New chain...to lube or not to lube

[Caakman400]

Proud new owner of gorgeous AFAM gold sprockets and RK chain and dayyyy-aaaam does the bike feel good.

Question is: that weird whiteish waxy gunk all over the chain - does it need to come off or not? Should I kerosene-clean and then lube, or just put lube over the top, or just leave it as is?

Searched around the internet, but got the typical 50/50 response of "Leave it on!" and "Clean it off!"...so much for google eh. Funny that the chain doesn't come with instructions telling you what to do

gonna have to update my signature pic with the tasty new sprocket...

[masterofinsanity]

its chain wax aint it? leave it on.

[Gemini]

yeah its wax, leave it be

gem

[Caakman400]

sweet - didn't fancy having to clean that stuff off

though just read somewhere else that the wax is called Cosmolene and definitely should come off...it's a crazy old world

[masterofinsanity]

be worth checking with the place you got it from then?

[robracer]

The white wax the factory's use on chains is the best stuff available, If you could get it readily in a can it would be on my shelf... the closest stuff I have found is the white Motul spray

[Caakman400]

be worth checking with the place you got it from then?

might drop by tomorrow and attempt to make myself understood in my appalling pidgin-Japanese. the guys at my local bike shop always enjoy having a right laff at me anyways

well, went out for a ride today and it certainly feels nice and lubed - no chain noise, seamless gear changes, linear power, better engine braking...I'd never realised what a difference new sprockets and a chain could make