Whether you’re tearing up the trails on your dirt bike, or simply cruising along the open road on your motorcycle, it’s inevitable that your bike chain will get dirty. Built up dirt and debris are sure signs that it’s time to clean and lubricate your bike’s drive chain. To help you out, Cycle Trader has four steps for maintaining your bike chain.
1. Determine What Type of Chain You Have
The first step to maintaining your motorcycle’s drive chain is to know what type you have. Chains can be divided into two categories, sealed and unsealed.
- Sealed chains are also known as o-ring chains. This type of chain has a rubber ring between the metal plates that seals in grease and keeps water and dirt out. O-ring chains tend to require less maintenance and last longer, but can involve a more delicate cleaning process.
- An unsealed or standard roller chain, often found on vintage motorcycles, off-road bikes and smaller rides, is simply a series of connected metal bearings. Roller chains are lightweight and less expensive, but require more frequent lubrication and maintenance.
Once you’ve identified the type of chain you have, you’ll know how to properly clean and lubricate it.
2. Inspect the Chain and Sprockets
Before you immediately start cleaning, inspect the wear and tear on your motorcycle chain and sprockets. Driving with a loose chain can be dangerous, so it’s important to know what to look for when examining the drive chain.
Sprocket teeth should be straight with a flat surface on top. If the sprocket has curved or broken teeth, then it’s time for a replacement. An unequal distance between the teeth is also a sign that it’s worn out or damaged.
Your bike’s owner’s manual will advise a length for the links on your chain. Over time, old chains wear down and seemingly stretch. If the links are longer than the recommended length, then it’s too worn and should be replaced.
3. Clean the Chain
To clean the chain, you’ll want to start by removing old lubricant, along with dust and other dirt, from the links. There are chain-specific cleaners you can use, but kerosene works just as well and is available at most hardware stores. It’s always a safe bet to follow your bike manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure you’re using the safest materials on the drive chain.
You can either remove the chain and soak it in kerosene or spray it directly onto the chain and use a brush to thoroughly remove as much gunk as possible. You can repeat this process if the chain is still dirty. Once the chain is clean, use a dry cloth to wipe away any moisture.
4. Lubricate the Chain
In your owner’s manual, your motorcycle’s manufacturer should recommend a suitable chain lubricant to use. Apply that lubricant evenly to all sides of the chain and sprocket.
Sealed chains will require less lubricant since the O-rings continuously lubricate. If you have a roller chain, apply enough to coat the chain then wipe off any excess lubricant. Roller chains can be lubricated after every ride, while the bike is still warm, as part of your routine motorcycle maintenance.
Once your drive chain is clean and lubed up, then you’re ready to ride. Properly maintaining your motorcycle chain can help extend its lifespan and keep you riding safely.
The industry standard for inspecting, cleaning, and lubricating your drive chain is every 300 miles. However, if you ride in wet conditions or dusty environments, you may want to follow these steps more often. It’s always a best bet to check your owner’s manual to see how often you should clean and lubricate the chain on your motorcycle.
And, if you’re shopping for new or used motorcycles for sale, begin your search on the nationwide online marketplace at CycleTrader.com.
