Rear Linkage has red grease?

[Oxxa]

Today I greased the rear linkage bolts and a tiny bit the bearings because they were already greased with some sort of red grease. 
 

Is it normal to have red-ish grease? Or has the grease gone bad?

 

My tenere has 19,000km.

 

Thanks for taking your time!

[Ray Ride4life]

There are some red greases like Lukas red 'n tacky or you never would guess, Red Grease.

[TimmyTheHog]

grease doesn't really go bad per-se but more so loosing its greasiness and stiffen up...

 

and as @Ray Ride4lifesaid, there are grease such as Lukas are red.

 

If you are worry about it, you can always wipe them off and reapply with the grease of your choosing.

[Black99S]

7 hours ago, Oxxa said:

Today I greased the rear linkage bolts and a tiny bit the bearings because they were already greased with some sort of red grease. 
 

Is it normal to have red-ish grease? Or has the grease gone bad?

 

My tenere has 19,000km.

 

Thanks for taking your time!

Many lithium based greases are red. Black if they have moly. 
I use the lithium moly grease on swingarm and suspension pivots as the motion is small. HD lithium red on wheel bearings. 
Grease goes ‘bad’ if you mix bases. E.g. BelRay waterproof grease is aluminum base. Mix bases and oil can  separate out leaving behind hard crud. 

Edited October 19, 2022 by Black99S

[Alan M]

Red grease is normally used where it may come into contact with rubber seals, o-rings and the like as it will not perish them.

 

Not sure of its make up but Google will probably know

[Tenerider]

I stick to Yamahas recommendations regarding greasing. Linkage wants lithium grease. I even avoided lithium complex grease, although I really don't know the difference except that the latter is more expensive

 

Regarding MoS based grease (usually black), I once met a guy who works in lubricant industry (no, not what you think, you filthy old guys!). He told us that this stuff can cause plastics to slowly become brittle when used incorrectly (I think when it gets in contact with water).

 

The most harmless grease (chemically inactive or "stone dead" as he called it) was silicone grease/oil.