you said it, spot on.
I can see that any system that is faster and cleaner would be nicer in this regard, less time spent on drivetrain maintenance.
If the liquid suspension type wax lube is as clean as it seems, to me this seems like the best method.
Easy , fast and clean to apply (after riding in rain, after X days of riding) and a lot less clean up on cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels.
I can really see the advantage of a wax type thing on more off road trips, especially with rain involved, because this is where it really gets things messy.
There really is no difference between hot wax, solvent wax, and water suspension wax. They are all wax and will all perform pretty much the same way. Each has some limitations in application, however. Hot wax needs a way to make it hot…not the most convenient thing to do at a campsite…and a lot of paraphernalia to do it. It takes time as well.
Water suspension waxes have the problem of long dry times and are likely longer in humid conditions. Applying it the night before would be best so that it can dry. And, as I pointed out above, if you have something to make the wax compatible with water, once it is reexposed to water, there is nothing keeping it from resuspending. The wax
would wash off.
Solvent wax is in a solvent. That wigs out some people and can be problematic if someone in authority decides that a little bit of solvent is worse than entire gas tanks full of a similar solvent. But it is easy to apply and dries quickly.
Noise?
ie a noisy chain
To what extent would it bug you?
Not really definable on paper is it?
Like Yan mentioned a few posts ago, years ago I used a super thin chain lube, still have a bit of it, and had the same experience as Yan.
The noise of the chain bugged me after not a lot of riding, so basically had to apply it almost every day commuting.
Super clean mind you, so easy application and no excess to collect junk, but like a noisy hub or any other bike noise, I really didnt like the chain noise.
So my question to Cycco or STR, is this a factor ?
Maybe you aren't bothered by a chain sound that would bug me?
Just finished a ride with a chain that has been 490+ miles since my last application of White Lightning. I could hear the tires on the bike (slightly knobby Gravel Kings) but not a sound out of the chain. Shifts are as crisp as ever. I’ve been using White Lightning since the late 90s and I may be used to the noise that it makes but there is nothing noticeable that I can hear. No squeaks, no rattling, no sounds over what is normal.