Drivetrain cleaning is where most home mechanics either overdo it or underdo it — hitting the chain with degreaser strong enough to strip paint, or spraying something so mild it just smears the grime around. CeramicSpeed formulated UFO Clean to sit in the middle: strong enough to break down waxed and oil-based lubricants from the chain, cassette, and pulley wheels, but gentle enough that it won't attack bearing seals, carbon fiber, or anodized finishes. It's the companion product to their UFO Drip chain lube, developed with the same drivetrain-efficiency obsession that drove the original coated chains.

The formula is water-based and biodegradable, which matters if you're washing the bike on a driveway that drains into a storm sewer or a lawn you'd like to keep alive. Spray it on a dry drivetrain, let it dwell for thirty to sixty seconds, agitate with a brush if the chain is particularly gunked up, then rinse with clean water. The cleaner lifts contaminants rather than just dissolving them, so the rinse actually carries the dirt away instead of redepositing it further down the chain.

Where UFO Clean earns its place is in the prep work before relubing. Wax-based chain lubes — including CeramicSpeed's own UFO Drip — demand a genuinely clean chain to bond properly. Any residual oil or old wax left in the rollers will contaminate fresh lube and cut its effective life in half. Running UFO Clean before a fresh application of UFO Drip lets the new lube penetrate the way it's supposed to, and you'll notice the difference in how long the drivetrain stays quiet between applications.... Read More