There might be more exciting accessories to buy for your bike, but none is more essential than bike chain lube.
The chain is one of the hardest-working parts of your bike. When it’s well lubricated, it prevents corrosion and decreases friction ensuring a smooth and squeak-free cadence when cycling. If your chain isn’t well lubricated, it can cause excessive friction from too much metal on metal contact and ultimately reduce its lifespan.
So having the best bike chain lube is obviously vital to overall performance and longevity, but which is the right lube for your bike?
Whether you’re a commuter or a mountain bike rider, we’ve found the best bike chain lube in Australia that’ll meet your needs.
Best All-Rounder: Rock’ N’ Roll Gold Bike Lube
Rock’ N’ Roll has a reputation for being at the top of their game; after all, they are the self-proclaimed ‘king of lubes’. The Gold formula falls somewhere between a dry and wet lube.
Top 3 Best Bike Chain Lube in Australia
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Best All-Rounder: Rock’ N’ Roll Gold Bike Lube |
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Best Dry Lube: Rock’ N’ Roll Absolute Dry Lube Red |
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Best MTB Chain Lube: Rock’ N’ Roll Extreme Bike Lube |
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The results are in, and these are the three best bike chain lube products on the Australian market. Whether you need the best MTB chain lube or the best dry chain lube, we’ve researched the best products to ensure you find the best fit for your needs.
1. Best All-Rounder: Rock’ N’ Roll Gold Bike Lube – Best Overall
Specifications
Cleans and lubes all in one
- Long-lasting
- Easy to apply
The Gold Bike Lube is designed to work well in both dry and wet riding environments. This lube gives you the best of both worlds: the best road bike chain lube and mountain bike chain lube.
Rock’ N’ Roll has a reputation for being at the top of their game; after all, they are the self-proclaimed ‘king of lubes’. The Gold formula falls somewhere between a dry and wet lube. It’s formulated using wax dissolved into a solvent. After application, the solvent evaporates and leaves behind a long-lasting protective coating. This means your chain will be kept in excellent condition without requiring frequent lube re-applications.
The formula quickly penetrates the chain and adheres to even the smallest areas to ensure it stays spinning smoothly.
Who was it made for?
The Rock’ N’ Roll Gold is a versatile lubricant made for both mountain and road bikes. Whether you’ve just started riding or been doing it for years, this lube will ensure a smooth riding experience and keep the chain cleaner for longer.
2. Best Dry Lube: Rock’ N’ Roll Absolute Dry Lube Red
Specifications
Prolongs the life of your chain
- Works well in dirt and dust
- Supports faster spinning
The Rock’ N’ Roll Absolute Dry Red is designed for road drivetrains and is a super clean bike chain lubricant that effectively repels dirt.
Similar to the Rock’ N’ Roll Gold Lube, this dry formulation works by creating a protective membrane on the chain and seals out dirt, debris, and moisture. Other dry lubes collect dirt and then expel it from the chain when riding; this tends to use more of the lube on the chain, meaning it needs to be re-applied more often.
Unlike wet lubes, the Absolute Dry Red isn’t suitable for all seasons. It performs best in drier months and dry environments due to the formulation. While it can handle an accidental puddle splash, it’s better suited to dry road cycling.
Who was it made for?
Road bike riders rejoice. This dry lube is a great option for super-smooth pedalling and shifting, increasing the chain’s lifespan. It’s an extremely competitively priced product, meaning any road bike user can afford this lube’s protection.
3. Best MTB Chain Lube: Rock’ N’ Roll Extreme Bike Lube
Specifications
Super clean lube
- Great for wet conditions
- Good staying power
If you’ve got plans of smashing through water-logged trails, then this is the best mountain bike chain lube for the job. It will keep your chain running smoothly in the gnarliest of conditions.
This lube is formulated with wax dissolved into a solvent; immersive waxing works to get into the deepest parts of the chain to provide a protective coating that helps keep the chain mobile.
Unlike other wet lubes where you need to clean the chain before application, Rock’ N’ Roll suggests that the solvents in this product clean the chain on application. However, if you have been using super thick, syrupy bike grease, you may consider cleaning it first.
This lube definitely reduces friction when pedalling, and some users have claimed to have cycled over 550km on one application. It has good staying power and offers good value for money.
You can ride your bike straight after application, but letting the lube cure overnight is recommended for best results.
Who was it made for?
The Rock’ N’ Roll Extreme is the best lube for any MTB fanatics or if you plan for wet rides, muddy conditions. However, it’s worth noting that in cold weather or winter months, this formula does become viscous and get a bit gunky. Overall a great product that’s really affordable.
The Lube Lowdown – Buyers Guide
Finding the right chain lube is essential to your bike’s overall performance. The best-performing lube will be the one that caters specifically to your riding style; where you ride (trails, road or track), how frequently you ride, and your bike maintenance and cleaning frequency. Most bike chain lubricant is made from synthetic oils or wax and friction-reducing substances such as PTFE (Teflon) and other carrier fluids that evaporate following application [1].
Check our guide to know about WD-40 for bike chains.
These are the different types of lube available and what they’re best suited for:
Dry Lubes
Dry lubes actually go on wet and set dry, but they are designed to be used in dusty conditions. This type of chain lubrication is a very thin formula made from a mix of oils and a transport fluid or solvent, which helps the lubricant adhere to the chain and then evaporate. Dry lubes need to be applied regularly to a clean chain, and you should avoid riding through the water as it’ll leave your chain squeaking because it isn’t designed for wet conditions.
Wet Lubes
Wet bicycle chain lube is considered a harder-wearing product designed to protect your chain in extreme riding conditions such as ultra-endurance cycling. It’s also the best option for riding in wet conditions as the formula is similar to a thick grease or syrup-like consistency instead of thin oil. While this is a more robust option for dry conditions, it can be very messy on application and if any part of you accidentally touches the chain. A quick brush buff can be used to clean the dirty chain.
Wax Lubes
Bike grease can also be made with refined paraffin wax, PTFE additives, and carrier fluid. This style of lubricant has emerged as a popular option in recent years and provides resistance to contaminants. Waxing forms a hard layer of low-friction lubricant.
The downside to wax lubricants is that the chain needs to be squeaky clean before applying the lube. Otherwise, it won’t stick to metal properly. It also needs time to set and dry, which can up to 24 hours.
Ceramic Lubes
Ceramic lubes are wax-based films or synthetic oil infused with boron nitride nanoparticles. These nanoparticles embed themselves onto the chain, which displaces dirt and debris buildup. After multiple applications of ceramic lube, a coating will form that protects the chain further. Ceramic lube has both dry and wet options. However, even the dry lube will offer superior protection since it can withstand water quite well [2].
The key to increasing your bike’s performance and lifespan is keeping the chain clean and well-lubricated. In turn, this will support the drivetrain to operate within the optimal range.
Given you’ve probably already spent a significant amount of money purchasing your bike, there’s no reason not to spend a few extra bucks on maintaining it properly and getting the most out of it.
References
Brad is co-founder of Green Speed, and he is the hand and mind behind the site’s compelling content. Brad is an avid cyclist passionate about environmental and pollution management and promotes cycling for a healthy and sustainable livelihood. He loves to try and review new gears and cycling accessories. He will most likely be in the gym or cleaning up the beach with this beach group when he is not working.