Caring for your equipment is crucial for performance. But with so many misconceptions and opinions out there, answering a simple question like, “which chain lube should I use?” can come with an array of complex answers. So let’s keep it simple and clear up some confusion around proper drivetrain lubrication.
Why Lube At All?
Regardless of which lube you choose, everyone agrees that all drivetrains need some type of lubricant for proper functionality. The various metal-on-metal contact points require some type of lubrication in order to reduce friction.
A dry chain may seem ‘cleaner’ but leads to pre mature wear, as a result, slowing you down due to increased friction. However, the same can be said for an overly oiled chain. These saturated chains act as dirt magnets also increasing drivetrain wear and friction.
So how do we find the happy medium? Let’s start by defining the difference between lubricants and which situations each thrives in.
Dry Lube
Dry lube is best suited for dirty, dusty, and well… dry conditions. This is because of the waxy film layer dry lube leaves behind which helps the chain repel dirt. A lot of people like dry lube for how easy it is to apply as once applied, there’s no additional steps. The solvent will evaporate and dry up after a few minutes leaving the chain with a clean dry finish.
When applying dry lube, be sure to wait somewhere around 10-20 minutes before riding as it will actually begin to attract dirt, if used without the proper drying time. The lube needs to fully dry into its waxy state or else it won’t be as effective at repelling dirt. For this reason, we suggest applying it the night before, so you can be sure it’s fully dried before hitting the track.
Wet Lube
On the other hand, we have wet lube which is specifically designed for rough conditions. You can think of this as more of a heavy-duty lubricant. While wet lube isn’t as good at keeping your chain clean, it does excel at withstanding whatever you throw at it. The oily coating left behind keeps the drivetrain running smooth even when dirt/mud find its way into the system.
While wet lube can be a dirt magnet, it’s also much more durable than dry lube. The protective coating left behind is water repellent, and can handle a fair bit of abuse while still properly lubricating the drivetrain. In addition, wet lube can make a drivetrain very quiet and smooth even if it’s not in the best shape.
Wet lube is less finicky when compared to dry lube. It works in nearly all conditions, has a longer lifespan, and is more of a set it and forget it lubricant. It’s notorious for leaving those black streaks on race pants from accidentally touching the chain, so while it isn’t as clean, wet lube is still very effective at protecting your chain & gears.
How to Apply Lube
When it comes to lube application, less is usually more. While a completely dry chain can cause unnecessary wear on your components, an oily chain can also do the same thing.
When applying the lube, it’s best to work from the underside of the chain (the links going rearward towards the hub) This is to avoid spillage onto the frame, hub, or even rotor if you’re running disc. For a new (never been lubed chain) you’ll want to start at the master link or connecting pin and apply a singular drop onto each link until you’re back at the master link. This ensures each link gets proper lubrication both internally and externally.
Afterwards, go back over the chain with a dry rag, cloth, or paper towel to wipe away any excess oil. If you’re using wet lube, then you can hit the track right away. For dry lube, remember to give it some time to properly dry/evaporate for the best performance (roughly 10-20minutes)
So Which is The Best?
Like with most things, there’s no outright best lubricant. Bmx racer use both wet and dry lube formulas. It really comes down to how you care for your bike. If you just want something that works in all conditions and don’t care to spend time reapplying lube every few sessions, wet lube is the clear choice. But if you’re more meticulous, love a clean chain, and don’t mind spending some extra time reapplying lube, then dry lube will work best for you.
Really the key take aways from this is to always ensure you’re running some type of lubricant on your drivetrain to extend the life and performance of it. You also want to make sure that you’re using a lubricant specifically designed for bicycles. Avoid products like WD-40 or other all purpose lubes. They will not offer the same level of performance you get with a proper bicycle designed lubricant.
Our Favorite Lubes
There are a lot of great options out there, but we understand that can get a bit overwhelming. So here are our personal favorite dry and wet lubes.
Finish-line Dry lube:
Finish-line dry lube is a fantastic practical choice. It’s affordable and readily available at a plethora of shops. The teflon wax coating it leave behind helps your chain glide with reduced friction and durable protection. Nothing too fancy here, but it gets the job done which is why we love it.
For wet lube, we’re throwing in a bit of a curve ball. Seeing as BMX racing is almost always done in dry conditions.
Rock-N-Roll Gold:
We don’t have much need for a heavy duty wet lube. However, the Gold chain lube from Rock-n-Roll combines the best of both worlds. It leaves behind a thicker membrane like a wet lube, but isn’t nearly as oily so you get that dirt shedding performance of a dry lube with a bit more durability. If we had to choose just one lube to run in all conditions, this would be it. Can’t recommend the Rock-n-Roll Gold enough!
About Us
We are Full Tilt Bike Co. a specialty bmx race shop based out of Minnesota. We’re a rider owned and operated company sourcing various bmx racing products. You can catch us at most of the USA BMX nationals supplying racers with the parts they need.
Safe to say, we live and breathe bmx racing! For more help or further questions, be sure to reach out here and one of our team members will be happy to help.
