No.. Junk it... I have used ONLY WD-40 on my chains for over 15 Years and have never had any issues...O-Ring, X-Ring and No Ring..Just make sure you spray it on the chain when its hot and wipe down good.....

 

+1 on the WD-40. Been using it for over 10 years with no problems. I've had my current 99 for 7 years and the chain has seen nothing but WD-40 since the 5,000 mile mark. Just replaced it last fall with at 40,400 miles cause it blew an x-ring.

Mark
99 R1

ps When lubing the chain, you only need to concern yourself with o(x)-ring maintenance. Keep them lubed and you'll get years out of them.

 

I have never had an issue myself nor have I ever heard of an issue withremoving the chain guard. Just ask yourself, have you ever seen a chain gaurd on a WSBK or Moto GP bike? Those guys are running their chains even harder than we ever could.

 

Get a Shark Guard.....

 

removed my chain guard almost a year ago and no issues. every now and then i shift my foot around wrong and it just taps the chain enough to where I can feel a very slight vibration in my boot.

 

If you use WD-40 then you don't really have to worry about lube on the tire. In fact, you shouldn't have to worry about that with any lube because it only gets slung up and down, not side to side or onto the tire. I took my chain guard off not too long ago. I have heard of people's legs getting nearly chopped off when the chain snaps, but IMO there's enough metal, plastic, and boot to stop it. And if the chain snaps you probably have bigger worries.

 

yeah..and I dont think that flimsy piece of crap plastic chain cover is going to stand a chance against a chain that can break through the side of the engine.

 

I wouldn't advise wearing your blue jeans on the outside of your boots!

 

i wear my jeans outside my boots all the time and never had any issues

 

I wear my overpants over my boots, same with jeans. Leather pants/suit go inside the boots.

 

Steve O's pic

 

Also to add- I removed the chain guard on my 600RR because I thought it looked cleaner. Never took it off the R1, but I did plan on removing it once I pick up a carbon hugger. So glad I didn't. Would you probably be safe without it? Yea. Most likely. Chains snapping aren't common, even for people who don't maintain their shit. But, for the peace of mind- and the 'what if'-- I wouldn't. I'll never remove a chain guard again. Hell, it's always going to be in the back of my mind.....guard or not...

 

I drag race and I have seen chains break. That little piece of plastic is not going to stop that chain from hurting you. If you broke a chain and it didn't hit you well play the lottery. Buddy of mine broke his chain racing his 09 1000rr on NOS it ripped off the passenger peg hit him in the back of his helment and flew about 30 feet in the air. And this was a ZZR2 chain so it can happen to any one.

 

Yea it's more for keeping clothing out of the chain than it is for stopping one that breaks

 

Thats unreal. Did you ever post the pic?

 

Looks like WD-40 is the way to go. Thanks guys just saved me some money.

 

From the instances that I have just read, seems to be when a lot of force or power is applied. Track racing, drag racing, I'm curious how often this has happened to people that just use the bike for street. Sorry to revive a dead thread, but nice to revisit the situation.

 

Yea, I'd run my chain guard. No reason to risk it

 

best of both worlds

 

Wow thats real nice looking. If you dont mind me asking where did you get all that carbon

 

i agree that the chain guard isn't intended to protect u from a failed chain. but i had mine off for a little while, like the look with colored chain, but put it back on for couple reasons. depending on footing and position, my heel would hit the chain. never did anything, but didn't like it. main reason is that it made a mess of the bike with lube getting everywhere. so i put it back on and don't ever plan to take it off.

i disagree with wd40 over lube. i know plenty of people have good luck and all, but lube does more than just lube the orings. to me wd40 is just too thin to do anything but lube the orings and doesn't protect sprocket or chain from friction wear.

 

I had my chain break on my r1 I was ripping it hard in 3rd and rpm when to redline and I heard a snap. Well at first I thought it was my tranny lol I got a lot of miles on it but it was the chain. It was a nice clean break it flew away from me and slid on the road and went under the car behind me lol. No chain guard either
Now for chain lube I use chain wax but I clean the chain first with wd-40.

 

WD-40 is not good for the rubber o-rings in the chain. It causes them to swell and eventually get brittle. I have used it to clean mine as well but then bought another product just for cleaning your chain and it works really good. It's made by the same people that make chain wax.

