It's a maintenance point that can be regularly overlooked but lubricating your chain using the best bike chain lube will save you effort and money, it's as simple as that. A clean and correctly lubricated chain will prevent unnecessary drivetrain wear, but also run more efficiently helping you go faster for the same effort. You can also check out our guide on the best bike chain wax if you are interested in taking this to the next level.
When a chain is dirty, contamination is present in each chain link in the form of metal particles, dirt or sand etc. These contaminants are suspended within a chain lubricant, specifically the carrier the lubricant is held in, and essentially form a grinding paste which will just wear your chain out from the inside. Even the best road bike groupsets will be ruined in just a few thousand miles if chain wear is terminal.
To avoid this, ensuring you know how to clean your chain is an important step in the process, as it's essential to get it as clean as possible before applying any lubricant. The difference here could be a handful of watts over your friend's bike with the filthy black drivetrain (we all know someone with a bike like this), but more importantly, it will also save you money by extending the life of your components.
There are a vast array of chain lubricants on the market these days. Independent testers like the experts at Zero Friction Cycling have a wealth of information and data on the subject. All of the drip lubes listed in our guide have been independently tested by Zero Friction and can be backed up with a set of results. Any one of these chain lubricants will really help care for your drivetrain.
Quick list
Great value wax emulsion bike chain lube
An affordable and clean running wax emulsion chain lubricant. If you're looking for a great, wax all-rounder, Smoove is a product you should consider. Apply in the big chainring and largest sprocket to open up your chain links that little bit more and aid chain penetration.
Best bike chain lube if you want immersive wax benefits but in a drip-style lube
Silca Super Secret Chain lube is incredibly slick out of the bottle. It gets close to immersive wax performance and you can hot wax your chain with Super Secret applied. Apply twice and work into chain links with your fingers.
Read more below
A very fast lubricant for racing or shorter distances
CeramicSpeed UFO All Conditions drip lubricant is the third generation of the UFO drip lube series. It's low wear and super fast, perfect for a race day chain or performance training and riding. If you really stay on top of chain maintenance this could be perfect for you.
A great option if you want great lubricant with green credentials
Effetto Mariposa Flower Power is a vegan lubricant produced using sunflower seed oils. It's durable and long-lasting and set a cost to run record in testing. It runs a little darker so keep this in mind if you like a sparkling drivetrain.
Excellent value drip lube with Tungsten Disulphide
Tungsten All Weather packs a punch despite its small 50ml size. It is really good value, if you prefer to stick to budget or cheaper chain lubes and spend your money on upgrades you can almost have the best of both worlds with this product.
Fantastic application longevity
AbsolteBlack Graphen wax has won at least one Tour de France with Pog and lasts an incredibly long time between applications. It's expensive initially but will last you a long time and perform very well.
Long-lasting and smooth feeling when pedalling
Revolubes is a high-performing wet lubricant that has been developed with a great deal of care. Follow the application instructions below and you can enjoy one of the smoothest-feeling chain lubes.
A solid drip lube from an innovative company
Rex Black Diamond is the Finnish company's top tier drip lubricant and is the drip version of the Black Diamond hot melt wax. The small bottle will go a long way and perform brilliantly.
An excellent wet lubricant option
Silca Synergetic is the brand's top wet lubricant and was initially designed for F1 applications. If you want the familiarity of a wet drip lubricant to apply to your drivetrain then give Syngergetic a look.
In detail: Best bike chain lubes available today
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Best value drip-on wax lube
Smoove is a white-coloured wax emulsion drip lubricant from the South African company Smoove. It is 100% biodegradable and solvent free. It is cheap to buy and the 125ml bottle will last a long time making it really good value, with one bottle lasting for over 10,000km of testing.
Its wax-based formula is mixed with water. Smoove performed well in Zero Friction testing but it is a lubricant that needs a little more work for it to adequately penetrate a chain once applied (similar to GraphenLube from AbsoluteBlack), we have a section on this at the bottom of the page for you to read.
The one thing I wasn't overly keen on was the applicator design, I found it a bit faffy and would prefer just a regular nozzle to apply the lubricant. After thoroughly prepping the KMC chain on a gravel bike I'm testing I applied Smoove and left it to set overnight. Once on, it runs really quietly which I have loved and the chain is spotless with minimal waxy buildup on pulley wheels etc. It does set with a degree of tackiness, so you may need to be hotter on maintenance if you are using it for a lot of gravel or off-road riding.
