Basic Care

[poormillionaire2]

So, I got a newb question. I got an 09 Ninja last spring. Fun as hell. Anyways, I need to thoroughly clean and lube my chain. How do you guys clean it? what do you use? I already bought more chain lube that was recommended to me. I was told to clean the chain, heat it up, then spray it down, then let it set overnight. Does that sound about right? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

[speediva]

Here's how I've always cleaned/lubed up my bike chain:

1) Go for a little ride... maybe 15-20 miles. Just long enough to get the bike up to operating temp.
2) Use chain cleaner - they sell some things or I usually just used kerosene. Put the cleaner on a clean cloth and roll the bike forward (or roll the tire if you have rearsets) to clean the whole chain the whole way around. You might need to "scrub" some spots or go over them again. It won't be "sparkling" but it's not supposed to be.
3) Apply chain lube - this could be wax, a spray, or I've even seen some pastes. Now, don't go too heavy on application... you want to apply it, let it set for a second (the chain should still be a little warm at this point). Then you want to wipe off the excess. If you put on too much, the lube can end up all over your wheel and/or tire... and if you really put on too much it can end up all over your undertail (don't ask how I know... LOL)

After that I usually try to take another short-ish ride and see if it's spraying off or if it's looking OK.

Congrats on the bike, btw! I LOVE the new Ninjas

[poormillionaire2]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a try here soon.