You should clean your chain every 300-500 miles depending on where your ride the most. If your mileage is mostly done on the freeway then you don't get as much dirt and debris and could get away with 500 miles in between cleanings. If you ride mostly back roads where dirt and debris builds up more on the roads I would suggest 300 miles in between your cleanings.

Materials that are needed: WD-40, Bel Ray chain lube(or any other motorcycle chain lube), old tooth brush (or your wifes), and a old rag. Try to find a cotton rag, they seem to be a little rougher which is better for wiping.
[/URL]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081325.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081325.jpg)
Step 1: The best time to clean your chain is when you just get back from a ride, 10 minutes minimum. Reason being is that your old lube is softer when it is warm. Take the WD-40 and spray your chain in between the links as well as the out side of the chain its self. If your thinking "Why WD-40 my chain doesn't squeak" WD-40 is actually a type of degreaser and a good one too.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081329.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081329.jpg)
Step 2: Scrub the chain with your tooth brush to loosen up tough debris. Make sure you scrub the out side of the chain as well as the inside. After getting the thick stuff off spray again and wipe it down with a rag until all old lube is off.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081343.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081343.jpg)
Step 3: Now that the WD-40 is dry you are now ready to apply your chain lube. Hold your rag behind where you are spraying the lube to prevent over spray. Make sure to spray in between the links.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081351.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081351.jpg)
Step 4: Spray the two metal looking dots on the chain(there is two on each side), those are pivot points in the chain and allows the chain to hug the two sprockets.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081352.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081352.jpg)
Step 5: Inspect your chain and make sure you didn't miss a spot or two. Then you are ready to ride. Have fun, and most importantly Be Safe!
[URL="http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081358.jpg"]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081358.jpg (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/falconb/0801081358.jpg)

Nice write up :)
Did you do that without a rear stand?

Nice write up :)
Did you do that without a rear stand?

Thanks, sure did:righton

Good write up! A lot of people will not use WD40 on their chain, but I've used it on both of my track bikes. The F4i's chain lasted for over 15k using nothing but WD40 to clean.

Good write up! A lot of people will not use WD40 on their chain, but I've used it on both of my track bikes. The F4i's chain lasted for over 15k using nothing but WD40 to clean.

Yea I think it is the best to use because its not a super stronger degreaser but its not weak either. It has the right amount of eating power.

Just make sure not to get too much WD-40 on your tire if you don't use a rag. That would be GG. Good write-up, mate!

Almost forgot, you can also use kerosene as a degreaser, if you don't want to use WD40.

Almost forgot, you can also use kerosene as a degreaser, if you don't want to use WD40.

Yea good point, I should add "cover your chain in kerosene then light it. Make sure all the scum burns off" Just kidding but I have heard that it works pretty well, but how many people do you think have kerosene laying around?

Thanks for this post...I am now an expert on how to lube my own chain:) mwahah

Can we maybe set up a poll in this thread for different brands of chain lube.

And then list the pros and cons of each as people post about it.

I have been using PJ-1 Black Label and it is killer chain lube but it flings all over everything and is a pain to clean off.

I have always used it for off road machines but I am going to find a different brand for my street bikes.

Jason

I've always used Bel-Ray just because its a good lube goes on nicely comes off easily when needed. Also it doesn't get dirty as fast.

I just lubed up the chain for the first time. Great write up. Made the process easy to do.

used bel-ray since i dont know much about bikes.

Good writeup. Instead of WD40 I use Kerosene.

nice write up new to street bike also and wasn't sure about the cleaning process thanks

Thanks for this informative post. Do any of you guys use "REPSOL" for a chain lube?

I've been using PJ Blue chain lube and Maxima chain wax for years.

kool now I know what to do:) One told me he was going to use diesel. Is that bad? I'd rather WD40 no doubt but jusst for shits n giggles?

We started putting Chain Wax on our mini sprint and it stays on great. We just pressure wash it off and re spray it. This product does not sling everywhere. So when I bought my son a 250R thats what we use

I've used a number of lubes through the years but my vote would have to be for Bel-Ray Chain Lube as my favorite. Won't fling off and you can see if you have missed a spot when using it.:noteeth

I bought a can of Bel Ray "Super Clean" chain lube I'm going to try today!

