Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear?
Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27 May 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 994
Desert chains - to oil or not to oil

When riding through sandy areas is it better to oil the chain or totally dry it off. I was talking to some engineers that do oil work in the desert and they said they would run everything totally dry and take the extra wear rather than have sand stuck to everything with oil all the time

There is probably another thread on this, but didn't see it
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27 May 2006
Stephano's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 887
Wd-40

Quote:
Originally Posted by henryuk
When riding through sandy areas is it better to oil the chain or totally dry it off. I was talking to some engineers that do oil work in the desert and they said they would run everything totally dry and take the extra wear rather than have sand stuck to everything with oil all the time
Henry
WD-40 has worked brilliantly on my O-ring chains in 100% sandy conditions. I spray my chain before every ride and get really good wear out of them. No problem with sand sticking to it. I have never used oil and tried a special road bike spray once which gunked the chain up with sand.
Stephan
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 28 May 2006
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 40
I use a product by Maxima Racing Lubes called Chain Wax. It "dries" with a light coating. There are several brands that are wax based. I started using it to avoid slinging oil all over my wheels. I've used it in the desert (USA) with no problems. As the post above states, WD-40 works good. It was my first chain lube and recommended by my mech. I had to lube more often than I do now. If your chain has o-ring seals, I would avoid not lubing it at all.

Clarence
__________________
I'm not lost, I'm right here.
'05 650GS
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31 May 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
Cool

I've twice crossed the Sahara with a fair bit of riding other pistes on the same trips. On both occasions I've fitted a brand new DID X-ring and a set of steel sprockets at home and never lubricated until them after the trip was over (back in Europe). The chains easily lasted for the trips and beyond.

I understand desert rally riders don't lube their chains either, but you might check on the UK rally raid Yahoo group.

I also understand that the X-ring chain contains grease inside the rollers, so the only wear is between the chain and sprockets.

I used to use WD40 as a lubricant, but someone told me it was a solvent that would remove the grease. I'd be interested to know if this is true? Anyone have any hard facts on this? (now I carry WD40 and chain lube, but would like to go back to only the WD40).

Cheers.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31 May 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Powys, Cymru, U.K.
Posts: 94
WD-40 is indeed an excellent degreaser/solvent. I use it regularly to remove the splashes of chain lube from the rear wheel rim and other places. Spray some on a cloth and try it for yourself.
If it removes chain lube from the wheel rim so easily, it will also remove it when sprayed on to the chain.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31 May 2006
Grant Johnson's Avatar
HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 7,216
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
I used to use WD40 as a lubricant, but someone told me it was a solvent that would remove the grease. I'd be interested to know if this is true? Anyone have any hard facts on this? (now I carry WD40 and chain lube, but would like to go back to only the WD40).

Cheers.
FWIW: (sort of an anti-WD-40 rant... )

WD-40 IS a solvent based product. It's designed to work as follows:

The can contents are a mix of solvent, or "carrier" and cleaner, plus a light lubricant. When sprayed onto a surface, the carrier/solvent cleans the surface, and penetrates deep into the smallest crack, carrying with it the lube (personally I think it carries some of the grot too). The solvent/carrier evaporates and leaves behind the lube, albeit not much.

Yes it works, but there's lots better out there. What it's brilliant at is a quick clean and lube to get something working/moving now. But it's poor over the long haul. I did a lot of testing many years ago in the Vancouver BC rainy/sleet/grit/sandy winter with it and many other solutions. We found that WD-40 lasted about three days at best on anything, whereas Teflon based lubes lasted a week on average, and just about anything was better than WD-40, even plain oil.

Back to chains - obviously WD-40 does work, but does it eat the o-rings? Without a true test - two identical bikes, one run dry and one lubed, you'll never KNOW which way is better. So, personally I'd go dry since it seems to work fine, and last long enough. And less aggro. Yes I'm lazy!

FWIW - As a general cleaner / quick lube to get something working, I may use WD-40, and then just about anything else for long term, after it's cleaned by WD-40. I really like Tri-Flow as a lube, it also cleans pretty well, it excelled in our tests, and I haven't seen better yet. I carry a squeeze bottle of Tri-flow, so no aerosol, and it's done me fine.

hope that helps a little...
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.

------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 31 May 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 250
I would still recommand you to bring your WD40 with you if you intend to play a lot in the sand. When a good amount of sand goes between the sprokets and the chain and you get no more chain slack, It's fun the have the WD40 with you to remove the sand!!!

Patrick
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 31 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: England
Posts: 338
Thumbs up cooking oil

Hi
I run a scottoiler on my Tenere, when iám on the sand i fill it it with light cooking oil, this sticks to the chain but is so light that the sand dose not stick to the oil or the chain, it works for me, last chain 47000 miles sand mud rivers and dirt. Skip
__________________
Do the best you can with what you have,
A stranger in a strange land now heading North South East West to.....
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 1 Jun 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
Cool

This is good information. Thanks.

I have one of those cable lubricating devices that effectively diverts an aerosol spray through a cable and I use WD40 for that.

I recall reading somewhere that other lubricants can be used with these devices but can't remember what. Can anyone see a problem with using chain lubricant?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2 Jun 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Powys, Cymru, U.K.
Posts: 94
The main problem with using chain lube in this way, is that it's so thick, it wont easily go down the cable.
As Grant says, WD-40 is ok for the short term, but something containing Teflon (or perhaps silicon) will work better in the long term. Try a motor accessory store (Halfords for example) and see what they have. There must be a dozen or more different brands - GT85 is one that springs to mind. Somehow, WD40 is the name everyone thinks of, but it is by no means the best.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sheltering from summer sun in the desert Eurostar North Africa 14 13 Jun 2006 12:39
Iranian Desert Quark West and South Asia 2 17 Jan 2006 04:31
Desert Festival 2005 nomiskx Travellers Seeking Travellers 11 12 Nov 2004 16:08
People with desert racing and local knowledge required alexanderwest Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 0 20 Apr 2004 16:18
desert festival 2005 nomiskx North Africa 0 3 Feb 2004 01:46

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:50.