Chain reaction
On face value I didn’t think my chain was in a bad state at all, but I was soon shown different. Chain maintenance is crucial on any bike, but as I was to learn there’s more to keeping yours in top working order than the odd coating of lube and adjustment with the spanners. “They are magnets for muck,” said Marsh. “If you don’t clean them off regularly you can knacker your seals or accelerate wear on your sprockets and rollers.” To help with this job Motul has a special chain care kit, with a cleaning solution and a firm, three-sided brush. “You can blast away with as much water as you like, but chains need a more considered treatment. Powering water into the mix can also risk losing the lube trapped in between the seals and rollers. You’re better off getting a proper chain cleaning kit, with a tough scrubbing brush. Get the rear wheel off the ground on a paddock stand and slowly, but surely coat the whole chain with a chain degreaser. Once you’ve coated the whole chain, go back to the part where you started and scrub away, remembering that there are four faces to a chain (top, bottom, both sides), and you’ll want to clean them all just as thoroughly. If your chain is in a real minging state, use a cloth to wipe away the worst of the muck you’ve dislodged before going over the whole chain again with the degreaser, then the brush, repeating the whole process once again,”
I was surprised at the time and effort that went into this job, but the transformation was obvious, especially after Marsh had given the chain a light going over with warm water and soap. Like with the engine, he gave the links a thorough blow off before adjusting the chain and covering it in chain lube. The difference wasn’t just in the looks department; the physical effort required to spin the rear wheel was notably less. Marsh also took this opportunity to check for tight spots and dodgy links. “People often forget that the best time to check your bike for any issues, cracks or failures is when you’re cleaning it, and the same has to be said for chains. If one of these snaps, you could be in serious trouble, and if it doesn’t hurt you, a chain could seriously muller your engine, so don’t ever be complacent with yours.”