I use my finger, but I really wish I didn't have to. That Finish Line syringe looks like a good idea. I like the Mobil 1, too. I used to use Coastal white grease, and found it to be about the most insidious this ever. It's impossible to confine it to one area.

Machine shop is in my top five favorite scents.

OK I've heard it more then a couple times now, what is great about Mobil 1. Is it synthetic? In a high temperature situation or high load sure but I wiegh 180# and go 20mph down hill.
So is it more water proof? I use white lithium and red or blue marine grease, oh and fingers and popsickle sticks.

I use plastic butter knives that I wipe with a clean rag each time before dipping them back into the tub. I use my fingers when I have to, but find things--especially bearing balls--get slippery fast when I get greasy fingers. I also have a grease gun that I use, but I was given a tub-O-grease as a gift, so I'm using it up before I buy new grease for the gun.

I'm a fingers only guy. I see the grease and grime stains as badges of honor. I wish my gf saw them the way I do.

Fingers for lubing the races. For packing caged balls I put 'em in a sandwich bag with the grease and squish 'em around. Hardly notice the machine shop smell anymore, but the wife sure hates it...

That smell of grease and burning metal reminds me of high school. I went to a tech school, and though I wasn't in the machine tech or metal fabrication departments, the smell from those shops was in the hallway all the time. It's a mixed feeling of nostalgia and loathing!

I use Astroglide for all of my lubrication needs.

For bearings I use a small nylon brush, about like what you'd find in a cheap set of watercolors. I find it much easier to get the grease where I want it vs. using a finger, especially with BB fixed cups.

Fingers for applicators and palms for smooshing grease into bearings, caged or not.

Kentucky jelly all the way, dude.

I had pals that worked in hospitals years back, and got some syringes and other items that I used for bike maintenance. I found using my automotive grease gun with a needle too cumbersome.
The syringes worked better, but as mentioned, packing them is a PITA and for me it ended up not worth the work.

My favorite tool is a plastic 'depressor' with one end with a 'french curve' shape. It's an OB-GYN disposable item. You can use your imagination. The shape is also ideal for bearing cups!
One end scoops, the other spreads a nice bead of grease.

These days, it's a tub o' grease, gloved hands and my 'depressor'.

Flux brush for anti-seize. Who wants that on their hands? OTOH Mobil 1 sort of has a citrusy smell. That I don't mind.

sometimes these "screw on the tube" style injectors have air-pocket issues (so can the metal can "Dualco style", for that matter). You have to work out the air bubble(s) by squeezing the plastic tube and working the plunger before you'll get any grease to flow.

Yeah, I've had some vapor lock issues right after filling my Dualco. Smacking it like a Heinz bottle did the trick in no time.

I use one of these,

That - and Hoppe's #9

Or wash the children's hair!

Never even knew such applicators existed, before this thread.
I have a grease gun, for forcing grease under pressure into automobile ball joints, etc., but for that there is no other option.

fingers, or the heel of my hand for caged bearings

Fingers here, and I reserve gloves for cleaning dirty stuff, not assembling clean stuff.

Thanks. I suspected something like that. I will work at it more. I just figured, it did not create a powerful enough vacuum to move the grease adequately.

I use a small grease gun ($5 at Harbor Freight) to get the grease where I need it then spread with a finger. Seems easier and neater than dealing with the one pound tub. I use marine bearing grease as I have it on hand for my trailer bearings.

On a long ride, does it increase your performance?

I use Mobil 1 Synthetic and my fingers to maintain my bicycles. To remove old grease I use paper towels and isopropyl alcohol. Works like a charm.

Ouch. Much as I'm with you on the task ...I could never stand the smell of Hoppe's #9. Don't know why.