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Cyclowax Nex Gen is an Automatic Hot Chain Waxing Machine

cyclowax nex gen automatic hot melt chain waxing machine.
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Debuting in the Tour de France pits in Lidl-Trek’s booth, the upcoming Cyclowax Nex Gen makes hot melt chain waxing cleaner and easier. Designed for high-volume use cases (like Pro Tour teams, but also shops that want to add a valuable service), it applies a hot wax directly to the chain while it’s still on the bike.

cyclowax nex gen automatic hot melt chain waxing machine.

Full tech details, pricing, and availability will come later this year, but the gist of it is this: Install a clean chain on your bike, set it on the Nex Gen machine, and it slowly pulls it through and applies melted chain wax to the chain.

It pulls the chain through backwards, essentially backpedaling the bike, and appears to full support the bike while doing so. I’ve seen a couple of 4-second clips and it’s slow, but requires virtually no oversight, letting you do other things while it works.

cyclowax nex gen automatic hot melt chain waxing machine shown in Lidl-Trek team pits.
Looks like Lidl-Trek might be racing a few stages with a 1x setup.

I first spotted Cyclowax at Sea Otter, showing off their Chain Waxing Starter Kit, which is a more traditional hot melt waxing kit. Check that out if you can’t wait or just want something for home use.

cyclowax nex gen automatic hot melt chain waxing machine shown in Lidl-Trek team pits.

No word on whether the machine cleans and degreases the chain for you, so you may still need to start with a clean chain for the first application. After that, waxed chains typically stay clean enough that simply wiping it down before reapplying is enough (barring extreme use, use your judgement), so you may just be able to throw the bike on here every couple months for a top off.

More details as we get it, check their product teaser page at link below.

Cyclowax.com

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Rusti Broadway
Rusti Broadway
5 months ago

This is mortals that cannot harness the absolute power of TRI-FLOW!

mud
mud
5 months ago

I used to wax the chain on my road bike, but after switching to trail riding on a gravel bike, the frequently washing required kind of killed that idea. A lot easier to just add oil.

ca bmx
ca bmx
5 months ago
Reply to  mud

Just wipe chain clean after dirty MTB & gravel rides post wash and follow up with the wax drip. I’ve never looked back on oil

Gerald
Gerald
5 months ago
Reply to  ca bmx

I hope you still check for chain stretch.

ca bmx
ca bmx
5 months ago
Reply to  Gerald

I do regularly, both on mtb/road/gravel bikes and it’s wild how chains show zero wear after a couple seasons of use. I’ve been replacing them anyway as they age more than showing any wear. Keep a log at home when you last swapped

Rob22826545
Rob22826545
5 months ago

Will it fit my Zwift bike

Greg
Greg
5 months ago

Oils is for suckers.

Der_Kruscher
Der_Kruscher
5 months ago

Yet another machine to do what can be done cheaper by hand. But then, I don’t really get the whole hubbub over wax: conventional lube is fast, cheap, and easy to use and it certainly isn’t stopping anyone from winning races.

Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
5 months ago
Reply to  Der_Kruscher

Wait for the Mark II version, with Ant+ and power meter integration,
it will wax the chain when your output power goes down, note this only work
with Zwift, not on the road.

Kevin
5 months ago
Reply to  Der_Kruscher

Nah, the hype is real. I can work on my bike or fix something on the road and my hands stay completely clean. My bike is quiet, my chain and everything it touches lasts longer, and it’s drastically easier. I pull off my chain once a month, drop it in a crockpot and put it back on. I will never let oil touch my bikes again.

Xc_racer
Xc_racer
5 months ago
Reply to  Kevin

Yup. Been on wax for a few years now.
Hot wax once or twice a year; drip wax in between as needed.
Can’t see myself ever going back to a conventional lube for any reason.

Robin
Robin
5 months ago
Reply to  Der_Kruscher

Conventional lube doesn’t prevent drivetrain wear anywhere near as well as wax does, and that’s the big benefit to riders who aren’t paid to ride, especially in these times when the cost of cassettes and other drivetrain components can be so expensive. In simple terms, running wax is far less expensive in the long run.

If you’re racing, then wax saves precious watts.

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