Most advice online says to lube your bike chain "every 300 to 600 km". The manufacturers' own figures are more specific than that, and they differ from bike to bike. Here is what Bajaj, Hero and Royal Enfield actually tell...
Most advice online says to lube your bike chain “every 300 to 600 km”. The manufacturers’ own figures are more specific than that, and they differ from bike to bike. Here is what Bajaj, Hero and Royal Enfield actually tell owners about cleaning, lubricating and adjusting the drive chain, and how to check the chain yourself between services.
The short answer
- Lubricate it often, and always after washing or rain. Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 manual says to clean and lubricate the chain every 500 km. Bajaj tells Pulsar owners to clean and lubricate it more often during the monsoon.
- Check the slack about every 1,000 km. Royal Enfield specifies 25–30 mm of free play and Bajaj specifies 20–30 mm for the Pulsar 150.
- Get it cleaned properly at every service. Bajaj’s schedule has the chain cleaned, lubricated and adjusted at every service.
- A chain that slips or has broken is a workshop job. BikeFixUp does not handle chain slip or broken-chain repairs; see the last section.
How often: what the manuals say
| Bike | Clean and lubricate | Slack (free play) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | Clean and lubricate every 500 km; clean, lubricate and adjust every 5,000 km or earlier as required | 25–30 mm, kept within limits at every 1,000 km | Owner’s manual pp. 65, 88 |
| Royal Enfield Classic 350 (current model) | Clean and lubricate every 1,000 km; clean, lubricate and adjust every 5,000 km or earlier as required | 25–30 mm; beyond 30 mm the chain can slip | Owner’s manual (2025) pp. 83–84, 113 |
| Royal Enfield Classic 350 (previous-generation, carburettor model) | Lubricate and adjust every 1,000 km; clean, lubricate and adjust every 3,000 km or earlier as required | 25–30 mm | Owner’s manual pp. 23, 31 |
| Bajaj Pulsar 150 | Clean, lubricate and adjust at every scheduled service; more often in the monsoon | 20–30 mm | Owner’s manual pp. 29, 31, 38–39 |
| Hero Splendor+ | Inspected, cleaned, lubricated and adjusted every 2,000 km | About 25 mm | Owner’s manual pp. 27, 38 |
Two things stand out. First, “earlier as required” appears in both Royal Enfield schedules: dust, rain and muddy roads all shorten the interval. Second, lubrication is a between-services job. At 500 km on a Hunter, you will lubricate the chain several times before the next service is due.
Scooters with an automatic (CVT) transmission, such as the TVS Jupiter 125, have no exposed drive chain to maintain. Its manual has no chain item in the maintenance schedule.
How to lubricate the chain
Steps 2 to 4 are Royal Enfield’s instructions from both manuals:
- Put the bike on its centre stand on firm, level ground, with the engine off.
- Clean the chain carefully first. Lubricant on a gritty chain holds the grit against the rollers.
- Apply chain lubricant while slowly turning the rear wheel by hand, so it reaches every link.
- Wipe off the excess. The Hunter manual says to wipe it off about 5 minutes after applying (p. 83).
Which lubricant: Royal Enfield says to use its recommended chain lubricant. Bajaj says the Pulsar 150’s chain is a non-O-ring type, lubricated with SAE 90 grade oil, and Hero also specifies SAE 90 oil for the Splendor+ (p. 40). Check your own manual before using a spray: some sprays and solvents are not suitable for every chain type.
After washing or riding in rain, lubricate again. Bajaj’s washing instructions end with “lubricate the drive chain and other moving parts after washing and drying” (p. 30), and the Classic manual says the same about the rear chain (p. 36). Water washes lubricant off and rust starts quickly.
How to check chain slack
With the bike on its centre stand, move the lower run of the chain up and down midway between the two sprockets and measure the total movement with a ruler. Compare it with the figure in your manual: 25–30 mm for the Hunter 350 and Classic 350, 20–30 mm for the Pulsar 150. Bajaj’s manual adds that during adjustment the chain’s top edge should be kept between the two marks shown in its illustration, and that the adjuster markings must sit in the same position on both sides (p. 29).
Turn the wheel and check at a few points. A chain that is tight in one spot and slack in another is worn unevenly.
Adjusting it is not a quick job. The Hunter manual’s procedure loosens the rear axle spindle nut with a 24 mm spanner, moves both adjusters, and then requires the adjuster markings on the left and right to match exactly, so the rear wheel stays aligned (p. 65). A wheel that ends up out of line wears the chain and sprockets and affects handling. If you are not confident doing this, leave it to a mechanic.
Signs the chain needs attention
- Dry, orange or rusty links: it needs cleaning and lubricating now.
- Slack outside the range in your manual, or uneven slack as the wheel turns.
- Poor pickup where the engine revs rise more than the speed does. Royal Enfield’s troubleshooting table lists two causes: a slipping clutch, or a rear chain so loose it slips on the sprocket (Classic manual, p. 38). Stop riding the bike hard until it is checked.
- Stiff links or noise that doesn’t go away after lubricating: the chain may be worn. Bajaj’s schedule says to replace the chain “if required” and to replace the chain link lock every 20,000 km (pp. 38–39).
Before a long trip, Royal Enfield’s daily pre-ride check includes the rear chain, for proper tension and sufficient lubrication (Hunter manual, p. 51). For the full list, see our bike general service checklist.
What BikeFixUp does, and doesn’t, do
Chain cleaning and lubrication are part of every BikeFixUp general service. For example, the general service up to 150 cc lists “Chain cleaning & lubrication” on its checklist.
We do not handle chain slip or broken-chain repairs. Both are listed under Services We Do Not Provide on our services page. If your chain is slipping on the sprocket, has come off or has snapped, take the bike to a workshop or your brand’s service centre rather than booking a doorstep service.
For your bike’s full schedule, see the Hunter 350 and Pulsar 150 guides, or bike service intervals for everything else.
Sources: Royal Enfield Hunter 350 owner’s manual; Royal Enfield Classic 350 owner’s manual (previous-generation model); Bajaj Pulsar 150 owner’s manual (2026); Hero Splendor+ owner’s manual (2021); Royal Enfield Classic 350 owner’s manual (current model, 2025). Page numbers are the printed ones. Last updated: 23 September 2026. Intervals differ between models and years; the manual for your own bike is the document that applies.
