TF2 Lubricant Smart Spray with Teflon is a great solution to keeping your bike and components running smoothly and squeak-free, taking pretty much everything in its stride.
- Pros: Stands up well to bad weather; smart spray head works better than the straw
- Cons: Can get washed off your chain quite quickly in really heavy rain
It's an ideal spray can to keep in your shed or toolkit for general maintenance on your bike, whether post-wash or keeping things running smoothly through the various seasons.
> Find your nearest dealer here
> Buy this online here
The test period has seen me riding various bikes through the snow and subsequent salt-covered roads, through to dry and dusty gravel rides in warm and sunny conditions.
Storing a test bike in the shed after one of the snowy rides without cleaning it left it with a fair amount of rusty, stiff links in the chain – not surprising, as all that had been on the chain before the ride was the original coating from the manufacturer. After a bit of a soaking with TF2, once in the evening and once the following morning, it soon had everything moving freely and looking clean and shiny.
TF2 isn't as thick as some non-spray chain oils, so the only thing I would say is that if you ride a lot in heavy rain with lots of road spray then you'll find that it washes off quite easily and you'll need to reapply it religiously.
For more run-of-the-mill conditions it lasts surprisingly well. I've been using it weekly on my winter bike where it has been keeping the gears, brakes and bottom bracket running smoothly and quietly.
Going off road in the wet and dry, TF2 has also worked well without seeming to attract too much in the way of grit and dust.
The lubricant is available in the standard aerosol or this new Smart Spray version, which has a foldaway nozzle that removes the need to keep poking the small straw into the top. It's much better for getting into nooks and crannies, and the large button is easy to use from all angles.
Value-wise, at £7.99 (400ml) it looks a better bet than the WD-40 Bike All Conditions Lube which costs £6.49 for 250ml. TF2 sounds like it performs better too.
It also works out cheaper than B'twin's Teflon Aerosol Lubricant, which is £3.99 for 150ml and has no straw to target the spray.
Overall, TF2 lubricant does a great general maintenance job for a decent price, and only high-mileage, all-weather riders might need something more specialist for their chain.
At the time of writing, the new smart-spray option isn't readily available to buy online (at least not without a premium) but we're assured by Weldtite (TF2 is a Weldtite brand) that it is stocked by independent bike shops – find your nearest using the link at the start of the review.
Verdict
Simple and effective lubricant that'll take care of the majority of jobs on the bike
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
Make and model: TF2 Lubricant Smart Spray with Teflon
Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Weldtite says, "TF2 Lubricant Spray with Teflon is an advanced, multi-purpose lubricant with excellent dirt repellence, water resistance and anti-corrosion effects."
In the Weldtite catalogue it says:
TF2 ULTIMATE SMART SPRAY
Our best-selling line just got better. The evolution of our TF2 Ultimate Spray now includes an innovative SMART head with integrated straw for better penetration and less wastage.
> Repels dirt and cleans surfaces leaving a protective film
> Enhanced with Teflon™ surface protector
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Teflon® surface protector coating with high lubricity
Built-in repellant to disperse water
High penetration into bearing surfaces of chain
Repels dirt and cleans surfaces leaving protective film
Also suitable for motorcycles, cars, boats, etc
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
You can't really knock it for general bike maintenance.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Ease of use and overall performance.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Can wash off quickly in heavy rain.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It's one of the cheapest we've tested.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Some more expensive specialist products may work better on the chain for extreme weather, but this still covers most of the bases really well.
Age: 40 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed
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