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review
Lubrication
Motorex White GreaseMotorex White Clean

Motorex White Grease

6
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 9, 2013

1
£18.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Luxuriously thick and durable but expensive compared with other synthetics
Weight: 
100g
Contact: 
www.raleigh.co.uk
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Motorex White Grease has been a product that stirs mixed emotions in me. On the one hand its tenacity and buttery smooth effect is perfect for bearing surfaces-headsets, hubs, pedals and bottom brackets being the obvious candidates. Then again, at eighteen quid, it's a good deal more expensive than equally stubborn and moreover, seal friendly synthetics.

Lithium has long been the default option for white greases since the cocktail of lye soap and oils bonds well to metal surfaces. Highly impervious to heat and moisture, my elderly eight-speed LX freehub and SPD lookie-likies were first in line. Having stripped, degreased and dried their individual components, I unscrewed the top cap and found myself spirited back to primary school art classes courtesy of its integral applicator - just like Copydex.

Super convenient, this ensures fuss free basting, minimising wastage and mucky maulers to boot.

Optimistically, I'd like to think the Swiss brand's extensive experience with petrochemical products in motorcycling/automotive contexts means they've harnessed lithium's best properties without the nasty side effects - the link between galvanic corrosion (where the grease conducts, rather than inhibits chemical seizures) has long been recognised - ask anyone who's bought an eighties steel classic with fluted alloy post. That makes this grease potentially a lot less versatile than others.

Steel on steel's fine, I've happily swept square taper bottom brackets aboard 4130 winter workhorses and redressed all the Univega's fasteners ready for winter without a moment's hesitation. Initial impressions are extremely favourable, hub and pedals continue to spin serenely despite regular trips through skewer deep mud and subsequent garden hose-downs. Of course, real proof lies several months' down the line and I'll be keeping a close eye on those seals too...

Verdict

Luxuriously thick and durable but expensive compared with other synthetics.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Motorex White Grease

Size tested: 100g

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Lithiumbased white lubricant grease especially for bicycles. MOTOREX WHITE GREASE has outstanding wear-reducing properties and remains malleable at cold temperatures. Ideal for slide bearings and cranksets". Certainly works well on bearing surfaces e.g. hubs, cassette bodies, headsets etc but very pricey for a lithium based prep.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

White, lithium derived grease but difficult to ascertain exact composition.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10

Nice to apply, very rich with great adhesive properties.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Seems both effective and longlived on bearing surfaces, specifically hubs, pedals and headsets. However,it's too soon for any seal chomping or galvanic corrosion inducing tendencies to reveal themselves.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Certainly stays put.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Very expensive for a lithium based prep no matter how longlived.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

There's no doubt the formula is exteremely stiff and therefore longlived with hubs, headsets and other bearing surfaces being the obvious recipients. However, I am still concerned that it may turn cannibal on rubberised coponents and encourage, rather than prevent metal to metal siezure.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Durable and easily applied.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Expensive and with unknown consequences for seals/similar components.

Did you enjoy using the product? Pleasantly indifferent.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Not my first choice.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Objectively can't fault it on performance, at least in short term testing contexts but there are better, dare I say more versatile generic greases for considerably less money.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Motorex White Grease
motorex
lithium
Grease
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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1 comments

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Dr. Ko | 11 years ago
0 likes

Actually nice grease. Pricing is strange, in Germany you can get 100 ml for 6 quid - that is one third of the price! 13

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