New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
FWIW, I started using a gallon of WD40 in a spray bottle on a DID cheaper O ring chain 4000 miles ago on a 650 Versys. I do it every night when I get home. Usually about 150 miles. 200 is the max. It is keeping the chain clean. The side plates still are wet at 150 but close to dry at 200. I quit wiping it off as there is almost no spray off. Any over spray comes right off the wheel. But, I think if I had to ride in the rain I'd have to stop every 50 miles.
You’ll be back. They all do…
FWIW, my cousin rides mostly on gravel roads, and never lube his chains at all, only use degreaser and water after every ride, and then wipe it off with a dry rag. He has done this with his XR650R, 500-EXC, 950SE and his two 1250 Adventure Rs. Typically, he gets 10+ K miles from a set of chain and sprockets.
Interesting thread. I went in the opposite direction!I have a 2020 Scrambler 1200 XE that I've enjoyed...but despite trying to make it function like my primary ADV bike, it just didn't swing it. Brilliant engine. Superb suspension (those Ohlins!) But with the high exhaust limiting me to one bag...and even with the tail rack and a higher aftermarket windscreen, it's still more of a giant naked high-performance dirt bike. I've tried motocamping and some distance travel with it...but it's just not purpose built for that, to me at least.So I've put the Scrambler up for sale on ADVRider (in the fleamarket), and picked up a beautiful, fully-kitted-out V85TT Guardia d'Onore at the end of last year. Yes, it's slower. Yes, it's likely not as good off road. But to me, it's ridiculously comfortable, is set up to carry and travel out the gate, and has everything I want on a proper ADV bike. Plus all that delicious Guzzi history and character.
Part of it was the luggage. But it was also the lack of wind/weather protection and the general manners of the 1200 XE. It's a SUPERB bike for scrambling and hooning around once you get to your destination. It's stupendous off road. But if you have several hours of slab before that...or you want to use it as a dedicated traveling bike...it's not ideal. Tall, exposed, and the luggage carrying capacity is limited. Finally, it has a manageable but very pronounced heat issue with the high pipe exhaust. The 1200 Scrambler is well known as a leg- and luggage broiler. So I'd be reluctant to mount a bag on the side with the exhaust, as I wouldn't want to melt or cook my right side bag!
His XE is going up for sale soon. He is trying to figure out what to get next. It will have to be something that will be fast enough for him, but more usable for some of the trips he has in mind. But I wouldn't be surprised if he ditches all that and comes home with a Tuono.
Not a V100S?
he doesn't have a single pair of red suspenders, so it may be awhile yet.
Once again, I salute Huzo for his keen observations and for sharing my motorcycle prejudices. I admit—I negatively judge people who have nasty, dry, un-lubed chains. Conversely, I’m already favorably inclined towards anyone I encounter with a nicely maintained, slightly slick & oiled chain. Adjusted a bit on the slack side, but not too slack. Frankly, I award bonus points to those who don’t really care if there is a bit of lube accumulating in the vicinity of the chain. That’s the sign of a happy machine—I think it’s a good look. A motorcycle isn’t supposed to look like a medical device sitting in the surgery suite of a hospital. And I’ll confess. I love the smell of 90 weight gear oil. My chain lube of choice, applied with a 1” paint brush. I’ve loved that unmistakeable smell ever since I was a kid, walking into a shed with serious, no-joke machines like tractors. To me, the sulphrous aroma of gear oil signals the presence of honest, hardworking machines, and ones who are being maintained to last decades. I’m at 42,000 miles on my chain drive 2019 Kawasaki K900 Cafe. I’ve got a chain wear gauge, and I’m still showing only a tad more than zero % wear. Nowhere close to the 1% mark. No sticky links or failed O-rings. Sprocket teeth look great. I’m not sure how much longer this chain lasts. But I’ve had catastrophic belt failures on a BMW F800 around 25k miles. Heard of transmission and finals drives crapping out on BMWs and Guzzis around 40 to 50K miles. I think a modern, O-ring chain is a marvel.
I like shaft drive because they are clean, and because I do not have to worry about wheel alignment. Shaft does not mean maintenance free.
When I have had occasion to ride beside my Triumph Sprint ST at highway speeds, I loved to look at the bottom run of the chain.On smooth roads, the non driving section sat absolutely still. Just a gentle harmonic sway as the suspension ironed out the dips….Magic.
Your post reminds me of riding along side friend's bikes. It was pretty obvious who was performing proper chain maintenance and who was not. A dry, maladjusted chain makes a lot of noise at highway speeds.Trials bikes have chain tensioners, as did some of the old European trail bikes. Apparently, manufacturers figure there is not enough benefit to justify the expense of adding to street bikes.
The range of motion of the swingarm on a road bike is small compared to an off road bike.Also the line joining the two sprocket centres on a road bike passes much closer to the centreline of the swingarm. This all adds up to mean that the slack in a roadbike chain is far more constant as the swingarm moves, than an off road bike.They are simply not required.