Aznman

This thread is pretty much for the few who were sadomasochistic and/or wealthy enough to have experimented with such a trial. Also, this thread is not about comparing lubricants.

Without any initial lubrication (the factory lubricant being stripped before installation with this scenario) and any re-applications afterward, how many miles did your drive chain(s) last before you reached beyond the value of .75 with your chain checker(s)?
What were the environments of your rides (hills, sand, moisture, etc.)? Did you at least wipe the chain(s) from time to time?

Were the results within expectation or were they surprising?

DaveSSS 

I suspect that it's entirely possible to put 3,000 miles on a chain and never lube it. You should try it and report back. Not all chains have a thick greasy lube on them, from the factory. The new SRAM AXS chains have nothing on them but a very light weight oil.

The good reason to remove the factory lube is to maintain a clean drive train. Stripping the lube and applying a wax based dry lube or hot dip waxing will leave the drive train much cleaner.

AnkleWork

Answer: Trivial.

3alarmer 

.
...the original factory lubricant on modern chains is pretty good stuff. Why on earth would you want to strip it off ?
If this question is about ease of use, why wouldn't you just leave the stuff in place and see what happens ? It does well for quite a while in my conditions.

CliffordK

There are some cases such as kid's bikes that get handled frequently that I might choose to not lube (or only use minimal lube).

However, I suspect that even if the kid is on the bike a lot, it is rare for the bikes to see more than 1000 miles in a lifetime.

Just use lube and deal with it on a road bike or other bike that you anticipate to do significant miles.

If you don't like lube, and can deal with either single speed or internal gearing, then try a belt drive.

I've occasionally ridden on a chain that was drier than I was comfortable with. I tend to go directly home (or to a store) to fix. However, I suspect the wear is significant.

Chuckles1

I'm thinking that since you can get a decent 10 speed KMC for$18 on Amazon, I'm just planning to put paraffin wax, either dip or in volatile solvents, on the chain so it doesn't get my car filthy when I transport it, and buy a new chain when the chain checker says it's shot. If it wears quickly when wet, so be it. Chains aren't that expensive!

jbucky1

I would expect that if you rode indoors and your other components were clean you could go long long time.. 5000miles. It would be noisy though and you would trash your other components.

If you rode outdoors in a dry, I expect you would get to 2000 miles

If you rode outdoors in the wet, I expect you would get 800 miles before seeing rust.

You probably know all this but I wrote a beginners article here : https://buckyrides.com/chain-life-the-lies-the-truth/

dsbrantjr

Chain checkers are worthless IMO. Get yourself a good steel rule and measure it the right way, then you will have actual data. A new chain will measure 12" exactly for 12 full links, replace the chain at 12 1/16". https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chain-wear.html#measure
Happy New Year all!

jbucky1

Horses for courses.

Chain checkers allow people to check their chain without the exacting eye or precision needed for a ruler and pin measurement. They are just a more convenient tool that can be used while chain is on the bike

Drew Eckhardt 

0.

The noises which result from insufficient lubrication make bicycle riding too annoying.

79pmooney

Typical BF. Guy asks a straightforward question. 7 replies. Only one answers the question.

OP, I am not much help. I think jbucky1 is probably pretty close.

Ben

3alarmer 

...I still want to know why anyone would go to the trouble of stripping off the original lubricant. Call me crazy.

dedhed

OK, you're crazy, but anyone in da P&R Foroom knew that anyway.
But I'm with you on why would you remove perfectly good lubricant

u235

A chain with no lube ever would be noisy and probably get stuck, jammed, corrode at random and would be an unpleasant riding experience well before it hits 0.75% stretch. Same thing that happens to any chain when the lube needs redone.

bpcyclist

I just like it nice and quiet...

Koyote

Aznman , I think you should do the test and report back to us.

woodcraft

No stripping, but no lubing either.

I think about 839 miles, and some sitting around.

Aznman

squirtdad

Have no idea about durability with no lube, but there will be some level of efficiency loss

and IME when you get to 11 speed, chains get less cheap.....I have seen differences in shifting between cheap and more expensive chains in 11 speed setups

ymmv

2manybikes

I believe the next step is to set your dork disk on fire.

ls01

that's what earbuds are for

ls01

ok.
Dear Crazy
One good reason to strip off the preapplied lubricant would be incompatibility with the preferred lubricant the owner plans to use on the chain.

3alarmer 

,,,that's not a good reason, Is, but hi anyway.

dedhed

You strip off the what's left of the "incompatible" factory lube when you clean the chain. This is after the original lube has done its job for XX miles, and you're ready to relube with your preferred lube.