How did you clean it @steeve?
Tip for new owners.
All the new supersports I've seen have a considerable amount of preservative on the chain. This stuff ends up being flung all over the bike. You only have to get some on your fingers or catch the bike cover (if you use one) on the chain and it spreads like the plague.
It's not easy to remove and looks even worse on the white bike. Some how mine had even got it on the front mudguard and fuel tank! It doesn't come off with soap and water and meths hardly touches it.
So it's worth spending some time removing it and lubing the chain properly before hitting the streets. I'd cleaned as much off as I could after picking the bike up and riding it home. But on my next ride out the bike was once again splattered. So I spent a good hour removing all traces. Hopefully other than road dirt the bike wont have black splodges all over it. It's an O ring chain so be careful what you use.
It's not easy to remove and looks even worse on the white bike. Some how mine had even got it on the front mudguard and fuel tank! It doesn't come off with soap and water and meths hardly touches it.
So it's worth spending some time removing it and lubing the chain properly before hitting the streets. I'd cleaned as much off as I could after picking the bike up and riding it home. But on my next ride out the bike was once again splattered. So I spent a good hour removing all traces. Hopefully other than road dirt the bike wont have black splodges all over it. It's an O ring chain so be careful what you use.
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I found that the only thing I had that would remove it was white spirits. Which I dont like using on a chain, I gave it a good clean with a stiff brush, then quickly cleaned it with brake cleaner, followed by warm soapy water, dried it off then plenty of Wurth dry chain lube.
Is it a wax agent they have smeared on? I did notice from a few posts photos in the forum that the chain was looking a little white and was hoping it is not a polymer.I found that the only thing I had that would remove it was white spirits. Which I dont like using on a chain, I gave it a good clean with a stiff brush, then quickly cleaned it with brake cleaner, followed by warm soapy water, dried it off then plenty of Wurth dry chain lube.
I understand it is a lithium grease. Be careful what you use to clean it off with, some solvents can damage the O-rings in the chain.
I believe it is white chain spray from S100 they put on...
I recognized that on my demo drive, too.
But with chain clean from S100 and dry lube afterwards ( which is colourless ) - no particles will fly around no more.
Do you have the S100 products over there ?
I recognized that on my demo drive, too.
But with chain clean from S100 and dry lube afterwards ( which is colourless ) - no particles will fly around no more.
Do you have the S100 products over there ?
Never heard of lithium grease and never heard of S100 products. Probably because I converted my touring machine from chain to belt some years ago. I just hate the hassle of chain waxes and lubes. Bird droppings, tar, and chain lubes are on the same level of annoyance.
The factory lube, and many aftermarket varieties, seem to be based on a synthetic polymeric compound. Definitely not lithium. Whatever it is, it certainly makes a mess and continues to do so unless a thorough cleaning is performed. Kerosene/paraffin is declared safe for o-ring chains by the chain manufacturers.
My practice with a new bike/chain is to clean off the offending lube with WD-40. It is a kerosene based product. A small amount on about each 4 inches of chain followed by vigorous scrubbing with a shop rag will eventually clean it. I then lube the chain with Motul Chain Lube Road. I spray small sections and then immediately wipe the excess off with a clean rag. Chain is lubed, protected, and no fling.
As for cleaning chain lube off my hands, I use Methyl Ethyl Ketone. Nasty stuff, but effective, and I am protected by old age.
My practice with a new bike/chain is to clean off the offending lube with WD-40. It is a kerosene based product. A small amount on about each 4 inches of chain followed by vigorous scrubbing with a shop rag will eventually clean it. I then lube the chain with Motul Chain Lube Road. I spray small sections and then immediately wipe the excess off with a clean rag. Chain is lubed, protected, and no fling.
As for cleaning chain lube off my hands, I use Methyl Ethyl Ketone. Nasty stuff, but effective, and I am protected by old age.
When asking I was told it was not lube but preservative put on by the chain manufacturer to stop the chains getting rusty in transport and storage of both chain and bike. Particularly for sea voyages.
It does however seem very greasy, it may be white when you look at it but get it on your clothes or other parts of the bike and its black. It's just awful stuff. The rear wheel was coated, the underside of the seat and reg plate, on the swinging arm cover in front of the rear sprocket, back of the engine around the rear shock. Inside my bike cover as I must have caught the chain when putting it on, so it was also over the pillion seat cover. It was on the tank, on the front mudguard (when I picked it up). It was on me, my clothes and overalls. etc. etc.
Ideally the dealer ought to clean it off. It really takes some shifting.
I didn't want to use white spirits as I'm wary about the effect on the chain O rings. But I did it very quickly and removed the cleaner thoroughly. I felt it was my only option. I'd originally taken several hours trying to wipe it off. But next ride and it was spattered again. But not today it wasn't.:laugh:
It does however seem very greasy, it may be white when you look at it but get it on your clothes or other parts of the bike and its black. It's just awful stuff. The rear wheel was coated, the underside of the seat and reg plate, on the swinging arm cover in front of the rear sprocket, back of the engine around the rear shock. Inside my bike cover as I must have caught the chain when putting it on, so it was also over the pillion seat cover. It was on the tank, on the front mudguard (when I picked it up). It was on me, my clothes and overalls. etc. etc.
Ideally the dealer ought to clean it off. It really takes some shifting.
I didn't want to use white spirits as I'm wary about the effect on the chain O rings. But I did it very quickly and removed the cleaner thoroughly. I felt it was my only option. I'd originally taken several hours trying to wipe it off. But next ride and it was spattered again. But not today it wasn't.:laugh:
Good to know, I'll be asking my dealership to address it, sounds like something I don't want to mess with.
True that the chain lube on a new Ducati is the lube as applied by the chain manufacturer.
