SILCA Synergetic Bike Chain lube 2oz Bottle | Wet lube Designed with Premium Synthetic Oil and a Secret Blend of ZDDP + WS2 | Save watts and Equipment Independently lab Proven

My wife and I have six or so bicycles that we ride regularly, most with Campagnolo Record 10-speed drivetrains. I have used many different chain lubes over the past 52 years (I got my first good road bike in 1972) but settled on Progold Prolink several years ago, even buying a larger container that I use to refill the bottles I use to apply the lube. The Prolink works very well, I can feel the improvement in the drivetrain after every application, and I was not motivated to try anything else until I read the reviews of this SILCA product. I recognized the name SILCA from the 70’s when they made good bicycle pumps; I have several in my collection of vintage components so I decided their lube was worth a try.

I thoroughly cleaned the drivetrain, including the chain, on the bike I ride most (in good weather) and applied the SILCA. I did not expect much improvement and, for a while didn’t notice anything. Then it struck me, I didn’t notice anything and that included noise from the chain. I thought to myself that this stuff really is good until I switched to another bike that was lubricated a couple of weeks ago with Prolink and it was just as quiet. That said, it would be hard for any good lube to make a drastic improvement you can feel on a casual ride, given how efficient a good bicycle is to start. I do, however, believe that the SILCA is, with the right instruments, measurably better; at ten times the price of the Prolink, it should be good! Whether it is worth that premium is a judgement call that each buyer needs to make, but it is worth noting that the chains I use cost $50 – $100 each while the chainwheels and cassettes cost even more, so prolonging their life has significant value, as does some improvement in efficiency in my pedaling. If you are racing rather than commuting, touring or simply exercising like I am, this lube should be tempting.
P.S. I appreciate the warning on the bottle: ‘INTENDED FOR BICYCLE CHAINS, DO NOT INGEST.’

I have used Silca wax before and while it is arguably better than any other oil based lubricant, lets face it. Chain waxing quickly gets tiring and is messy even for experienced mechanics. This Silca oil based lube, in my opinion comes pretty close as far as shifting performance goes. It is still summer and dry so I wasn’t able to test how it fares in muddy/rainy conditions but so far so good. I have a hunch that since it is wet lube, it will naturally attract more dirt compared to wax too but you can’t beat the ease of use. This is a no mess, easy peasy as good as wax solution.

With that said, I feel the lube is thicker than most other oil based lubes especially the gold lube I was using earlier which is watery thin and slides down the chain easily. This one sticks to chain pretty good. Remember, this is not clean and lube two in one lube. You need to clean chain separately before applying the lube as instructed on the bottle.

While the application is easy, the prep for application takes time. For one you need to clean the chain proper and then shake this bottle vigorously as the black particles in it are stubborn and like to stick to bottom. For the first time I shook the bottle for a minute before the thick slurry mixed into the lube. It also smells like motor engine oil. However since it is thick, it does not splash everywhere as you spin the crank. After a full application I didn’t see a single droplet fall down on the ground.

After the application it is recommended to wipe any excess lube which is what I did and yes, it is thick and sticky to touch. The shifts are EXCELLENT. I am willing to bet this is the best oil based lube I have ever had. They claim it is ultra long lasting on the packaging, a claim I am yet to verify. However if it goes even 300 miles on one application I will be more than happy.

I will update this review once rains hit to see if it can be easily washed off. Till then, even considering the high price it is worth every penny.

Update after 100 miles –
I can still see the wet lube on cassette. The chain looks wet too. We are on our way to 300 miles.

Update after 300 miles –
Last photo in the series. The lube is still wet to touch and can be wiped off easily. There are some flakes on the cassette but shifting is still rather smooth. It’s probably time to clean and relube but you can easily stretch this to 400 miles. That is incredible for 1 application. With such mileage on one use that tiny bottle is going to last a long time!

自転車歴30年強、生産中止になったものも含めて、これまで本当に色々なチェーンルブを使ってきました。ワックスタイプ、ドライタイプ、AZの安い奴なども試してきましたが、ここ10年ほどは潤滑性能の持続性と飛び散りにくさのバランスが素晴らしいFInish lineのCeramic wetで満足していました。

…ちゃんとチェーンルブは進化していたんですね。海外では非常に評価の高い（そして日本での知名度は非常に低い）SILCAのこのルブ、完全にノーマークでした。
固体潤滑剤として二硫化タングステンが含まれているので高価ですが、それに見合った性能はありました。
まず、駆動部のノイズがめちゃくちゃ静かになります。あのFinish lineの「緑」よりも静かです。
そしてこのルブを使い始めてから、給脂前のチェーン清掃時に出る金属粉の量が目に見えて減りました。潤滑性能自体が非常に良いのは間違いないです。

そして潤滑持続性が、これまたすごいのです。前述の「緑」もかなりの持続性なのですが、それを軽く超えると断言できます。ちなみにメーカー公式では500マイル(800 Kmぐらい）での再給脂というとんでもない指示になっています。さすがにそれは言い過ぎかな…

そして、ドライブトレインの汚れ具合や外部への飛び散りに関しても、いわゆるウエットタイプとしては十分に優秀です。いや、少なくとも私が使ってきた中ではベストです。
二硫化タングステン粒子が黒いのでオイル自体も真っ黒なのですが、チェーンのコマに塗る程度の量では透明です。中身を精密オイル差しに移し替えて、最小量の注油で済ますことをお勧めします（別にこのルブに限った話ではありませんが）。

高価ですが、ちゃんとそれに見合った中身です。
コストを考慮せずパフォーマンスを重視する人には、本当に強くお勧めします。
いろいろなチェーンルブを渡り歩いた人ほど、こいつの優秀さに驚くと思いますよ。
提○記事しか書かない日本の自転車メディアは、どうせこういう製品を紹介することは出来ないんでしょうね（単に日直商会のプロモーション不足、とも言えますが　笑）。

Was using an oil by Bontrager but this is absolutely the best oil ever. Lasts well, no drying out.

By far the best cycling products I’ve ever used. And I’m really old

I’d been using cheap chain lube for a while, and then waxed for a bit but it was too much to deal with. After stripping the wax off my chain I gave this bottle a good shake and followed the directions, putting a drop on each roller and spinning the chain the prescribed 12 times. It immediately became quieter, virtually no noise from the rollers as they traversed the jockey wheels and cassette. Still having the now-antiquated cable-actuated derailleur, I sometimes had to slightly overshift to get the chain to jump to the next cog, but that is now a thing of the past – shifts are smooth and quiet, even under slight load.