With its signature bright pink branding, Muc-Off is one of the leading and most easily recognizable bike care brands out there. It started out producing components but moved on to bike cleaners and then swiftly onto chain lubricants, which eventually grew into a comprehensive range of products. The C3 Ceramic range has two options, and I've been testing the Dry version for the last six months across a wide range of conditions. It's a premium-priced product, though not the top of the range from the British brand, so how does it compare to some of the best chain lubes on the market?
Design and specifications
With nano ceramic particles and synthetic polymers, Muc-Off’s C3 lube sounds like something from a sci-fi film, but does this lead to out-of-this-world performance? It's a semi-synthetic lube that the brand says is fully biodegradable and non-petroleum-based. However, they are tight-lipped on its exact composition, so I would still be wary of where the runoff from cleaning your bike ends up.
The fancy tech involved performs two tasks: it provides corrosion resistance and increases the longevity and smoothness of your drivetrain by reducing the metal-to-metal contact of your chain running across your gears. Like Motul's Wet and Dry Lubes, Muc-Off uses a boron nitride additive to decrease friction, and claims it offers up to 10 times the performance of a conventional chain lube. There is no mention of what it's been tested against, but having seen the amount of R&D that goes into its products, I'm sure it's been well tested.
I had the 120ml bottle and the 300ml alloy refill bottle, which was great. As a high-mileage user in one of the wettest winters on record, I do a lot of cleaning and lubing of drivetrains, and the ability to top up instead of using a new bottle each time was a great plus for me. Not only was it better for the environment by cutting down on single-use plastic, but it also meant I didn't run out for months.
Performance
Application is straightforward using the drip-style bottle with its relatively long nozzle. I'm a big fan of thoroughly degreasing a chain before applying a new lube and found this helped maximize performance. You can apply it before a ride, but Muc-Off suggests an ideal three- to four-hour curing time. This is quite long and not always great for those who are too busy to faff with such things, but it does make a significant difference to performance.
Once set, it stays put very well, with near wet lube-like performance but without the sticky finish to attract grit and dirt that accelerates wear and tear on your drivetrain. Its longevity is probably the most impressive thing I found, with it lasting for multiple long gravel rides in damp and muddy conditions where other dry lubes would have long since evaporated.
An LED light is supplied to check you have covered the chain, which, if I'm honest, I think is a bit gimmicky and not something I used, as its bright green color is hard to miss. It also does a good job of improving the feel of your chain and drivetrain. I've limited data to back this up bar subjective ride performance, though it performs well compared to other non-hot wax lubes in dry conditions, according to Zero Friction Cycling's lab test results. That testing is based on road bikes, but in a non-scientific workshop test, my chain would run noticeably smoother on my 1x gravel and MTBs when using the C3 Dry Ceramic Lube.
It's not the cheapest at $16.99 for the 120ml bottle and $29.99 for the 300ml refill, though it's comparable to Peaty's Link Lube Premium All Weather at $24.99. Its tenacious longevity offsets the higher cost, however. I simply didn't need to reapply nearly as often as I would with cheaper products, and having a large refill bottle was really helpful, making sure I always had some to hand.
Verdict
This is a great lube that works and makes a noticeable difference to your drivetrain's smoothness. Its green credentials are thin compared to other brands, though using a decent-sized recyclable alloy refill bottle does offset that slightly.
Although its higher cost may put some off, I found that it lasted much longer than cheaper options in use and, therefore, was less expensive per mile in the long run. Overall, it's a great product I'd happily use year-round for all my MTB, gravel and road rides.
Tech specs: Muc-Off C3 Dry Ceramic Lube
- Price: $16.99 / £20 / €25.99 for 120ml, $29.99 / £28 / €39.99 for the 300ml refill
- Size: 4.06oz / 120ml or 10.1oz /300ml refill
- Drip bottle: Consumer-recycled plastic
- Details: Dry lube made with nano ceramic particles and synthetic polymers
