Interesting experiment with chain life

[lightning]

1,500 miles
Only using GT-85 on the chain

 

[Paul Mac]

This seems too good to be true.
You aren't the Sales manager for GT40 are you

 

[lightning]

Hah, l wish

Maybe l should tell them, and they send me a few free tins lol

l am sure other spray lubricants would work, l bought a similar one from my LBS. l guess it just needs to be a PTFE based spray

 

[jimbob]

Is it actually lubricating the chain do you think? I assumed it was adding a thin layer on the surface to stop rust and stop dirt from sticking?

 

[lightning]

l spray it liberally on the chain from close range, so it will be getting into the link bearings

lt's sold as being suitable as a chain lubricant

 

[Semmelrocc]

Thanks for sharing your experiment! I've now ordered a bottle of GT-85 and will test it out for myself. Chain is north of 1.000 miles with regular wet lube now and drive train still behaves normally, but I Keep washing and lubing after every muddy ride. Interesting fact: it says on the lube bottle to use it every 300 km. Cannot see how that could possibly be enough in the cold/wet season.

 

[Paul Mac]

I used GT 85 the last ride just to check out this idea.
Got to admit I was disappointed to find that after a wet ride the chain went rusty?

 

[Zimmerframe]

I'm going to go out a limb here, I think the reason @lightning isn't getting the reaction he expects is because chain life depends massively on shifting technique as opposed to lube technique.

The people who wreck their chains/cassettes in 200/300/400 km's just bang through the gears on the gas and have zero mechanical sympathy/experience - lots of fun . There will be other factors too, like misfortune, Body mass ?(it's more proportional than bike weight) , riding conditions - but I think whilst you're getting ok miles, it's far from amazing and most people who don't have sponsored bikes get similar or more range anyway.

I have one bike setup as a test bike at the moment (12 speed Shimano), de-restricted to 45 kph, it's chain etc has done 1800 miles (90% off road in all conditions) and I keep checking it against a new chain (take it off) and I have ZERO growth.

Normally I'd have been a moron and gone through several derailleurs/chains (change when the chains been bent to feck) in that time, but this one seems magically lucky when it comes to branches - so who knows.

I just stick Squirt lube on LIGHTLY after a ride ! About every 30k or longer if it's a 100k ride. So a 120ml bottle lasts about a year over several bikes. use this affiliate link ...... (only joking) ..

 

[lightning]

l bang through the gears without getting off the gas, tbh when accelerating on the road it's difficult not to because the E8000 runs on for a second after you back off pedalling

l've never had a rusty chain using GT-85 and l've ridden in torrential rain. l am getting towards 0.5 on my chain now, and will keep on with the test to see what happens.

 

[brizi2003]

l bang through the gears without getting off the gas, tbh when accelerating on the road it's difficult not to because the E8000 runs on for a second after you back off pedalling

l've never had a rusty chain using GT-85 and l've ridden in torrential rain. l am getting towards 0.5 on my chain now, and will keep on with the test to see what happens.

Hi @lightning , What chain model are you using? Did you de-grease the chain before it's first use? I've been using squirt wax lube on my recent ebike chains and have got a maximum of 1500 miles before passing 0.5% wear. Keep posting your updates!

 

[lightning]

Hi there no l didn't de grease the chain when l fitted it.
lt looks like l am going to get around 1500 miles from the chain, around the same as you.
l am using the cheapest SRAM chain.

 

[1oldfart]

In my opinion the weight of the rider
if she/he is always on flat
the quality of the shifting
are key.
I have no faith in overpriced tiny bottles.
I just clean a bit like every 2 months, lube as needed.