Nothing ruins the overall look of your motorcycle like rust. The chain on your motorcycle tends to be the most vulnerable to rust. Excess moisture and oxygen will start to wear away at the metal, which can cause your chain to break unexpectedly. This can lead to an accident or serious injury. If you’re worried about riding around with a rusted chain, find a motorcycle Bluetooth helmet that will keep you safe in the event of an accident. You can easily call for help without moving your hands or reaching for your phone.
It’s always best to ride with a clean motorcycle chain so you don’t have to worry about being involved in a wreck. Learn how to remove and prevent motorcycle chain rust to keep your bike looking its best.
What Causes Motorcycle Chain Rust?
We all know that rust is caused by moisture and oxygen. Rain and snow can lead to rust, especially if you leave your bike outside uncovered when it’s not in use. Riding in humid weather makes your bike more susceptible to rust. The chain can rust over even when in long-term storage, so be sure to store your bike in a dry location. Salt water will rust your chain even faster than regular water. The same is true of salty roads after a snow or ice storm.
The best way to prevent motorcycle chain rust is to lubricate your bike. This adds a protective seal to the metal chain so moisture can’t penetrate the surface. You should also get in the habit of cleaning and drying off your metal chain at the end of each ride.
Find the Right Motorcycle Riding Gear to Keep Your Bike Looking Its Best
Getting Rid of Motorcycle Chain Rust
- First off, you need to be able to move the chain into the right position. Put blocks underneath the rear tire so you can spin the tires and rotate the chain without moving the bike.
- Cleaning the chain can be messy. You’re bound to spread soap, water and debris all over the place, so put a towel or protective coating over the rest of your bike.
- Once the chain is exposed, spray it with some WD-40 and let it soak for about five minutes. Be sure to coat both sides of the chain for a thorough clean.
- Put on some protective goggles so the chemicals don’t get in your eyes. Spray a used toothbrush with more WD-40 and scrub both sides of the chain vigorously. Pay special attention to rusted spots.
- Once you’ve given the chain your all, wipe off any excess WD-40 with a dry towel or rag. Look over the chain to make sure the rust has been removed.
- You can try respraying some spots until any remaining rust has been removed, but if you can’t get the rust out, it may be time for a new chain.
- Finally, put some lubricant on the chain to prevent additional moisture from penetrating the surface. Focus on the areas where the rings overlap.
Use Bluetooth Motorcycle Speakers to Solve Problems in Real-Time
You should never ride a motorcycle with a rusty chain. Chains with rust are more likely to break than those in mint condition. If your chain were to break, you would quickly lose control of your bike, which can lead to an accident, injury or even death.
Use helmet communication to give yourself some much-needed peace of mind behind the wheel. You should be able to call for help or roadside assistance if your chain bites the dust unexpectedly. The Bluetooth motorcycle speakers should produce crystal-clear audio so you can hear the person’s voice over the sound of the road. You can dial a call hands-free in case you’re unable to reach for your phone.
Rust should be a warning that your bike needs to be repaired. If you’re having trouble removing motorcycle chain rust, consider visiting your local mechanic for assistance. It’s always better to replace your chain outright than riding around with a rusted one. Use this guide to avoid the worst-case scenario so you can hit the road without worrying about rusted parts.