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Muc-Off’s Nanotube Speed Film Optimized chains created for pros, now available to average joes

Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, feature image
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Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, in pan

You gotta love trickle-down technology. While you might not be training to loop 54.5kms of track in an hour like current record holder Bradley Wiggins, the high-tech chain lubricant that was developed specifically to help him through the challenge is now available to all riders thanks to Muc-Off.

Anyone with a penchant for pro-level performance can now buy either Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo chains that are hand-treated with a special NanoTube Speed Film Lubrication, which the company says makes the ‘fastest chain in the world’. This lubrication treatment is intended for all weather conditions, remains effective longer than dry wax-based lubes and arrives at your door primed and ready for installation…

Muc-Off’s treatment process is much more than a simple soak. Each chain is lubed, speed-graded and run-in under load. All the while, data is being collected and analyzed by the company’s custom designed Chain Lube Optimization Dynamometer machine to ensure maximum performance from the lubricant. Afterwards the chain is sonic cleaned in a few various formulas, then the NanoTube formula is applied by hand. After the final step of applying NanoTube particles, the chain is ready for race day.

Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, on machine Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, particles

The NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chains are suitable for road, track, triathlon and MTB competition. Since the lubricant is designed for use in all weather conditions, mud and moisture won’t be a problem for off-road riders. The new treatment repels moisture just as well as the brand’s Hydrodynamic Lube, but also uses the NanoTube additives for superior lubrication, resulting in a claimed power savings of 6 watts.

Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, hand dip

While a new military-grade additive is used to keep friction as low as possible, extreme pressure additives help ensure a reasonable life span for the product. The treatment lasts more than 400 miles in dry conditions (twice the distance a wax lube will last, according to Muc-Off), or 250+ miles on wet, muddy trails with no notable drop-off in performance.

Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, on chainring

Customers can also buy top-ups of the NanoTube Speed Film Lube and re-treat their chains at home for hundreds more miles of silky smooth spinning. A reapplication will bring the chain back to within 1-2 watts of the initial out-of-the-box performance, but Muc-Off says their factory’s special processes can’t be replicated in your home garage so expect ‘nearly-new’ performance from subsequent applications.

Muc-Off NanoTube Speed Film Optimized chain, package

The lube itself is black in color, so while it might look like plain old oil rest assured it’s much faster and more advanced. A hand-treated Shimano Dura-Ace/XTR chain sells for $162 USD, a SRAM Red22 goes for $164 and Campagnolo Record comes in at $168 (11 speed models only). Expect to wait about 3-4 weeks for your chain to be lubed up and shipped.

muc-off.com

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anonymous
anonymous
8 years ago

I always wanted to buy a pre worn chain.

adps
adps
8 years ago

this gotta “trickle down” some more before i use it;-)

Dog
Dog
8 years ago

Will it match my Rapha Kit?

Tyler Durden
Tyler Durden
8 years ago

I don’t really get it. It’s common to use compounds that consists of weakly bonding nanolayers in lubricants (namely MoS2), but they work because the quasi-2D layers interact weakly and have a propensity to glide across each other. Nanotubes shouldn’t really exhibit this behavior. Also – look that $80 premium! MoS2 lube is cheap as dirt…

fergus
fergus
8 years ago

Nano tube oil comes from very small snakes then?

David
David
8 years ago

I tried Muc-off’s ceramic wizard juice chain lube last year. I have never used another chain product that caused such bad buildup and adhesion of crap to my chain, and yet somehow managed to leave the chain completely unlubed after being caught in one spring rain. It certainly was amazing technology to accomplish failing in those two ways at the same time, but I don’t think I’ll be trying any more of their products.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

Steve,
What is “speed-grad(ing)” on a chain?

Also, are the 6 watts savings beyond the friction reductions one gets after a good chain break-in, or is the stated 6 watt savings compared to a brand new, non speed-graded, non-broken in chain. And is this comparison chain non-lubed, lubed (with what)?

Reverend Dick
Reverend Dick
8 years ago

That is enough buzzwords.

Peter
Peter
8 years ago

Unfortunately this is still cheaper than the EPO SoCal Master racer are currently buying….

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