Australian Motorcycle Trader - May 2000 - 'Oily Scot'

There's an ongoing debate among riders on whether or not O-Ring chains require much or any lubrication. I'm inclined to go with Regina Chain's advice on this, which is, though O-Ring designs run internal lubrication, a light external oiling reduces friction on sprockets and is useful for keeping the operating temperature down.

At risk of facing a lynch mob, I'm not a fan of most spray lubes - generally sticky and able to gather any nearby dust and turn it into grinding paste. I do however like the about.asp approach, which is an automatic chain oiler that only works when the engine runs and drip feeds a miniscule amount of lube to the drive.

The basic $189 unit is small and can be mounted under sidecovers, seats, or wherever suits your particular bike. My Blackbird has one under the seat.

There is also a touring unit with a bigger tank that retails for $239. Universal fitting kits cover just about everything, except VFR and injected Triumphs, which get a special version. The kit takes under an hour to fit if you know what you're doing, though I've always found the need for additional zip ties - so have some spares at the ready.

I've owned four of these things over the years and swear by them. about.asp's claims for additional chain life have varied over the years, but my experience has been about 1.5 times to double what I'd normally expect. Chalk up $300-plus for a chain and sprocket set and it's not hard to see the oiler paying for itself.

The biggest benefit is convenience. I fill the oiler once every 1500-2000 km - which takes about a minute - and that's it. The chain remains relatively clean because of the light oil that is used and the rear tyre doesn't cop too much grunge if you keep the unit djusted to its lower settings. The importer reckons that the right oil is important to avoid damaging the oiler's internal components. It costs $11 per 500ml, which should last several thousand kays (km).'

Guy Allen
Good Stuff: Low Maintenance
Bad Stuff: Kit needs special oil
RATING: 'It's a beauty mate' * * * * (out of 5)