Best Motorcycle Chain Lube

Written By: Team Zilla
Last Updated: May 8, 2025

Bold new graphics only go so far. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter most to the performance of your motorcycle. Case in point: a properly lubed chain that can tolerate regular use and abuse. Impeccably clean with a slight sheen, a roller chain drivetrain that’s received recent attention is going to be taught, straight, and slippery. Best of all, getting a chain in this ideal condition isn’t all that difficult.

It’s our goal here at RevZilla to serve the riding community. That means providing you with the best motorcycle chain lube for 2023 and arming you with the knowledge needed to get the job done right. So whether you spend time on the street, in the dirt, or like to mix it up with both, there’s a product on this page that’ll give your chain and sprockets a longer and more reliable life.

Many folks figure motorcycle chain lube is any light oil or petroleum-based product that comes in a spray can. It’s much more nuanced than that, with options made specifically for pavement pounders, dirt diggers and those wrench-spinners who want nothing but the best. Lubricant, as opposed to wax, is designed to help the chain’s flexible parts; wax adds a top coat of long-lasting protection. These products are further divided by being off-road specific, which means they’ve been tested in the dirt, or are fling-free to not ruin the finish on showroom-clean street bikes. Moreover, hitting the drivetrain with the best motorcycle chain cleaner as a prep step will make your life much easier when it comes to lubrication. We know it may be tempting to throw in the shop rag and say “it’s all the same,” that’s not the case. Read on for detailed commentary from our staff of in-house experts and real RevZilla customers. No matter which way you ride, you’ll see these picks are specifically engineered to protect a motorcycle’s final drive from premature “stretching” and other metal-on-metal mayhem. So shop our best motorcycle chain lube nominations with confidence and you’ll do your sprockets a huge favor in the process.

Without further ado, our overall top pick for 2023’s best chain lube for motorcycles is Motul’s Chain Care Kit. It’s got everything you need, from a brush to the cleaner and lubricants, in one multi-purposed package that’s still priced right. The products here will keep your chain looking and rolling like new for hundreds of on-road miles between services. Customer reviews laud this offering for its ease of use and rapid effect, too, while our experts say it’s less prone to fling over some other offerings. This kit comes in either on or off-road applications, so be sure to specify when ordering. The only fault our experts and some customers found was that an extra pair of shop gloves would have been a nice inclusion.

Do you want to grease and go, or do you want deep-penetrating, long-lasting protection? The best motorcycle chain wax really delivers when it comes to the latter. Generally, these spray on as a paraffin-based film then set up to create a barrier between grime and the plates, rollers and O, X or Z-rings. You won’t be able to douse the chain and immediately hit the road, but you will have invested in an extra step with proven benefits.

Our top pick for best motorcycle chain wax is Maxima Chain Wax. It works wonders against all types of road grime that can gum up the works and comes in two sizes depending on your needs. Our experts and some shoppers say this wax does have a tendency to fling off. Thus, a squeaky clean finish down by the drivetrain may not last too long. Let it dry after application, however, and you should be in the clear.

Take a look at the road after it rains and you’ll readily spot grit, grime and grease slicks. What’s worse is when these ingredients get sucked up into your chain’s rollings bits and wear things down and out. Keep your chain free from the ill effects of this crud with the best motorcycle chain lube for street bikes.

Our staff pick in this category is Motul Racing Chain Lube. It boasts a competitive price compared to other options while touting fast-drying and water-resistant properties. This is all a complement to the fact that it’s going to help extend the lifespan of your chain — which is why we’re all here in the first place. It sprays on in an easily-seen white color and isn’t as fling-prone as some other products. Still, some customers say this lube has a tendency to splatter and stain the tires a shade of silver.

A shaft drive dirt bike sure would simplify things, but the concept is just too heavy and damage-prone. It’s why our old trusty friend, the roller chain, is the primary source of propulsion in the off-road realm. We’ll admit that it is labor-intensive to keep your bike’s chain free of contaminants, but that’s the price you pay for fun. That said, if there’s a lube that can efficiently disperse dirt, it has a place on your shelf and ours. So if you've got the bike up on a stand and rear wheel ready to spin, the best dirt bike chain lube will help you finish that one last item on the to-do list.

Our staff pick for the best chain lube for an off-road motorcycle is Motul C3 Chain Lube Off-Road. As the best chain lube for dirt bikes, we know this one will withstand the tests of time and terrain and has been designed to not overspray all over the swingarm and chain guide thanks to a spray straw applicator. It’s also priced slightly lower than competitors while not leaving as much of a messy residue that others are faulted for. Still, some say Motul’s off-road lube can be too sticky so spray carefully unless you want to scrub the excess off. 

Things to Consider

The run between front and rear sprockets is where the magic happens. For a roller chain to effectively do its job and transfer power from the front sprocket to the rear wheel, it needs to be tight, clean and straight. So go ahead and give that rear wheel a spin. If the feedback is stiff, crunchy or some other sorry state, the best chain lube for motorcycle owners can help restore things.

What is the point of chain lube?

As the Common Tread crew has previously explained, “dirt and other debris are abrasive, so they’ll wear out your chain and sprockets and sap horsepower from getting to your rear wheel.” Rust is also the enemy of all things mechanical and it will rapidly take hold in a damp environment; chain lube helps to inhibit this.

How often should I lube my motorcycle chain?

It’s so easy to do wrong — yet so important to do right. According to lubricant leader PJ1, dirt bikers should clean and lube post-ride every time, while street bike chains “should be lubricated every 500-1,000 miles depending on your riding habits and riding environment.”

Is WD-40 good for motorcycle chains?

In a pinch, almost everyone has considered some dribbles of motor oil or blasts from the ol’ WD can. While it may work for a brief window without doing much harm — or good, for that matter — there’s no substitute for the appropriate products we’ve nominated on this page. The same goes for a motorcycle chain cleaner, which will dissolve and blast away build-up. We'd recommend using the best motorcycle chain cleaners from Maxima, Motul and Muc-Off as an initial step in drivetrain maintenance; break out the grunge brush and lube afterward and you'll be all set.

Isn’t factory lube sealed-in? Why do I need to lube my chain?

If you have an O-ring chain, or any other ring for that matter, then yes, there is sealed factory grease lubricating the rollers. The staff picks we’ve pointed out (alongside all the other Best Of articles we've penned) are a complement to the manufacturer’s own efforts and help keep the rest of the chain clean.

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