How often to lube?

**llanelli** · #1 16 Jul 2004

How often do people lube their chains? We are riding around Oz and were lubing every 2 weeks but were told every 200-400km. This means lubing every day! What is the go?

**martync** · #2 16 Jul 2004

All dependant on the miles your doing- all day I'd do it every day but an hour a day I'd do it per week.

I'd make sure you clean it as lube or no lube, dirt will become like grinding paste with all that dust and mud about.

**yarry rob** · #3 20 Jul 2004

I prefer the little and often technique. With modern O ring chains the amount of lube required is minimal and in some conditions not very desirable at all. In sandy or dusty areas lube may cause a gritty paste to build up on the chain.
In 20 years of riding bikes I have never cleaned a chain in the traditional sense, just always lubed it. I do believe that the greatest influence on chains is riding style and power delivery.

Ride steady and resist harsh acceleration and heavy engine braking and this will help a chain last longer. A little lube on an O ring will help....a little.

**MJC** · #4 20 Aug 2004

in my opinion spend the money on a DID x ring chain, its fantastic, i try and lube every 500kms depending on the terrain, in the desert I didnt lube it once in about 4000kms and had patches of not lubing again at 1500kms at at time, chain lasted me just over 20000kms.

safe travels

**XT Alan** · #5 30 Sep 2004

With O ring chains, the lubricant is already in place. The purpose of lubing is to create a protective barrier, so lube when the chain looks dry - anything from 200 to 500 miles between applications. I prefer to use, after trying virtually eveything on the market, Motul Road clear spray. It is excellent and one can lasts for 10,000 miles.