Purple Extreme Lube

Several months ago, the makers of Purple Extreme, a new chain lube, provided Campy Only with samples of their product to test on our Campy-equipped fleet. Based on several thousand miles of testing, here are our impressions.
What It Is

Purple Extreme is a synthetuic lubricant that uses an easily evaporated solvent to carry the actual lubricant onto and into the chain. Much like White Lightning and GearLink, you apply Purple Extreme, run the chain, and let it dry for a few minutes. (Purple Extreme is "thixotrophic," meaning that it stays in place and doesn't "run" after it's applied.)

According to the manufacturer, the lubricant in Purple Extreme was originally created for the oil drilling indsutry, where it is used to lubricate the machinery on offshore drilling rigs. Their idea was that lube that can withstand the wear and tear of an offshore environment can easily handle the stresses in a bicycle chain. Among the claims made for Purple Extreme is that it will lubricate your chain for 400 miles (more on that later).

Campy Only's Test

We have used Purple Extreme for about six months on several different bicycles, including 9-speed, 7-speed, single speed, and off-road bikes. We followed the manufacturer's instructions for application, with the exception that we did not totally clean the chains with a solvent before applying Purple Extreme. Most riders don't have the ability to totally clean their chains before applying a new lube, so we omitted this step.  Purple Extreme's representative responded to this by saying that we violated the cardinal rule of using PE, which is to start with a totally clean chain.  With absolutely no other lube on when you start, says PE, you will get better performance.  They definitely recommend starting with a clean chain, and offer instructions on how to get all your old lube off.  We will give it a try and post updated results here. Click here for PE's recommended bike cleaning steps.

Our riding has included clean, dry roads; dusty trails; mud; and some wet weather road riding.

Results

Based on our tests, we found that Purple Extreme works as well as or better than other lubes we have used. It definitely passes our "quiet" test, making our drivetrains running silently.

Applying Purple Extreme is very easy. We were able to get the lube onto the chain with very little overspray onto the rest of bike--a problem that we have had with other lubes (including Campagnolo's own lubricant). While Purple Extreme has an odor, it's not as objectionable as others we have tried (Pro-Link, for instance, smells pretty bad).

Once it's on, Purple Extreme does a great job keeping the drivetrain clean. Unlike White Lightning, another dry lube, Purple Extreme doesn't turn into a dirty coating. The lube also has less tendency to stain your clothing or car interior if the chain touches anything.

While we've been generally satisfied with the performance of Purple Extreme, one promise it hasn't kept is that it will last 400 miles between applications. In our testing (which has included lots of dry miles that don't put much strain on chain lube) we've generally gotten about half that much use before the chain starts running dry and squeaking. See PE's response above--we didn't start with a totally clean chain, which they say is necessary for maximum mileage.

Purple Extreme's suggested retail price is $10.99 for an 4-ounce bottle, which should last a single bike for a year or so. 

For more information on Purple Extreme:  www.purpleextreme.com or call 866-286-5823 (LUBE)

Campy Only  |  More C-O Reviews