Review: Rex Black Magic liquid wax

The Finnish wax specialists Rex came out with their Black Diamond hot wax around 2 years ago, which I reviewed right after it came out and I had gathered some experiences with it. The release came accompanied by bold claims on longevity, ease of application, etc. I have since ridden some 8000km with waxed chains, and there is NO WAY I'm going back to liquid lubes. Not until Rex announced the Black Magik drip wax. Unsurprisingly, also accompanied by bold claims.


Anyone who has used hot wax in a chain knows that it offers superior longevity, very good lubrication and an almost perfectly clean-to-the-touch chain. The downside is that the application process is tedious, especially if you only run 1 chain. I run 2-3 / bike, so I will usually swap to a freshly waxed chain as the previous one becomes noisy, and then wax several chains at a time. Black Magik claims to remove the need for this, as it's a drip wax and can be applied to a clean or previously hot waxed chain with the chain on the bike. The description of how this drip wax works by Rex is as follows:

The First Fully Uncompromised Liquid Wax

Drip waxes are typically soft and oily compared to hot waxes. But that's not the case with Black Magic. Black Magic is the market’s first fully uncompromising liquid wax, matching the composition of hot wax exactly. Its completely non-oily formula was developed in collaboration with Helsinki University researchers specializing in emulsion technology. The advanced emulsion process transforms the wax into extremely fine micro-droplets. Once the water carrier evaporates, only genuine Rex wax remains. You’ll notice Black Magik’s similarity with hot wax as it stiffens the chain after lubrication, almost like hot wax. During a short run-in period, the chain breaks in, and excess wax sheds from the surface. The internal and external pressures exerted on the waxed chain compress the wax droplets into a solid state, resembling molten wax. The result is long-lasting lubrication that surpasses the durability and dirt-repellency of traditional emulsion waxes. Black Magik is manufactured at our factory in Hartola, Finland, using an advanced in-house manufacturing process.

Package, pricing and application

Rex claim one application of hot wax will last up to 1000 km if you don't wash your drivetrain with solvents and ride in "optimal conditions". This usually means dry tarmac where the chain is not subject to dirt, mud, water, etc. They make no such claims for Black Magik, but most likely people will expect slightly worse performance and longevity. They do recommend a hot wax every 1000 km and an application of Black Magik every 100 - 500 km, depending on riding conditions.

The composition of Black Magik matches Black Diamond 11+1 (11pcs. paraffin, 1pc. additive), but is in liquid format with apparently a water based carrier, which dries as the wax is applied on the chain and leaves a film of wax on the chain and in the rollers. 

The price for the 180 ml / 6 oz bottle in Europe is between 38-50€. The package size is quite generous as you only need a drop per link on a chain, so probably only a few milliliters to do a full chain. The bottle is easy to use and has some sort of rattler inside to help mix the emulsion before application.

Application is like applying a liquid lube: Clean the chain and apply, but do not expect to be able to ride right away! The carrier needs to evaporate first, so you need to let the wax dry for minimum 12 hours. If you have used hot wax before, I've found that wiping the chain clean or hosing with water is enough, but if you have used oil based lubricants before, the chain should be thoroughly cleaned first. BM is a thick, white "goo"

Findings and longevity

I have used BM on my gravel bike, e-mtb and mtbs for around 1000 km, though granted I've only applied it as an additional lubricant on hot waxed chains. I normally get 300 -4 00 km on an application of hot Black Diamond on my gravel bike, and I tested adding Black Magik after the chain had already become dry and noisy. I find that an application of BM lasts around 100 - 200 km on a gravel bike, but is also very much dependent on riding conditions. In wet conditions, 100 km is likely the recommendable application interval, but in dry conditions you may get up to 200 - 300 km. Of course, the requirement to re-apply is quite subjective, as few people will actually inspect the chain or do testing to determine an exact application interval in all possible conditions. I re-apply as the chain becomes audibly dry and noisy.

NOTE! You should not shake the bottle vigorously before application, as this will foam the wax and it won't penetrate the chain properly. Gently turn the bottle and you're good to go! I would also not recommend applying the wax cold as it can become semi-solid, again preventing proper penetration.

I have yet to wear out a chain with Black Diamond, so I'm hoping Black Magik will perform equally well in preventing chain wear. Hot wax have proven to almost double chain life, so it's a worthy investment, and considering the lubricants and additives are the same in BM, my expectations are high! So far the product has worked as intended: It's 100 % compatible with Black Diamond hot wax, easy to apply and works as an additional lubricant to complement the hot waxing. It's also evident that hot waxing a chain again, which has had Black Magik applied, is not a problem and can be done as if you were re-waxing a chain.