Best Chain lube for MTB

[SwissVan]

Some clever dudes at local swiss bike shop did some extensive "lab" tests on various brands, some of which you in SA might recognize. Sorry the test results are all in german but look at the star ratings to get some sort of idea, some of the important words translated below

 

Ketten-Verschleiss = chain wear

Regen = rain

Trocken = dry

Ketten / Kette = chain

Schmutzhaftung = dirt adhesion

Schmiermitteltyp = type of lubricant

 

 

 

Full test can be seen here

Warning German only pdf

 

https://www.veloplus...petrus_test.pdf

 

Picture of part of their test lab machine

 

 

Test results

 

 

 

[HappyMartin]

What I don't get with the entire chain lube thing, besides any German at all, is why it should be necessary to lube a chain on a MTB after just 40 km.

 

I rode off road motorbikes when younger and we rode rivers, mud and all sorts. Loads of power and tough conditions and chains stayed lubed for a lot longer than 40 km. yet on the Berg & Bush guys were attending to chains after just 40km. Sure I get that with spare power on a bike we used tackier lube and so on but still

 

Something is just not right.

Edited November 1, 2012 by HappyMartin

[Cassie]

What I don't get with the entire chain lube thing, besides any German at all, is why it should be necessary to lube a chain on a MTB after just 40 km.

 

I rode off road motorbikes when younger and we rode rivers, mud and all sorts. Loads of power and tough conditions and chains stayed lubed for a lot longer than 40 km. yet on the Berg & Bush guys were attending to chains after just 40km. Sure I get that with spare power on a bike we used tackier lube and so on but still

 

Something is just not right.

 

The REAL Question is.....did they NEED to tend to their chains after 40kms??? It's a great excuse to rest and catch your breath without loosing face!!

My personal experience is that come rain or shine .....no need to lube after 40kms....it's all inthe mind....

[Sawdust]

Call me strange but I love the smell of the Chain-L

 

Smells just like gearbox oil.

[Lamber]

Personally, I vote for Finishline WetLube. You can get it at any bike shop.

 

Other alternatives are 5W40 engine oil (new not used)

80w90 Gear oil

or ATF as used for powersteering systems.

 

Will give it a shot, thanks!

[GoLefty!!]

Smells just like gearbox oil.

 

I'm pretty sure its just a repackaged engine or gearbox oil. Bought in 209L drums and decanted into smaller containers with a new label. A copy of the MSDS will confirm exactly what it is.

[rouxtjie]

I'm pretty sure its just a repackaged engine or gearbox oil. Bought in 209L drums and decanted into smaller containers with a new label. A copy of the MSDS will confirm exactly what it is.

Your thoughts on Pedro's synth lube...I reckon its a pearl

[Mojoman]

After reading through this I have decided to try some left over gearbox oil on my chain over the weekend. I usually use squirt but at around R75 for 100ml its getting expensive. I see my gearbox oil was around R30 for 500ml.

[GoLefty!!]

Your thoughts on Pedro's synth lube...I reckon its a pearl

Yes it is a very decent lube mostly made up of paraffinic hydrocarbon based mineral oil and a synthetic. (Its not a pure synthetic, as few lubricants are due to cost of those base oils and the very large parcel sizes required for a minimum order)I am 95% certain I know which they are using as well as what their vegetable oil product is based on as well and I think there are significant advantages to the base stock they're using (both vegetable and synthetic and Mineral) Edited November 2, 2012 by GoLefty!!

[Hairy]

Yo GoLefty

 

Two things please!

1. how does purple extreme looks once you have analized it. I just recently bought a bottle and am keen to know how it fairs from your perspective
   
2. most importantly, when you joining us for the Wednesday morning Table Mountain rides!
   

[GoLefty!!]

Yo NoGillette...

 

 

I've not dug very deeply into Purple extreme lubricants yet. Give me some time. Getting back intothis game (Cycling) and the learning curve onwhere the market is is steep.

I may even offer a rival product and brand at a lower cost in a few months. Working on some formulations.

I don't believe PE i anything different or special. there re only cerrtain base ols that offer the quality they claim. I suspect most of their product is solvent based for the carrier and then GtL Slack wax + additives as the actual lube. th ewax is god stuff, highly polar (likes things with an opposite charge)

 

2) Not for the next month.

[SwissVan]

What I don't get with the entire chain lube thing, besides any German at all, is why it should be necessary to lube a chain on a MTB after just 40 km.

 

I rode off road motorbikes when younger and we rode rivers, mud and all sorts. Loads of power and tough conditions and chains stayed lubed for a lot longer than 40 km. yet on the Berg & Bush guys were attending to chains after just 40km. Sure I get that with spare power on a bike we used tackier lube and so on but still

 

Something is just not right.

 

Motorbike chains are much more robust and stronger due to less weight restrictions and also they are work in a straight chainline 1 x 1 set up so dont suffer from the same issues as mtb chains which are light weight, have to work with variable chainlines 1 x 10, 2 x 10 or 3 x 10 with small tolerances between working just fine and slipping / jamming.

 

I guess lubrication helps the bicycle chain make the change from one sprocket to another go more smoothly...

[Thug]

I bought a 500ml can of Motorex off-road chain lube earlier today and want to see how that lasts. Will use it on my SS.

[Hairy]

So child the thicker gunky motorbike lubes then be the bees knees for an ss with nice thick and heavy half link chain on the ss mtb?

[GoLefty!!]

Can you repeat that in English please?

[rouxtjie]

Yes it is a very decent lube mostly made up of paraffinic hydrocarbon based mineral oil and a synthetic. (Its not a pure synthetic, as few lubricants are due to cost of those base oils and the very large parcel sizes required for a minimum order)I am 95% certain I know which they are using as well as what their vegetable oil product is based on as well and I think there are significant advantages to the base stock they're using (both vegetable and synthetic and Mineral)

Ta thanks