to moisture.
I quite often get the chain submerged in rivers/puddles and I presume it just washes out.
maybe you should be using green oil?
Science officer - seeing as I persuaded you to try it and you don't like it and i need a new tin do you want to sell me the tin you bought?
Got a couple of 1 litre bottles of UBS. Should get a couple of years out of them
Its not as tenacious as wet lubes but its about 100 times cleaner. I just reapply after every wet ride. It will last a good bit longer in the summer
[i]Just give it a spray with GT85 to stop it rusting and you'll be fine.[/i]
This mostly. If I remember I give it a bit of Fenwicks Dry. Most lubes just make cleaning a chore.
Tried Green Oil's GT85 replacement, Ecospray. Bio it may be, but unfortunately it's messy gunk. Shame really, but just can't find a use for the stuff.
Got a couple of 1 litre bottles of UBS. Should get a couple of years out of themIts not as tenacious as wet lubes but its about 100 times cleaner
Lasts about half the time squirt lasts, and that's not very long. It's fine in the dry but a lube that only lasts half as long as one that doesn't last long is useless in the wet.
Maxima chain wax as I like my bike to smell like an american coffee shop.
Its not as tenacious as wet lubes but its about 100 times cleaner. I just reapply after every wet ride. It will last a good bit longer in the summer
Even on my road bike it was gone <50 miles*. What's the point of a lube that needs re-applying twice in a dry ride? Squirt was better, but not by enough to convince me.
*yes the chain was clean, and I gave it several applications the day before, and I persisted with it for ages before giving up. It also turned my chainstay yellow.
supersessions9-2 - Memberold candles, some beeswax and some carnauba wax in a deep fat fryer.
does the job, drivetrain stays very clean. seems to cope with wet rides ok. not that much a faff to do either (with quick links)
What's the purpose of adding carnauba wax to the mix? The beeswax is meant to be softer than the candle wax apparently though I don't find it makes a huge difference. I've not tried carnauba yet so it'd be interesting to know how this helps.
Tried Viking Juice - can't comment on the performance, but it's so heavily solvent-y that I felt il after applying it in the shed - even with a 10-ft garage roller door fully open 3 ft behind me
UBS for me performed exactly as well as I'd expected a water soluble chain lube to work.
[i]not that much a faff to do either[/i]
Hell of a lot of faff compared to squirting some stuff out of a bottle. Especially if you don't have some old candles, beeswax, carnuba wax or a deep fat fryer to hand!
I also dropped in the old Yankee Candles we had, my chains now smell of "Clean Linen"
My missus got worried when I got all excited about the various scented candles in IKEA.
I'm still keen to add either 'Summer berries' or 'Apple' to the mix, she seems to think they're for making our house smell nicer... 🙄
Question for those who do their own hot-waxing:
What else are you adding?
I've dolloped in some Moly Grease and a bit of mineral oil and that's about it, I have read of people buying Molybdenum Disulphide powders (Not particularly cheap) rather than just melting some Moly-loaded grease, Graphite powder, PTFE and all sorts of other stuff, but TBH I'm not sure many additives are really necessary...
Nothing I can think of will make it adhere to the chain for longer or improve it's (already quite good) ability to shed muck and moisture... it's really only dry lubricants of some sort that you want to load it with but what proportion/volume and what type(s)?