Specification           

Available in 50ml, or 120ml (£23) Muc-Off claims race-ready credentials, reducing watts as well as time between reapplication. Given the years in development, I wasn’t surprised to discover they were coy about its precise alchemy. In common with Silca Secret Chain Coating, the Dark Energy Chain Wax is designed to bring the benefits of a hot melt wax in a drip bottle. No need to remove the chain and leave it soaking- just make sure the drivetrain’s stripped of any trace of pre-existing lubricant, pop the spout and go. Well, not quite, but we’ll get to that shortly.  

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I can tell you there are no PTFE or PFAS components and it’s a hybrid type that employs a plant derived biodegradable blend. It follows the contemporary narrative of running cleaner and clinging on, whereas waxes had traditionally trapped gritty and grime in the top layer, scabbing off before it could reach the chain’s moving parts. The latter might be fine on a dry, dusty summer trail, but less practical for gravel, early seasons time trialling and indeed, general riding. Muc-Off say it will return up to 300miles per application, which isn’t the most I’ve returned from a wax in dry to damp conditions. Still impressive, given 150-180 miles seems typical of others in comparable contexts.    

 

Application

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The combination of spout design and liquid carrier mean it’s more predictable and less wasteful to apply compared to a lot of waxes. However, all waxes need to be delivered to sterile, bone-dry drivetrains. Muc-Off offers a specialist Chain Wax Cleaner (review to follow) but this isn’t a prerequisite. That said, solvent-based degreasers tend to melt, rather than strip waxes, so I’d opt for something that takes its time but cleans deeper.

 

Moteverde Drivetrain Cleaner Motoverde Drivetrain Cleaner | cycling-not-racing remains one of my favourites, along with Squirt Bike Cleaner Concentrate SQUIRT BIKE CLEANER CONCENTRATE | cycling-not-racing . Alternatively, strip rings, chain, cassette, derailleur(s) and leave them marinating in a parts washer overnight, or if you’ve deeper pockets, treat them to an ultrasonic blitz.

 

Whatever your chosen anti-lube, remove all trace of lube and moisture. Give the Dark Energy a vigorous 30- second shake, unscrew the cap and drop into every link. Flow rate is very predictable, but I’d still apply outside, or in the garage, keeping a bit of clean, dry rag or kitchen paper handy.

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Shift up and down the cassette to distribute some wax here and leave for 12 hours. Yes, twelve. By this point, it will assume a clear glaze. It can also be applied to cleat mechanisms and cables. I’ve gone this route to see how it compared with others- one treated with Weldtite Wax Weldtite Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing, the other with Muc-Off Dark Energy and on another occasion, KMC Go was the benchmark.

 

Test Bikes & Contexts

 

Ours arrived during a very changeable March and I was very much in gravel and trail mode, hence Ursula Ursula Makeover & Modernisation PT3 | cycling-not-racing and Denise Denise, 12 Months Down the Trail | cycling-not-racing were the obvious candidates. Temperatures were on the lower side (4-12 degrees typically) but this had no impact upon curing time. In this instance, both test chains measured less than .25 for wear. This would give a fair reflection of the lube’s properties- friction/shifting and wear reduction specifically.

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 Lubrication 4/5

 

 The lube seeps deep into the chain’s inner sanctum, so I wasn’t remotely surprised to find the chain felt well lubricated and friction lower than the proverbial snake’s testicles. This was particularly apparent when turning a higher cadence, encouraging just that and in turn, faster times for a given distance. Shifts were snappy in both directions, even under load. Nothing unusual here, since most waxes and indeed, dry lubes follow this narrative. However, these properties remained consistent throughout, right until the point that faint tinkling crept in. I topped up a little before on the second helping.

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Curious, I also took this opportunity to strip and check how the Zefal Pro II Grease was faring many months down the line. A fair bit still clung to Denise’s Hollowtech II axle, but I stripped this and applied some Peaty’s Sped Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing . Doing so proved an excellent marriage, enhancing the Dark Wax’s friction-busting characteristics.

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Cleanliness 4.25/5

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In common with other contemporary blends, I've been testing recently, the Muc-Off Dark Energy clings tenaciously to the chain. There's some helpful transfer to the wider drivetrain but seems temperature stable. On geared builds, shedding is very subtle, none along the right chainstay given 200 miles or so. The drivetrain was palpably cleaner than Momum MIC Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing KMC, Weldtite Wax, and KMC Go, which are my contemporary benchmarks. By contrast, Holdsworth and Muffin’s track chains seemed to dredge up some residual chunks, but these were very firm and fell away over time. 