Best drip-on wax lubricant
The idea behind Super Secret Drip lube from Silca is that you're getting pretty close to immersive wax benefits and performance but in a drip lubricant from a bottle.
Using Tungsten Disulfide which, without getting too nerdy, is a very smooth and slippery component that's perfect for a chain lubricant. So slippery in fact the lube almost wants to slide off your chain links when applying.
Super Secret drip is excellent at penetrating the links of a clean chain meaning it's working optimally from the get-go for you. Performance wise it keeps a drivetrain very clean and has very low recorded wear rates. It is also compatible with Silca Hot Melt and Mspeedwax hot melt waxes.
I applied Super Secret drip on a freshly prepared new YBN chain for my track bike, the nozzle could be a little finer to aid application and you do get a little bit of mess from drips due to the thin consistency and slipperiness so take your time when applying.
Best bike chain lube for short races
CeramicSpeed updated its UFO drip lubricant this year and released an updated third version. Ditching the black and white bottle for a burgundy one - though we are most interested in what's inside!
Despite releasing All-Conditions, Wet and Indoor lubricants this year, the All Conditions lube is closest to the previous UFO drip in performance but is now white instead of grey. The CeramicSpeed bottle has a 'pea' inside to help mix the lubricant, the only lube to have this. Application is also easy with a very fine nozzle.
It is the Danish company's fastest lubricant. In testing, ZF found it to be very fast with the lowest recorded drip lubricant wear rate of all. CeramicSpeed claims a proper application will be around 180 miles. So this could be a good option to use if you're racing or don't want to reapply / clean chains every week or less.
In the wet, CermaicSpeed recommends its wet UFO lubricant over this one, so take a look at this if this sounds like a better option for your riding.
Best eco-friendly chain lube
Flower power wax by Effetto Mariposa is a top-performing yet eco-friendly drip chain lubricant formulated in part using oil from Sunflower seeds. The wax emulsion is water-based, and uses a high sunflower wax content alongside other naturally occurring waxes, making it vegan too.
With a claimed application duration of roughly 600km, the lubricant set a new record during ZF testing as the lowest cost-to-run lubricant. In a comparison of wear rates from all the ZF testing blocks and conditions, Flower Power emerged as the cheapest lubricant to run with an Ultegra 11s groupset. The goal with any chain lubricant is to have to replace drivetrain components as little as possible.
For all-around riding, Flower Power is an excellent option that's green and affordable. The only potential drawback is that your drivetrain won't look as clean during use compared to some products in this guide.
Best all-weather chain lube
Tru Tension all-weather is a waterproof wax-based bike chain lube which uses Tungsten Disulphide in its makeup.
The Tru Tension All Weather is easy to apply with the fine nozzle and has a slightly grey colour out of the bottle. ZF testing found it to have very good wear rates across lubricant testing and a very good ability to clear contamination. Making this an excellent option if you ride off-road or in fouler condition.
For the low cost per bottle, especially in the UK. This should be one of the drip chain lubricants you should consider for all-around riding protection. It comes in the smallest bottle in the guide, but the affordable price and high performance mean it should still last a decent amount of time.
Best long-lasting bike chain lube
AbsoluteBlack's Graphenlube is the most expensive lubricant in the guide and has been used by Tadej Pogačar to win at least one of his two Tour de France titles. It's a wax-based lubricant containing high-quality Graphene. It does have a black colour when dry so you don't get that super shiny chain look with this one. It's best applied to a very clean or new chain and a submersive application is required first.
Graphenlube is incredibly long-lasting per application, up to 1800km. Low friction and has been found to perform very well in the wet. If you can live with the initial outlay, it will do very well for you. ZF was also involved in this lubricant prototype testing.
After initially stripping a new chain to go on my winter bike, I followed AbsoluteBlack's application instructions and used the provided resealable bag that comes with the chain lube, this does make the application really easy and mess-free. Pouring the best part of the bottle out into a bag feels odd but after agitating the chain in the lubricant and letting it soak for a while, most of the contents are then poured back into the bottle, it then becomes obvious this chain lubricant will last you a very long time.
One of the fastest wet lubes around
Revolubes specialises in making lubricants for the bike, motorsports and fishing sectors. It is a wet chain lubricant (meaning this isn't a wax lube that dries, rather than a lube for rainy days) and it has performed fantastically during ZF testing.
Revolubes is one of the best wet lubricants ZF has tested, especially for drier road conditions. It's long-lasting per application and is relatively cheap, stays clean and feels really smooth to ride.