I used to take my chain off and degrease like recommended in this thread...until I got lazy.
I have noticed no difference whatsoever in chain lifespan or ride quality.
read what howard zinn has written on the subject...I think he's correct.

there might be a reason to degrease before installing a new chain (an endless debate)
but once the chain is installed, there are few reasons to take the chain off and degrease...unless you're particularly anal about cleanliness or if you've regularly neglected the chain. but if you just wipe/re-lube regularly, there's no need to trouble yourself.

^ I'm pretty sure no one is recommending to take the chain off to degrease.

Hi to you all.
I also want to lubricate my bike's chain. After asking around, I have been told that all I have to do is just apply the lubricant onto the chain. Someone told me that I need first to clean the chain with water before applying the lubricant, but from the shop that I do the service they told me that I only need to aplly the lubricant.

I have bought "Chain Lubricant o-ring safe" Denicol Lubricants. It says that it is Water Repellent.

Is the WD-40 really neccassary? Do I have to clean the chain first?

Also I ride my bike only on asphalt in the city and I have done 2150km (1400 miles) with it.

Thanks

Good writeup, thanks! The chain wasn't something I thought about when it came to my ninja 250 maintenance. It makes so much sense now. It must suck to do all that without the tire in the air somehow. Couldn't you get a friend to help hold the bike on the sidestand while you lube the chain?

Hi to you all.
I also want to lubricate my bike's chain. After asking around, I have been told that all I have to do is just apply the lubricant onto the chain. Someone told me that I need first to clean the chain with water before applying the lubricant, but from the shop that I do the service they told me that I only need to aplly the lubricant.

I have bought "Chain Lubricant o-ring safe" Denicol Lubricants. It says that it is Water Repellent.

Is the WD-40 really neccassary? Do I have to clean the chain first?

Also I ride my bike only on asphalt in the city and I have done 2150km (1400 miles) with it.

Thanks

Yes, cleaning the chain is necessary. Otherwise you're just adding more lube to an otherwise dirty and contaminated chain. In some ways, you're even trapping the dirt in the chain if you lube without cleaning. If you have access to a rear stand, cleaning and lubing your ninja 250 chain is a really simple process.

-Put bike on stands
-Put it in neutral
-Stand behind bike and point wd-40 (or another cleaning agent) at chain
-Spray and spin wheel with other hand (leave the engine OFF!)
-Take rag and hold chain from bottom and spin (you can also use the toothbrush method before the rag if chain is really dirty)
-Spray lube and spin wheel

Done.

Duh, bikestands! Of course! I've already seen a few threads on this forum about spools. Are they pretty universal with the stands? Or would I need a special Ninja 250 stand?

Duh, bikestands! Of course! I've already seen a few threads on this forum about spools. Are they pretty universal with the stands? Or would I need a special Ninja 250 stand?

You don't necessarily need rearstand spools for your ninja 250. Though they're nice and more secure, a lot of rearstands are adjustable and universal and have a pitch that fits in the spool, or a rubberized pad that lifts the swingarm from underneath.

Good to know. That means I can just buy one rearstand for my ninja 250 and not worry about it when i eventually get something else.

Correct.

Great post. Used Motul Cleaner and Dupont Teflon Lube. Made myself a DIY stand to do this because it was too much of a pain to do it without a stand.

Dupont Teflon Lube leaves the chain so CLEAN!!

http://i.imgur.com/8ZE2D.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MTEyL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uRXlr.jpg

Great stuff in this thread for sure... and this little video here is another way to make one fo the worst jobs of owning a chain drive motorcycle a bit easier...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdm_ZcMgyzg

Blue Strada

Great post. I now know how to do one thing on my bike myself, lol. I'm trying to learn as much as I can to do it myself. Any REAL technical stuff I'll leave to the pro's, but stuff like this and changing my oil I want to learn myself. Also want to learn how to properly winterize my bike.