How often should you clean/lube chain?

clintalmighty · January 1st, 2011, 09:03 AM

I am new to this bike thing, and the seller of my bike said its important to lube the chain. But how often should one do this to an '08 Ninja?

Sailariel · January 1st, 2011, 09:18 AM

That depends on the type of riding you do.
Always after riding in the rain
At least weekly if you ride in dusty conditions
After washing the bike

What I generally do is on a weekly basis, I put the bike up on the Pit Bull, wet a rag in kerosene (Never use gasoline), and wipe the chain down while spinning the rear wheel by hand. Wipe with a dry rag and sit down and enjoy a beer or a coke. After about 15 minutes, I lube with Maxxima Chain Wax. Everybody has their own way maintaining a chain and there is no way that is better than the other. My personal preference is a clean chain.

kkim · January 1st, 2011, 09:30 AM

every 400 miles.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10577

clintalmighty · January 1st, 2011, 09:49 AM

ok. thanks for the input... What if I don't have a rear tire stand to put it up on?

Alex · January 1st, 2011, 09:58 AM

Clean and spray the bottom length for a bit, walk the bike forward a foot, repeat. Definitely consider getting a rearstand, and perhaps an accompanying front stand. They make all types of motorcycle maintenance that much easier.

kkim · January 1st, 2011, 09:59 AM

clean/lube a section, move the bike, clean/lube a section, move the bike, etc.

kkim · January 1st, 2011, 10:00 AM

damn you, Alex... you owe me another beer.

CZroe · January 1st, 2011, 08:35 PM

The manual also suggests every 200 miles, which may be a bit too frequent (that's once per tank of gas for most).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailariel

That depends on the type of riding you do.
Always after riding in the rain
At least weekly if you ride in dusty conditions
After washing the bike

What I generally do is on a weekly basis, I put the bike up on the Pit Bull, wet a rag in kerosene (Never use gasoline), and wipe the chain down while spinning the rear wheel by hand. Wipe with a dry rag and sit down and enjoy a beer or a coke. After about 15 minutes, I lube with Maxxima Chain Wax. Everybody has their own way maintaining a chain and there is no way that is better than the other. My personal preference is a clean chain.

Bolded for truth.

And DO NOT click the following link if you aren't OK with the discomfort you will experience even simply viewing the result of not following this advice (bloody maimed hands):
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242261

Cedilla · January 5th, 2011, 10:12 PM

"How often should you clean/lube chain."

Much, much more often than I do.

SteveL · January 6th, 2011, 02:53 AM

I do mine every 1000Km (600 miles) never had any problem with the chain.

Steve

SVBS · January 7th, 2011, 03:17 PM

every 2-300 miles, depend on my mood, lol

mrlmd · January 8th, 2011, 03:22 PM

Try Dupont Teflon spray lube (blue can). No mess, no fuss, spray it on and forget it.

You can also get a thing called a Wheel Jockey or another similar item from Harbor Freight to roll the rear wheel onto to make it easier to rotate the wheel and chain without having to keep moving the bike, or a quick rear stand thing called a PackJack- see here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wJvQ_Uipgw , or make your own for $5 in materials as is on here somewhere else.
There are many ways to skin a cat.

January 1st, 2011, 09:03 AM	#1
clintalmighty ninjette.org member Name: Clint Location: Texas Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r 2009 Honda CBR600RR Posts: 178	How often should you clean/lube chain? I am new to this bike thing, and the seller of my bike said its important to lube the chain. But how often should one do this to an '08 Ninja?

January 1st, 2011, 09:18 AM	#2
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	That depends on the type of riding you do. Always after riding in the rain At least weekly if you ride in dusty conditions After washing the bike What I generally do is on a weekly basis, I put the bike up on the Pit Bull, wet a rag in kerosene (Never use gasoline), and wipe the chain down while spinning the rear wheel by hand. Wipe with a dry rag and sit down and enjoy a beer or a coke. After about 15 minutes, I lube with Maxxima Chain Wax. Everybody has their own way maintaining a chain and there is no way that is better than the other. My personal preference is a clean chain. __________________________________________________ Ninjette, Sold. New Bike: 2010 Honda NT-700V/VA, 73 Honda 550, 74 Honda 550

January 1st, 2011, 09:58 AM	#5
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Clean and spray the bottom length for a bit, walk the bike forward a foot, repeat. Definitely consider getting a rearstand, and perhaps an accompanying front stand. They make all types of motorcycle maintenance that much easier. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 5th, 2011, 10:12 PM	#9
Cedilla ninjette.org sage Name: Chris Location: Huntsville, AL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 755	"How often should you clean/lube chain." Much, much more often than I do. __________________________________________________ The Ninjette is not a disposable bike. You are not ever supposed to get rid of it. It is like a [friendly] herpes virus.... once you got it, you get keep it forever. Originally posted by-Headshrink

January 6th, 2011, 02:53 AM	#10
SteveL old git Name: Steve Location: Geneve Switzerland Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): BMW K1300S Posts: 479	I do mine every 1000Km (600 miles) never had any problem with the chain. Steve __________________________________________________ Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

January 1st, 2011, 09:30 AM	#3
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	every 400 miles. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10577

January 1st, 2011, 09:49 AM	#4
clintalmighty ninjette.org member Name: Clint Location: Texas Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r 2009 Honda CBR600RR Posts: 178	ok. thanks for the input... What if I don't have a rear tire stand to put it up on?

January 1st, 2011, 09:59 AM	#6
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	clean/lube a section, move the bike, clean/lube a section, move the bike, etc.

January 1st, 2011, 10:00 AM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	damn you, Alex... you owe me another beer.

January 7th, 2011, 03:17 PM	#11
SVBS ninjette.org member Name: KT Location: Left Coast Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1 of them Big Four Posts: 84	every 2-300 miles, depend on my mood, lol

January 8th, 2011, 03:22 PM	#12
mrlmd ninjette.org sage Name: Marc Location: Crawfordville, Florida Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848	Try Dupont Teflon spray lube (blue can). No mess, no fuss, spray it on and forget it. You can also get a thing called a Wheel Jockey or another similar item from Harbor Freight to roll the rear wheel onto to make it easier to rotate the wheel and chain without having to keep moving the bike, or a quick rear stand thing called a PackJack- see here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wJvQ_Uipgw , or make your own for $5 in materials as is on here somewhere else. There are many ways to skin a cat.

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