REX Black Diamond Product Info
ZFC has conducted over 300,000km of controlled testing, and to date no lubricant has remotely demonstrated the treatment longevity of Rex Black Diamond.
You can head here for manufacturer product information and claims;
https://rex.fi/en/bike/rex-black-diamond-chain-lube
Product Information from ZFC;
This is the longest lasting per treatment lubricant tested, period. Most cyclists should expect at least 1000km of very low friction, low wear running per treatment. Many will get circa 1500km.
For a lot of cyclists, that could be months, multiple – before needing to re-lube.
For some dedicated ergo bikes, it could go an entire year depending on how often you like to ride hard and go nowhere.
Is it clean?
Well, the lubricant itself is, unsurprisingly, black. So your chain and cassette will have a black, wet lubricant running on it. However, the application amount is very low, making it very easy to keep chain, cassette and chain rings looking great – just wipe chain post each ride for 5 seconds and wipe cassette / rings as your heart desires.
Is it suitable for offroad?
Yes, sort of. Out of all “wet lubricants” tested, Black diamond is basically equal with Silca Synergetic for lowest wear rates through dry contamination test block. Note however that ZFC does not recommend ANY wet lubricant in the world of dirt and dust at this time versus other top non wet lubricant choices. The average wear rate for the top non wet lubricants is significantly lower in dust conditions, as dust simply sticks on contact to wet lubricants.
**HOWEVER – Black Diamond + Race Day Liquid – when Race Day Liquid is added to Black Diamond, this effects a chemical change, and it becomes an EXTREMELY long lasting chain coating lubricant with contamination resistance matching the top immersive waxes. Refer to Race Day Liquid Product page for more information.
Is it suitable for wet conditions?
Yes – however its world conquering treatment longevity is heavily impacted. This does not make Black Diamond a short lasting treatment in wet conditions, simply not astoundingly long as it is in dry conditions.
Like ALL (and I mean ALL) lubricants, contamination should be reset post any decent wet rides, and cleaned chain re-lubed. Wear rates increase notably if just keep applying lubricant over the top of now abrasive treatment that has been hosed with dirty road water.
Refer to key learnings document (instructions tab) for more detail information regarding lubricants and wet weather riding. If you ride a lot, read that section, and save a lot of wear.
Is it fast?
We believe so ?.
Rex are unsurprisingly rather bullish on its outright speed for race day. They do have wheel energy data to support their claims. Whilst ZFC has some reservations of Wheel energy data at this time as again the results for some competitor lubricants just seem completely out of whack.
However the near zero wear rate in clean block 1 make it very likely Black Diamond is a very fast lubricant for race day.
There has been a test done with Ceramic Speed (whose data I do trust), however that was on old application instructions, which were subsequently proven to be insufficient and penetration issues are extremely likely to have affected test result. I do not know when it may be re tested for outright efficiency under new & correct application instructions. ‘
Based on it’s test results with ZFC, whilst my test does not provide a watts loss number, the wear correlation of ZFC testing protocol is extremely robust. To date all other lubricants tested around the mark of Black Diamond have been tested by Ceramic Speed Research lab as the fastest lubricants on the market.
Does the Race Day Liquid Make it faster?
Apparently yes, but I am lacking any efficiency test data to date of BD + RDL. From ZFC perspective, the RDL is best used to make BD a chain coating lubricant for maximum contamination resistance in dry offroad riding. Refer to RDL product page for further information.
Is it environmentally friendly?
Apparently yes. I will be obtaining further detailed information from all manufacturers who products I stock, however rex has advised that it is paraffin based + non PFOA friction modifiers. When I can I will be expanding this section for all lubricant products stocked by ZFC. In the interim any specific questions pls contact REX directly.
Any other cool things I should know?
Yes. Many (most) of the top drip lubricants tested to date are X part lubricant, X part carrier. There is no solvent or carrier to evaporate off, so there is no set time. It is 100% lubricant. This also makes application amount very small (around 15 applications per small bottle).
Whilst outright efficiency testing globally is a pretty contested basket case at the moment, ZFC opinion is that REX have been genuinely doing all they possibly can to independently prove how brilliant their product is.
Aside from their not inconsiderable knowledge plus R&D into wax lubricants, working with race teams and athletes – they have also put their product on the line paying for testing with really currently the only two independent bicycle chain lubricant test facilities – Wheel Energy and ZFC, and in both cases BD has shown some world leading results.
Manufacturers who do not have huge belief in their product do not spend some big bucks to contract genuinely independent testing.
Detail application instructions – Initial application;
- Clean chain as per instructions in wax zen master guide
- SHAKE WELL BEFORE USE
- If possible, lubricant and chain above 20dg Celsius temperature. If chain is very cold (garage etc in cold climates) – even if lubricant is warm, the tiny amount applied per link will instantly cool and thicken. This is true for the vast majority of drip lubricants, best practice for most is warm lube, warm chain.
- Apply one drop per link (on roller).
- Pedal chain through drivetrain at high chain line angle to open up link parts, whilst using fingers to work lube into rollers.
- Pedal chain through drivetrain in smallest cog for maximum link articulation.
- Repeat above adding a further ONE drop per roller.
- Thoroughly wipe excess when finished with microfiber cloth.
RE Application;
- Wipe outside of chain clean with microfiber cloth.
- Single application of the above (so not duplicated application, that is for first application on a properly cleaned chain only.
