AbsoluteBlack Launches New Graphene Infused Chain Lube at $150 a Bottle
AbsoluteBlack, a company that has become well known for its oval chainrings, have launched a chain lube that uses graphene which they claim makes it market-leading.
AbsoluteBlack's first lubricant has taken two years of research with several of their own patents being secured before bringing it to market. The all-new wax-based chain lube called GRAPHENlube is claimed by the brand to be both the world's fastest and longest-lasting lube and it is also, interestingly, completely black when it is applied to your chain.
 | It took us two years to find the right ratio of crumpled to non-crumpled graphene, size of graphene platelets, dispersion rate of agglomerates, concentration and finally figuring out a low friction hydrocarbon emulsion base that will stay on the chain for very long time and not chip away like paraffin wax is known for. The end result is a lubricant that on a single application will hold sub 5 Watts of frictional losses over 900km distance. |
Absolute Black are pulling no punches with their claims on this one and have published the below video that compares the lube directly to Muc Off's Hydrodynamic lube, which was developed with Team Sky and also claims to be the best on the market for efficiency.
AbsoluteBlack says their new product is a “hydrocarbon-based water emulsion, containing graphene that exhibits extraordinary durability at single application whilst maintaining impressively low friction for a prolonged period of time in both wet and dry conditions.” When producing the new chain lube AbsoluteBlack have ensured it is completely free of any potentially harmful solvents and it is easy to apply as a liquid but it will turn solid as it dries into the chain. This solidification is to allow it to become more resistant to water washing it off or it becoming contaminated with other materials during your ride.
All this for $15
So it may save you watts but will it save you pennies? Absolutely not. GRAPHENlube is currently only being produced in small numbers and will be available for just a limited period of time once each batch has been produced. For this reason, AbsoluteBlack will only be selling the product directly. For just a 14ml bottle it will be $15 / £12 / €13, while the more standard size of 140ml will be a staggering $150 / £115 / €130. For comparison, the Muc Off Hydrodynamic lube shown in their test video cost £18 for the 50ml.
You can find out more about AbsoluteBlack's GRAPHENlube here.
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For $150 a bottle, what's in this stuff? Is it a miracle white powder that lasts for days?
Uses: Can be snorted, drank & even used to prevent the transmission of sexual diseases.
Warning: If snorted during riding, it can cause rider to try bigger jumps which can lead to serious injuries or possible death. If drank too quickly it can cause hallucinations. If used during sex, it can cause severe and very prolonged rashes. Please follow instructions and use sparingly!
Let’s burn down all yeti bike bike shops!!!! Anyone that works for yeti or sales yeti doesn’t deserve a job!!!
Cheers
Me: It'll match my underpants.
Just making that up since I assume there's something on a Raptor this is hard to afford replacing.
It's just more beneficial in every way to keep your drivetrain clean than to spend ridiculous money on this stuff.
I have diamond infused liquid gold lube at 350$ a bottle. It works better.
It matters less to mtbers but it is not worthless.
LIke you said, a huge impact for high performance racers and amateurs willing to spend the money if it's real. But I'll be shocked if just "slightly better lube" can create an extra 7 watts.
Also, my takeaway is that if magic lube can add an extra 7-watts to your drivetrain, I should probably rinse the muck off my chain and lube with my normal non $30/oz lube more often than I do.
I doubt there's any gain over a chain lubed every ride with something like Rock N Roll or White Lightning or whatever, as basically any clean and lubricated chain only has a total loss of 5-7W at 250W. There's no way they are knocking that down to 0W loss.
The only applicability for this product in MTB would be long, dry-conditions races. If I was competing for the podium at Leadville, I'd probably use it. I do know some dry-weather-only roadies who could probably get their money's worth lubricating their chain once a season.
I can't explain any of the science or testing involved but maybe an independent lab or publication will do a test.
Another thing to consider beyond watt savings is drivetrain wear. If this product reduces friction by that much, I would think it would also decrease drivetrain wear. Might be something to consider in a world where cassettes can be almost $500.
Skip to the 11 minute mark for the how to on waxing your chain.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHr9znwpwmQ&feature=youtu.be
I wouldn't go silly with fancy lubes for my kind of riding but taking the pulleys out for a proper clean/lube and maybe replacing them when toasted isn't even a bad idea.
I'm sure riding in dirt and trails will make it so that it doesn't last the claimed 1800km but 7.3 watts of ego boost on my Zwift setup for $15? Sign me up.
*inhales*
*puts down the crack pipe*
*calls boss*
lets charge 150 a bottle. imagine people lining up to buy a little bit of that bottled liquid luxury
For now, can't we just enjoy the plastic rain?
I did a thorough degreasing: mechanical, then detergent based citrus degreaser, then water wash/rinse/air compressor, then a very powerful solvent you normally would never use on chains, lol. I applied a drop or so of the lube to each chain link individually, then pedaled it around shifting thru all gears, let it sit overnight and wiped any remaining lube off.
Now I’d spend $150 on a chain that doesn’t need to be lubed as often ....
1: PB editors put this up to watch y'all lose your minds, and I agree, the butthurt is strong here
2: Don't worry about buying it anyways, if the power claims are true all the Protour teams will be buying out the stock. 7w every 250 is YUUUUUGE
I’m glad there are people who will pay 150 to line their chain. I do live my chain but not with gold. Plenty of other alternative that doesn’t break the bank that does the same job.
After watching a video on how to replace tub faucet cartridge I came across plumbers grease. I was like hmmm...looks like slick honey without the bank buster price of $20 for 2oz. Went to Lowe’s and paid 3 dollar plus for about 2 0z give or take and was blown away in that this alternative looks and feels similar to Slick Honey. What for me was that it was good for o-rings. I don’t know if using it for bike o-rings is good but I don’t know if using it is bad either so I’m using it. I use it to lube my stanchions on fork, rear suspension, and dropper. So far so good. Don’t get me wrong slick honey was awesome but $20 for 2 oz got me going to my local Lowe’s for plumbers grease. Think found my new slick honey alternative gold. Won’t be long before Lowe’s realize and jack up their price to match slick honey..????????
- Pinkbike Press Release
Nah, f@$k it.
FTFO Abs Black, you suck donkey balls since i bought a cassette from you that lasted 3 rides and you did NOTHING to help back when you were a new company. You burned that bridge with your cheese based crapola and i will never forget or buy from you again :-p
There, i feel better now :-)
‘Most sought after bullshit in the world’
Bugatti logo rip-off: check
Overinflated price: check
Sounds like a good deal
Real riders : are you kidding me, gtfo with that
Posers : I'm going to be so fast now
And it lightens your setup as well. You save at least 750 g ... with all that money you don't have anymore
Also use it in my Totem.
Tried White Lightning, Sturmey, Boeshield 9 , paraffin etc. , then I had an epiphany one day figured it doesn’t matter and to just ride my bike.