Chain Cleaning

[Bob_Defly]

Anyone else find chain cleaning a pain in the arse just due to access?

I'm sure other bikes I've had were much easier to clean the chain on, but the design of the Speed Twin's exhaust leaves little room for access, so you have to do a tiny bit at a time. It makes me want to get a new exhaust just to make this job easier!

[RazerSauber]

It can be a faff but my bikes have centre stands which makes access easier than a paddock stand. A proper brush, bike in neutral and roll the rear wheel gives good access to the rear sprockets and chain on my bikes. One round with de-greaser, a 2nd with water and by the time I've found my can of monkey branded chain wax, it's dry enough to coat the chain, sprocket and most things within a foot of them.

[Bodo]

Can you get a Kettenmax in there?

[Bob_Defly]

To be fair, that looks like it would take me longer.

[KTMsm]

That's plenty - if you've got a table lift

I CBA rolling around on the floor these days

[Biker9090]

You guys are cleaning your chains?

[KTMsm]

Biker9090 said:

You guys are cleaning your chains?

I'm a Dealer - I always do it because most don't

Several buyers have commented that they believed the bike had been serviced (they had) because even the chain had been cleaned

[Simon_GH]

I always judge the maintenance of a push or motorbike by the cleanliness of a chain. Not that I do mine that often but I’m judging other people!

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

It wouldn't make a huuuuge difference, but I think an Abba stand would give you more access than a paddock stand. I do all my bikes on the Abba stand and it's not too faffy (exhaust placement and swingarm dependent).

[Drawweight]

Maybe dealers should learn how to clean chains as well. This was the chain on a F900XR that my mate picked up from a BMW dealer. (The rest of the bike wasn’t much cleaner)

[KTMsm]

Drawweight said:

Maybe dealers should learn how to clean chains as well.

Maybe you should read all the posts before replying



At least one does

[Biker9090]

Simon_GH said:

I always judge the maintenance of a push or motorbike by the cleanliness of a chain. Not that I do mine that often but I’m judging other people!

I've always left them covered in grease or gear oil and never had a problem.

[P675]

I use a little wheel roller thing which is ok. Clean every 4 lubes maybe. Or if I wash the bike which isn't that often I might do it then.

[Simon_GH]

Biker9090 said:

I've always left them covered in grease or gear oil and never had a problem.

Me too. I’m just impressed by a clean chain and assume the rest of the bike is well-maintained.

[John D.]

TimmyWimmyWoo said:

It wouldn't make a huuuuge difference, but I think an Abba stand would give you more access than a paddock stand. I do all my bikes on the Abba stand and it's not too faffy (exhaust placement and swingarm dependent).

Me too. Would do my head in trying to do it on the side stand.

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Drawweight said:

Maybe dealers should learn how to clean chains as well. This was the chain on a F900XR that my mate picked up from a BMW dealer. (The rest of the bike wasn’t much cleaner)

That's shocking of the dealer

[Drawweight]

Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:

Drawweight said:

Maybe dealers should learn how to clean chains as well. This was the chain on a F900XR that my mate picked up from a BMW dealer. (The rest of the bike wasn’t much cleaner)

That's shocking of the dealer

When he went and looked at the bike it had just come in as a part ex so was in that condition When he went to pick it up it looked like it hadn’t been touched although the salesman showed him a list of stuff that the workshop had supposedly done (including chain adjustment)…It also has a flat spotted back tyre with a plug in it!

The dealer said he was short staffed and didn’t have anyone to clean it. After a bit of to and fro ing on the phone mate got a new chain and new tyre fitted and sent him the bill. Still had to spend a few hours cleaning it.

For the sake of a couple of hours work he’s lost a lot of goodwill and any chance of future sales.

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Reminds me of the Triumph dealer (lots of 5 star reviews after each negative......) who was retailing a R1200R with a burn out/flat spotted rear tyre.

They said 'you want it? YOU replace the tyre'.