I prepped and applied Revolubes to a KMC chain. The lubricant is also the only product to come in a glass bottle and with its own pipette applicator which is handy. Revolubes also makes a chain grease you can mix with the wet lubricant for wet and challenging conditions.
Like many of the lubricants here, Revolubes recommends you apply the lubricant to a thoroughly cleaned chain. They now have a useful prep and application guide you can follow.
Best drip wax for all disciplines
Rex Black Diamond lube is the drip lubricant sibling of the Rex Black Diamond hot wax. It's a dark-coloured wax lubricant that the Finnish company says is suited to road, gravel and mtb riding.
ZF has tested the slightly less premium Rex Domestique drip lubricant. Black Diamond is said to contain more premium friction modifiers so should perform more strongly. 100% of Black Diamond's content is also a lubricant, not water which will evaporate, or a poor carrier which can trap contamination.
The small Black Diamond bottle uses a fine applicator, it is a little thicker and stickier out of the bottle than its competitors. Rex recommends working the lubricant into a chain with your fingers to aid penetration and to get it into the rollers.
Alternative high-performance wet lube
Silca Synergetic is along with Revolubes another wet lubricant. It is an oil-based lubricant that contains Tungsten disulfide (the same as the Tru Tension lube). You can see the Tungsten disulfide collected at the bottom of the bottle before shaking it up to mix. The lubricant will change from a clear colour to a dark grey/black when mixed up.
Silca Synergetic was first developed as a lubricant for F1 applications and there is some interesting info on this on the Silca Website. It has tested as just about the top wet lubricant during ZF testing. It keeps the drivetrain pretty clean in use and has good application longevity.
How to choose the best bike chain lube for you
Finding the right chain lube can feel a bit like trying to find the best road bike saddle for you; the lube that will perform the best for you will depend largely on where you ride, how much you ride, and how often you clean and or re-lube.
Honestly, things may just boil down to how interested you are in drivetrain cleaning and the world of chain lubes. Some riders just aren't hugely bothered about having a mucky chain that may wear out a little faster and that's absolutely fine.
If you do want to up your game and try to use the best possible product to increase efficiency and lengthen drivetrain life, then start with cleaning. You will need to start with a properly cleaned chain. Investigate what degreasing products you want to use to get your chain sparkling, and head to Zero Friction Cycling which has more information than we could possibly include here on the subject and this will enable you to find the best lubricant for your riding and budget.
All of the lubricants in this guide are excellent. Their differences are highlighted depending on what conditions you are riding in. But any lubricant from our guide will perform very well compared to poorer lubricants on the market.
What are the different types of chain lube?
Wet lube
Wet lubes as the name suggests are physically wet by nature and don't dry like wax lube products. They tend to be similar to heavy oil or light grease in makeup. These will be long-lasting and stand up well to torrential downpours but also attract dirt and contamination more easily. So there is a balance to be struck here. Our advice would be to forget the old adage 'wet lube for wet riding'. Technology and the products on the market have moved on.
Wax-based and wax emulsion
Waxed-based drip lubes are popular because they work well in both wet and dry conditions and for on and off-road applications. Wax lubes are made up of friction modifiers and or products like tungsten disulfide which are often emulsified in a carrier fluid; the liquid helps the particles get where they need to be and dries, leaving just the wax inside. Due to the nature of wax, it dries and doesn’t attract much grit and can also support additives like Teflon, while coating and protecting metal components.
The downside to wax lubes is they take a bit more initial work to apply and maintain. Before the initial application, you’ll need to make sure any factory grease or old lube has been removed and get the chain as clean as possible. The process also takes longer, it's advisable to apply these lubricants the night before a ride ideally.
Should I use wet or dry lube?
This is the age-old classic. The stock answer generally tended to be 'wet for wet rides dry for dry rides'. But this is outdated now as mentioned above. Both wet and dry lubricants can be really damaging to your chain regardless of conditions if the chain is carrying a lot of contamination already.
Wet lubricants, as in physically wet lubricants as well as dedicated wet weather lubricants may attract more contamination, especially in muddy and or dusty conditions. So it's important to choose your lubricant carefully or be ready to clean after a really mucky ride.
By all means, apply a wet lube for a torrential ride, but make sure you clean your chain effectively afterwards. Don't just reapply a fresh layer of lubricant on top of the grit and dirt that's on your chain. The same goes for 'dry' lube.
We would recommend simply splitting chain lubricants into hot melt immersive waxes and drip lubricants. I.e lubricants that come out of a bottle as a liquid and go from there based on your requirements.
Is it ok to use WD40 on my chain?