However, even chain lubes now available are very similar and almost as messy if not applied and the excess immediately removed before the lube sets up and phases into the tacky mode. Unless riding in a severe environment, all that is needed is for the metal surfaces to be coated and that the lube has reached the o-rings. Anything more than that is unnecessarily messy. Cleaning and lubing a chain after riding in the rain, and while the chain is warm, has always been recommended.
AFAIK Kerosene/Paraffin is the only cleaning agent recommended by the chain companies. Not sure about white spirits. An O-ring compatibility chart should provide that information. Or, just drop a couple different O-ring types in a bottle of white spirits and see how they look after a week. Might be perfectly acceptable.
However, even chain lubes now available are very similar and almost as messy if not applied and the excess immediately removed before the lube sets up and phases into the tacky mode. Unless riding in a severe environment, all that is needed is for the metal surfaces to be coated and that the lube has reached the o-rings. Anything more than that is unnecessarily messy. Cleaning and lubing a chain after riding in the rain, and while the chain is warm, has always been recommended.
AFAIK Kerosene/Paraffin is the only cleaning agent recommended by the chain companies. Not sure about white spirits. An O-ring compatibility chart should provide that information. Or, just drop a couple different O-ring types in a bottle of white spirits and see how they look after a week. Might be perfectly acceptable.
Kerosene has served me well for many years without any problems. The low odour stuff works just as well as the regular.
The chain lube that usually wins in magazine tests in the UK is Wurth High Performance Dry Chain Spray. I've used it for years and never had any issues. No need for messy chain lube, no fling with this stuff.True that the chain lube on a new Ducati is the lube as applied by the chain manufacturer.
However, even chain lubes now available are very similar and almost as messy if not applied and the excess immediately removed before the lube sets up and phases into the tacky mode. Unless riding in a severe environment, all that is needed is for the metal surfaces to be coated and that the lube has reached the o-rings. Anything more than that is unnecessarily messy. Cleaning and lubing a chain after riding in the rain, and while the chain is warm, has always been recommended.
AFAIK Kerosene/Paraffin is the only cleaning agent recommended by the chain companies. Not sure about white spirits. An O-ring compatibility chart should provide that information. Or, just drop a couple different O-ring types in a bottle of white spirits and see how they look after a week. Might be perfectly acceptable.
https://eshop.wurth.co.uk/is-bin/IN...5D&CatalogCategoryID=FDYKD92eBCEAAAFRUw0tfOi4
[QUOTE=steeve;23457
It's not easy to remove and looks even worse on the white bike. Some how mine had even got it on the front mudguard and fuel tank! It doesn't come off with soap and water and meths hardly
Thanks for the heads up on this. I was trying to work out what roads I had been on to create the mess. Wasn't terrible, but I used Muc Off bike cleaner and it came off straight away.
It's not easy to remove and looks even worse on the white bike. Some how mine had even got it on the front mudguard and fuel tank! It doesn't come off with soap and water and meths hardly
Thanks for the heads up on this. I was trying to work out what roads I had been on to create the mess. Wasn't terrible, but I used Muc Off bike cleaner and it came off straight away.
On this side of the pond Wurth products are not universally available. The Dupont Teflon Chain Saver Dry Lube might be an equivalent. I know that it is popular and highly recommended.The chain lube that usually wins in magazine tests in the UK is Wurth High Performance Dry Chain Spray. I've used it for years and never had any issues. No need for messy chain lube, no fling with this stuff.
https://eshop.wurth.co.uk/is-bin/IN...5D&CatalogCategoryID=FDYKD92eBCEAAAFRUw0tfOi4
Since the integrity of the O-rings is paramount I prefer that they have a liquid form of lubrication rather than a dry film. YMMV
Steeve, I know it's not funny to you but you had me laughing about this grease. Only a donkey does not learn from others, so I will use my paraffin gun. Having read the inputs from the forum, when mine arrives I am picking it up with my trailer instead of riding it home. Then it goes under the gun.When asking I was told it was not lube but preservative put on by the chain manufacturer to stop the chains getting rusty in transport and storage of both chain and bike. Particularly for sea voyages.
It does however seem very greasy, it may be white when you look at it but get it on your clothes or other parts of the bike and its black. It's just awful stuff. The rear wheel was coated, the underside of the seat and reg plate, on the swinging arm cover in front of the rear sprocket, back of the engine around the rear shock. Inside my bike cover as I must have caught the chain when putting it on, so it was also over the pillion seat cover. It was on the tank, on the front mudguard (when I picked it up). It was on me, my clothes and overalls. etc. etc.
Ideally the dealer ought to clean it off. It really takes some shifting.
I didn't want to use white spirits as I'm wary about the effect on the chain O rings. But I did it very quickly and removed the cleaner thoroughly. I felt it was my only option. I'd originally taken several hours trying to wipe it off. But next ride and it was spattered again. But not today it wasn't.:laugh:
This is definitely something that people should at least try to address at the dealership, and if no luck with that, get it home asap and tend to it before creating an even bigger mess for yourself to clean
Love that stuff: Dupont Teflon Chain Saver
Haven't read anything about removing the front sprocket cover and cleaning out all of the factory chain lube which immediately collected there the first time the bike was ridden. Do not remove it and it will eventually drip down the side of the sump and be flung aft. Or, it will be subsequently thinned by your chain lube of choice, run down onto the floor, and cause you to think you have a leak. Has happened many times to many people.
Great suggestion, looks easy enough to remove. I'll do that.Haven't read anything about removing the front sprocket cover and cleaning out all of the factory chain lube which immediately collected there the first time the bike was ridden. Do not remove it and it will eventually drip down the side of the sump and be flung aft. Or, it will be subsequently thinned by your chain lube of choice, run down onto the floor, and cause you to think you have a leak. Has happened many times to many people.
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