As for the chain guard, I cut mine just under the section of swing arm that it passes under. This way, you can't see that it's cut yet you still have the guard section right by your leg. Also, since its closer to the engine, it doesn't really look like the it ugly chain guard that you want gone. I also use a 520 chain rather than the stock 530 and i have had no problems.

 

Chain oil.

I've given up on aerosol chain lubes and now use 90w gear oil instead. So much nicer to use, and cheaper too. I brush the gear oil on and wipe any excess with a rag. I don't have any issues with fling. I probably apply the stuff a little more frequently but it's so nice and easy to apply it's no hardship.

Aerosol lubes sprayed everywhere during application and made a mess. Chain waxes in particular can build up in the front sprocket cover and make a grinding paste with any stones which get in there.

 

I've given up on aerosol chain lubes and now use 90w gear oil instead. So much nicer to use, and cheaper too. I brush the gear oil on and wipe any excess with a rag. I don't have any issues with fling. I probably apply the stuff a little more frequently but it's so nice and easy to apply it's no hardship.

Aerosol lubes sprayed everywhere during application and made a mess. Chain waxes in particular can build up in the front sprocket cover and make a grinding paste with any stones which get in there.

not sure gear oil is gonna do much. it doesn't have fling cuz a few turns around the chain and it's all flung off anyway. hence y chain lube is sticky, cuz it has to be. try the pj1 blue, it's lighter and excess is easier to wipe. thus less extra to fling.

 

Oil.

My '99 ZX6R manual says use SAE90 gear oil on the chain every 400 miles (600 km). I've used aerosol lubes until recently.

My '03 R1 manual says use "a special O-ring chain lubricant" every 600 miles (1000km).

Both bikes have O-ring chains. Gear oil doesn't stick as well, but it will stick.
Another advantage is it can be cleaned from the wheels, etc without the harsh cleaning agents and elbow grease I've previously had to use.

As an alternative I've looked at Scottoilers but they're a bit too Heath Robinson for my taste.

 

My '99 ZX6R manual says use SAE90 gear oil on the chain every 400 miles (600 km). I've used aerosol lubes until recently.

My '03 R1 manual says use "a special O-ring chain lubricant" every 600 miles (1000km).

Both bikes have O-ring chains. Gear oil doesn't stick as well, but it will stick.
Another advantage is it can be cleaned from the wheels, etc without the harsh cleaning agents and elbow grease I've previously had to use.

As an alternative I've looked at Scottoilers but they're a bit too Heath Robinson for my taste.

idk, probably bunch of ways to do it. ky may work, i konw people use wd40 with success. but good chain lube is cheap, easy to use, and clean if done right with good stuff. may be excessive, but so is synthetic in my car. sure doesn't hurt though.

too each their own.

 

The one and only reason to lube a chain is to keep the o-rings from cracking. That being said, WD-40 is a great choice. It contains about 20% petroleum oil. I recently posted my results from using nothing but WD-40 since I bought the bike at 6,000 miles:

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302448

Mark
99 R1

ps I lube every 333 miles. Easy to remember...50,333 then 50,666 and then 50,999.

 

Not true. It prevents metal to metal contact to reduce friction and wear. Lube of rings is one thing, but not the only thing.

 

I don't think "what" you use matters as much as how often you use it. If you maintain your chain on a regular basis I don't think it really matters

 

Finally a decent comment regarding chain lube. :thumbup

I clean and lube every ride with WD-40 even if its only a 20 mile ride like today. :fact

 

Maybe I'm confused...............is this a chain lube discussion? :dundun:
I think there's plenty of those going around.

OK I'll stop being the thread police now! :crash

 

seems like it is, chain guard question got answered i think.

Finally a decent comment regarding chain lube. :thumbup

I clean and lube every ride with WD-40 even if its only a 20 mile ride like today. :fact

lol, as long as the "what" has some kind of lubing property. wd40 is pretty light and won't protect wear areas nearly as well as other options. lubing after every ride or on greater regularity than normal lube seems to work for most. for me that don't work, so i prefer heavier stuff that i can do less often.

 

I rode today with no chain guard and WD-40 on my chain.

:scared I'm gonna die. :scared

 

:lol