Chain lubrication on Honda F3?

Question

Can anyone recommend a good chain lubricant for my Honda F3? How do I know if I need to lube the chain or not?

Answer 1

Good question. I have heard that overlubing will result in a stretched chain and premature failure. Underlubing it will cause minimal problems other than slightly decreased sprocket life (which is probably neglible) and slightly decreased horsepower and fuel efficiency. On an exposed part, such as the chain, excess oil just traps dust and particles, which result in more grit. I would use motor oil and apply very sparingly and only once or twice per season, but that might be totally wrong. :)

yeah it is.. haha. read this http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/chain-care.html

Answer 2

There are a number of commercially available spray-on chain lubes. PJ1 is fine, bel-ray is fine, I'd just go with whatever you can consistently get. Other folks I know swear by 90w oil, though it's messy.

Check your owner's manual to see what they recommend. I'd be willing to wager that they recommend the Honda-branded spray chain lube.

I lube my chain after every other fill-up, or around every 350 miles. Overlubing will not hurt your chain. Underlubing will. You may get rust, kinking, and excessive wear on your chain and sprockets. BTW, many folks run their chains too tight. Again, check your owner's manual for the proper tension. And replace your chain and sprockets consistently with the owner's manual, too.

Answer 3

I use PJ1 Blue on all my bikes.
It penetrates o-rings.
Won't drip or fly off.
It's blue in color - when the color fades it should be lubed again.
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/common/Frontpage.jsp
General Search - pj1 - Chemicals & Lubricants - Chain Cleaner & Lubricant
If you ride your bike every day, it's good practice to check your chain tension before each ride.
If it's loose or dry, take it easy until you have the time to adjust and lube it - usualy on the weekend.
Lube it after riding through wet weather.