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Transfer to hands has been minimal and on par with the others discussed. Great news when tackling a roadside mechanical, or when shouldering bikes across challenging sections of trail.This is similarly convenient come topping up time. Simply remove any loose flakes, give derailleur jockey wheels and cages a quick clean rag cat-lick, reapply and allow to cure. If you’re giving the bike a clean, a quick blast of Muc-Off Chain Wax Remover will help purge any impacted, stubborn stuff. I’ve needed this to strip other brands waxes, but to date, I’ve only needed to tickle the residual, scabbed Dark Energy with a stiff bristled brush. Minimal faff means there's no excuse for a dry, poorly nourished chain. Talking of which, there has been negligible wear in either chain over the past six weeks.  

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Durability/Care 3.5/5

Through a mixed, changeable March and April, I've managed the maximum 300 miles cited by Muc-Off, although by that point it was barely there and retrospectively, I should've topped up around the 270-mile mark. While the friction was still in snake's testicle territory, but the lubricant cushion was obviously depleted. No trace of taint, mind.  While manufacturers can give approximate figures based upon lab and real-world testing, there's always some variation- exposure to persistent rain and certain types of mud can influence a lube's tenacity and staying prowess.  A drop on the jockey wheels was still doing its thing 300 miles hence. Cleat mechanisms, on gravel and mountain bike duties, entry and exit remained very snappy for almost three weeks- just top up, cure and scoot off again.   

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Should you need to strip the chain, for any reason, say switching to a wet lube then, even at this stage, it will require a generous soak in a parts washer. Or a slower acting but tenacious stripper, such as the Motoverde, or Muc-Off's rapid Chain Wax Remover.  I have used waxes that have run similarly clean and returned 400 miles from a single application in similar conditions but as I've already said, when things turn damp, my benchmark for waxes is between 150 and 180 miles. 

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​Value 3.5/5

£15 for 50ml is at face value, relatively pricey, especially when set against blends, such as KMC GO is offered in various sizes but £18 buys 150ml. It employs a similarly well-designed spout, rivals the Dark Energy’s cleanliness. However, though lubrication is good and friction low, in my experience, 150 miles is typical in identical test conditions. Momum Mic Wax Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing has returned over 400miles in some contexts. cures in minutes, not hours, so practical for reapplying on group rides, endurance events and touring. Though clean and temperature stable, it doesn’t rival the Dark Energy’s cleanliness.  

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Blub Wax Lube Blub Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (now £11.30 for 120ml) is another relatively tenacious blend that also runs clean and seemingly temperature stable. It also cures very quickly, at least during warmer weather. Unfortunately, it requires reapplication if the bike’s not ridden for 48 hours. A moot point with daily drivers but impractical for weekend race, or playthings.

 

You can also spend considerably more. Silca Super-Secret Chain Coating Silca Super Secret Chain Coating | cycling-not-racing  is similar to Muc-Off Dark Energy in that its designed to bring the benefits of a hot melt wax in a convenient drip bottle. A comparable 2.0 fluid ounces is slightly cheaper at £16.99. Curing times are around the 40-minute mark and I’ve returned 280 miles from a single application in predominantly dry, cold contexts. Good, but again, not quite level-pegging with the Dark Energy, especially when the rains come.  

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Summary

For the most part, the Muc Off Dark Energy Chain Wax has done exactly what it says in their blurb. Without the same laboratory testing facilities, it’s difficult to substantiate a manufacturers’ claims and make direct comparison with other brands. Nonetheless, real world performance has lived up to the hype. High end race pedigree components aside, performance benefits are best appreciated when hubs, bottom brackets and Hollowtech II type crank axles are also treated to low friction greases.    

 

Economies of scale means the 120ml bottle represents better value and is where I’d personally put my money. A genuine 300 miles per application is impressive by wax standards- twice that of KMC Go. The cleanliness and low friction also benefits component life and could well recoup the minor price differential very quickly if your bikes boast higher-end groupsets. That being said, the balance of cleanliness and durability mean it has horizons beyond racing. I’d happily feed my geared bikes for fair weather, three-seasons road and trail duties.

 

Michael Stenning

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Verdict 3.75/5 Wax lube that largely lives up to the hype, but long curing times won’t suit everyone.

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Muc-Off UK | Bicycle & Motorcycle Cleaning | Lube | Tubeless

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