Bike Chain Rust Protection & Removal Guide

Protect Your Bike Chain from Rust – The Lanoguard Way

Rust on a bike chain is more than just unsightly—it shortens the life of your chain, affects performance, and leads to costly repairs. Whether you’re dealing with surface rust, a fully rusted bike chain, or you simply want to prevent rust from forming, Lanoguard can help.

Common Rust Areas on Bike Chains

Bike chains are especially vulnerable to rust due to:

  • Moisture exposure: Rain, humidity, and even sweat can trigger rust.
  • Salt and grit: Road salt in winter or salt spray near the coast accelerate corrosion.
  • Lack of lubrication: Dry chains are magnets for oxidation.
  • Storage issues: Leaving your bike in damp or unprotected environments encourages rust.

Even a motorcycle chain or metal chain left unused can quickly develop surface rust.

How Lanoguard Helps Remove & Prevent Bike Chain Rust

Lanoguard isn’t a rust converter—it doesn’t chemically convert rust—but it is highly effective at stopping rust in its tracks and preventing new rust from forming. Here’s how it works:

  • Creeps & seeps: Lanoguard naturally penetrates into surface rust and underneath, creating a hermetic seal.
  • Blocks oxygen and moisture: Rust needs both to continue developing. Lanoguard cuts off the supply.
  • Self-healing formula: Unlike traditional lubricants or coatings, Lanoguard stays active, constantly protecting the metal surface.
  • Repels water & salts: Making your bike chain highly resistant to the elements.
  • Safe & sustainable: Non-toxic and safe for you and your bike.

Over time, your chain will even appear visually improved as Lanoguard slowly pushes out oxidation.

How to Apply Lanoguard to a Rusting Bike Chain

Step-by-Step Application:

  1. Clean the chain: Remove dirt, debris, and loose rust using a soft brush or cloth. (You can use mild cleaners if needed.)
  2. Dry thoroughly: Ensure the chain is fully dry before application.
  3. Apply Lanoguard Moto Spray or Moto Grease: Spray directly onto the chain, ensuring full coverage.
  4. Allow curing: Avoid riding for the first 24 hours to allow Lanoguard to settle and begin curing.
  5. Curing stages:
  • Day 0: Oily feel
  • Day 3: Soft surface feel
  • Day 7–10: Fully cured, semi-satin finish; still slightly soft like candle wax.

Reapply every 6-12 months depending on riding conditions for best protection.

Can Coke Remove Rust From a Bike Chain?

Many online videos suggest using Coca-Cola to remove rust, but it’s not ideal. While Coke can help loosen some surface rust thanks to its mild acidity, it doesn’t protect the chain from future rust. Lanoguard not only helps to stop existing rust but creates a long-term protective barrier.

Why Choose Lanoguard For Your Bike Chain?

  • Long-lasting protection
  • Simple DIY application
  • Sustainable and safe for all bikes
  • Protects metal without hard coatings
  • Saves money on chain replacements

Bike Chain Rust Protection FAQs

Yes! Lanoguard Moto Spray is excellent for both bicycle and motorcycle chains. It seeps into tight spaces and keeps the chain protected even in extreme conditions.

Lanoguard can arrest rust and stop it from getting worse. For heavy rust, we recommend removing flaky rust before applying.

Every 6–12 months depending on usage and environment. More frequent reapplication may be needed in very salty or wet conditions.

Yes, Lanoguard has lubricating properties Ideal for heavy-duty lubrication, it protects your chain over the long term, stops fling-off, and promotes smoother rides while preventing wear and stretch.

Whether you're facing surface rust on your bike chain, worried about rust on your motorcycle chain, or simply want to protect your metal chains for years to come, Lanoguard is your simple, effective solution.

General Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions and learn more about Lanoguard's products, applications, and benefits.

Moto Range is designed for all vehicles, bikes, trailers and machinery to name a few. It protects the whole vehicle underbody and chassis from rust, corrosion and electrolysis with a strong barrier coat. Find out more and see our Moto Range.

Marine Range is designed for boats and any machinery submerged in sea water. It protects from rust, corrosion and electrolysis the same as our Moto Range, but also contains marine growth inhibitors to stop barnacle build up on any equipment submerged in seawater. It is safe, non-toxic and marine ecology friendly. Some of its uses include on outboard and inboard motors including electrics, propellers and prop shafts and boat trailers. Find out more

Outdoor Range is a thinner formula, designed for metal, rubber, vinyl, wood, and almost all materials. It can be used on BBQs, sheds, fences and decking to name a few. It provides protection from corrosion, rust and waterproofs as wells preventing mould build-up in woods and vinyls due to it containing anti-fungal. Find out more

Lanoguard has been designed for yearly/seasonal applications. It should be topped up at least once a year to ensure continuous protection. Although due to the simple application process there’s no harm in doing an Autumn & Spring application! The product is broken down by UV, so the more it is exposed to sunlight the shorter its life span. Inside box sections or inner chassis for example, it will last longer.

The general rule of thumb is that a little Lanoguard goes a long way, 1.8L of moto spray per application. – is ample coverage for vehicles such as Land Rovers and Pick Up trucks any vehicles over this size we would recommend more than 2L. Click here to look at our range.

Preparation is very minimal - all you need to do is jet wash your vehicle removing any dirt and grime. Make sure you remove any flaking or loose bits of rust, paint or underseal. Sometimes a wire brush can be used if needed to remove flaking bits. Ensure the vehicle is dry before you apply Lanoguard – it doesn’t have to be bone dry, as Lanoguard will displace moisture to an extent, but ensure you do not apply to a dripping wet surface. See our how to apply page here.

Lanoguard is great for chassis with surface rust. It has a natural affinity to ferrous metals and will bond to the metal underneath any surface rust, it acts as a barrier by hermetically sealing to the surface keeping oxygen and water out - stopping any rust from developing further.

Yes, you most certainly can. Lanoguard works fine with almost all sprayers, compressors, and applicators. You may find that it uses slightly more product than our trigger sprayer applicators will, but you’ll still get a nice even coverage of Lanoguard which will protect well. We do have a range of sprayers and applicators available on our accessories page.

Lanoguard reaches its final state around 7 to 10 days after application. Day 0 it is “oily” day 3 “soft” and final state is dry to the touch, but you know something is there. Like a candle to feel. Maybe a little softer. It dries to a clear / transparent semi satin wet look and stays that way for some months eventually dulling a little. But always stays clear; and of course, you can jet wash it to clean it back to how it was when you put it on. It is best to not drive the vehicle for 24hours to let it get through the first part of the curing process.

Lanoguard is eco-friendly and has green non-hazardous certifications. It does not require special handling, protective clothing or disposable gloves, which all add to the carbon footprint of utilising a product that is hazardous. The primary ingredient of Lanoguard is Lanolin which is a very ecologically safe and sound base. In fact, an entire dam in New Zealand was moved down river on a base of Lanoguard marine grease which shows you how the river authority was not concerned about any toxins that would be left as a result.