Chain Lube in Russia?
 

Hi all,

I'm about to board the ferry to Sochi, Russia from Trabzon and am in need of some chain lube.

Finding it here turned out to be more challenging than I had expected (I ended up with a bottle of what seems to be the local equivalent of WD-40), and I'm wondering if anyone knows where in Sochi some quality lube can be found?

How about in Russia in general? I'm heading over to Astrakhan and will return to Europe west out of northern Kazakhstan a month later. What is it called in Russian?

Thanks so much for the help!


Jake

I don't know about Sochi but I didn't have any trouble getting chain lube in Russia, I bought some castrol low-fling racing lube in Novosibirsk....

If you can't find a bike shop you could look for a chainsaw shop and get some bar oil?

I know you will laugh, but I carry a 1" paint brush and use that to brush oil on my chain every so often, I do have a centre stand so it makes it much easier. As for oil, my preference is for ex gearbox oil (75-90Wt) but engine oil is fine. chains don't care what you use so long as they are lubricated with something clean.

My preferred routine is to get fuel before I camp for the night. Set up camp. in the morning I lube the chain because then the bike is nose heavy and the rear wheel spins freely. after the lube session I decamp and load the bike. That sequence uses the least amount of energy :)

Get a bottle of Auto trans fluid. That works well.
Looks to be pretty much the same as the oil Scottoiler sell for their oilers.

In Russia, Chain lube will be all over the place. Easiest way is to stop a local biker and ask him. He will take to a local bike parts shop.

Kazakhstan will be harder to find it outside of Almaty, it will be around, but there are fewer bikers in KZ than in Russia, and most of the bikers in KZ are ethnic Russians anyway. Kazakhs seem to prefer mercs and airconditioned landcruisers. Just leave Russia will a full can of lube.

Dont know 100% what its called, but "Smaska tsepi" should get you sorted.

Chain lube is the biggest load of crap you can use. I used it on my trip across Asia putting it on like I was told to by the European road tourers. What most of them don't know is that it turns to grinding paste on the dusty roads. The chain needed replacing halfway through the trip. I since use oil or ATF using a brush as said after every ride soaking overnight. This time it lasted the whole trip and is still good now. Other people don't put anything on and reckon it lasts longer than using the sprays. Up to you though.

There are plenty of Japanese bike dealers in Sochi - Sochi is Russia's rich tourist paradise.

Right in front of the beach there is a Honda dealer in the middle of the park - best way to find it is to find the railway station (Vokzal) and then ride to the beach. The park is at the end of the road - you walk through it for around 200m to the harbour.

It seems that Яндекс.Карты allows you to search for motorcycle shops (and anything else) on maps in Russia. It even conveniently handles latin alphabet input. Input "mototsikla" and it will display мотоцикла (motorcycle) shops on a map. I see five shops in central Sochi.