How to Clean and Lube a Motorcycle Chain (and Make It Last Twice as Long)

Originally published on Tutomod.

The chain is the hardest working part of your motorcycle, and the most neglected. Ten minutes of care every five hundred miles can double its life.

Updated August 09, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.

A dry, gritty chain eats sprockets and horsepower. Here's the simple routine every rider should know.

Photo by Ayoub Benamor on Pexels

The fast version

Get the rear wheel off the ground. A paddock stand is ideal. No stand? Roll the bike forward slowly between sections to reach the whole chain. Never run the engine with the wheel spinning near your fingers.
Spray the chain with cleaner. Kerosene is the classic safe choice. Skip harsh solvents like gasoline or brake cleaner on O-ring chains, they attack the rubber seals inside the links.
- Work in sections, wiping as you go
- Cardboard behind the chain saves your wheel and floor

Brush and wipe. Brush each side of the chain until the grime lets go, then wipe with a rag. The chain should look like metal again, not black paste.
Lube it warm. The pro trick: lube right after a short ride, when the chain is warm and the lube penetrates into the O-rings. Aim for the inside run of the chain, one thin pass is enough.
Let it sit, wipe excess. Give the lube ten minutes to set, then wipe the outside lightly. Extra lube just collects grit, which is the enemy this whole ritual fights.

High pressure washers force water past the O-rings and kill chains from the inside. Garden hose at most.
Lubing a dirty chain just makes grinding paste. Clean first, always.

Photo by Shandy Galicia on Pexels

Adjust chain slack at the same time: most bikes want 25 to 35 mm of up and down play at the tightest point.
Every second clean, check the sprocket teeth: sharp, worn hooks mean the set is due for replacement as a kit.
Ride off road often? Shorten the interval, dirt country chains work harder.