Chain maintenance for motorcycles is usually neglected in India and sometimes, even the official motorcycle service centers don’t perform this crucial maintenance process in the correct manner. It’s a major issue, as it’s the chain that literally transfers energy to the rear wheels of the bike and a dirty or dirty chain can seriously impact the performance. The good thing is that it’s not difficult to tackle yourself if you’re willing to wash your hands dirty, and dusty. Keep in mind that this must be performed at least every 500km.

Tools needed:

• A paddock stand (if your motorcycle doesn’t have a main stand).
• Toothbrush/chain cleaning brush.
• A rag.
• WD-40 multi-use product spray/chain cleaner.
• Chain lubricant.
• And gloves (if you don’t want to get your hands dirty).

1. Jack up your motorcycle

Find a smooth, clean area to set your bike onto the paddock stand or the main stand. Clean surfaces are always an ideal place to start with so that you do not end up contaminating the motorcycle or yourself. But, remember that you must clean the area following your ride because it’s about to become dirty. Because we’ll likely be using water in the future, make sure to see that there is adequate drainage. It is an ideal time to organize and put your equipment on the top of the ladder or out of the chain’s surface.

2. Wash the chain

Chains for motorcycles are filthy and even more so in countries similar to ours where roads aren’t maintained regularly. Chains that are exposed are magnets to dust and dirt due to their oily surface as well as their position on the bike. This is the main reason that the majority of commuter motorcycles in India have enclosed chains that have covers. But with the rise of more athletic commuters as well as new sportbikes, open chains have become an everyday sight. Chains open to elements can get very dirty. The first thing they require is a thorough wash. The water will help remove the most surface dirt off the chain as it can; it also helps loosen any remaining sludge left on the chain.

3. Clean the chain

As with all things, preparation is essential, and washing the chain isn’t enough. It requires thorough cleaning first spraying it with a chain cleaner or with WD-40’s multi-use spray. The latter is found in a lot of hardware stores. While WD-40 is not widely accepted in some circles, it is believed that it could cause harm to the O-rings that are delicately attached to chains over a prolonged time. Be sure to turn the wheel when spraying to ensure that it covers each link of the chain. Then, allow it to sit for some time to absorb and then begin to work with the cleaner brush for the chain. Clean the brush every time. Then, wipe the entire chain using a cloth and check that the chain has shed its black sludgy look and returned to its original shiny metallic color.

4. Oil the chain

The final and most satisfying step is to grease the chain with the lubricant for motorcycle chains. Make use of the nozzle included in the spray bottle and ensure to oil each link in the chain. Be sure to spray in small bursts, so that the oil doesn’t go everywhere else, which could make it difficult to remove. Be cautious not to over-lube and be especially cautious not to spill any residue on your rear tire. An excellent tip is to place a piece of cardboard on it to hold the spray at bay.