If you are reading this guide you may well know this already. But we will include it anyway. WD40 isn't a chain lubricant and there are far more effective options out there. WD40 (the brand) also makes a range of bike-specific chain lubricants now that are better suited to the job, so save the WD40 (the product) for un-seizing or protecting metal parts.
How can I clean my chain properly?
For every chain lubricant listed here, starting with a properly cleaned chain is essential for optimum performance and for you to enjoy its performance benefits.
Most of the products listed are supported by dedicated cleaners from the respective manufacturers which helps. We would recommend removing the chain from the bike for cleaning. If you haven't done it before it may mean learning a new job and investing in some chain link removal pliers, these do just look like a small pair of pliers and undo a chain's connector link. A chain can be removed in a few seconds, it's a simple job.
With this done, you can submerge and clean the chain in chain cleaner, white spirit or your chosen degreaser. Doing this with a new chain is far easier than trying to clean a dirty chain. A resealable Tupperware container is excellent for agitating the submerged chain, if you haven't done this before you will be amazed at what comes out of the chain. It may take an overnight soak or a few rounds of cleaning to remove all of the factory packing greases and get the chain clean.
You can also use an ultrasonic cleaner do to this, but using a resealable container is cheaper. When the cleaning solution is running clear with no discolouration or contaminants you know your chain is clean.
Should I spend more on chain lube?
In short, it's up to you whether you want to invest more in a good chain lubricant, which may have a higher initial cost than others. It is worth thinking about, especially for mid and higher-tier groupsets which most performance road bikes generally have.
If a chain and cassette are worn out after 3000 miles, for example, this could be within a year's worth of riding for plenty of cyclists. The cost of a new chain and cassette will far exceed a bottle of more premium chain lubricant. I have had to explain to plenty of cyclists that their drivetrain is completely worn out and needs replacing which has resulted in a large bill. It's never a nice conversation, especially if you're on the receiving end of the bad news, but it's something that's totally avoidable with a little effort and the right chain lube.
What are penetration issues?
Penetration issues in chain lubricants refer to the lubricant not being able to penetrate inside all of a chain link to provide adequate lubrication and protection. This can be due to tight chain tolerances where the lubricant can't physically get in there or a lack of lubricant in the first place.
A good example is this, imagine getting your chain perfectly clean after several baths in White Spirit, letting it dry and then applying a tiny drop of lubricant to each chain link. If that lube doesn't penetrate the link properly, you'll harm your chain when you use it, and the first few miles could see very high wear rates as unlubricated metal surfaces mash together due to a lack of lubricant within.
There are a few lubricants in this guide that ZF found to have initial penetration issues, these lubricants simply require a little more work at first to get them into a chain properly. One good tip is to apply chain lubricant in the big chainring and largest rear sprocket, this will open up chain links just that little bit more and help lubricant penetration.
How should I look after my chain after a wet ride?
Water from a wet ride will carry contaminants into your chain links and there they will stay, wearing your chain from the inside unless they are removed and contamination is reset. You should therefore try to avoid just re-lubricating your chain after a wet ride if you can help it.
After a wet ride ideally try to clean your chain and remove as much contamination as you can. Start by wiping down the outside, then you can use a spray degreaser to keep the chain on the bike, or remove it and essentially repeat the submersion bath in chain degreaser or white spirits etc until the liquid remains clear. You can refer to the ZF maintenance guide to help you here.
What's the best way to apply drip lube?
If you're applying a drip chain lube i.e. one from a bottle in liquid form. Just apply a decent drop of oil to each chain link. Some manufacturers recommended applying a lubricant twice, so heed their own instructions in some cases. You don't need any lubricant on the cassette or chainrings directly. Wipe off any excess lubricant on the outside of a chain with a cloth, too little in the name of cleanliness and you won't get very good lubricant penetration into each link which will actually increase wear. So disregard videos online where people are applying the tiniest drop of oil to a spotless chain. Wear rates just after this can be some of the highest.
How do we test the best bike chain lube?
I researched independent testing website reports to help me narrow down the best-performing drip lubricants that had been independently tested, guaranteeing the inclusion of proven, top-level products in this guide. I also spoke to manufacturers directly where I had additional questions or queries on the products themselves.
I then prepared brand new or very lightly used chains so they were as clean as I could possibly get them using white spirit and isopropyl alcohol and applied each lubricant as per the manufacturer's instructions. I then spent some time riding each chain to see how the lubricant performed in the real world, noting drivetrain noise, speed and longevity.
