Back
On
The
Chain
Gang
Automatic Chain Oilers (part 2)
Back in issue 02 we reviewed the fitting of the Tutoro
Automatic Chain Oiler, sceptical, we asked “how good are
these things?” And in doing so also got our hands on the
Motobriiz product to compare.
Both oilers are similar in look; an oil reservoir, a few
tubes, bits and pieces. Yet, both are very different in
design and operation.
The Tutoro works
through the movement
of your motorcycle’s
suspension; the up
and down movement
actuates a high flow
valve allowing oil to
flow through to your
chain and sprocket.
Flow is controlled by
a secondary control
valve, allowing you to
regulate the amount of
oil flowing through.
By comparison the
Motobriiz sees oil flow
through to your chain
via a wind pressurised
oil chamber; the faster
you ride the more oil
is forced through to
the applicator that sits
below your chain on the
guide.
On the face of it, both oilers are very different, yet the
principle is the same; get oil to the chain and reduce wear
on it and the sprockets. But do they work?
The oilers we tested were used on similar bikes; a 2014
BMW F800GS and a 2016 BMW F800GSA. Both were fitted
with brand new chains and sprockets and ridden over very
similar conditions and distances.
Initially the GSA fitted Tutoro took some time to get the
flow regulated correctly, we found that oil splattered and
made quite a mess of the bikes rear end. There’s no right
or wrong with the adjustment, it’s dependant on riding
conditions and weather. Once we found the right setting
the Tutoro worked a
treat, we could see the
benefits within a few
hundred kilometres of
highway use.
Despite a simpler
design the Motobriiz
was somewhat harder
to mount; requiring
tubing to be run from
the front of the bike
through to the reservoir
that needs to find a
place to be mounted, in
our case under the GS’s
seat. A second tube
then runs down to the
applicator.
Once in place, the
Motobriiz’s operation
is simple; you move
forward, the oil trickles
down to the applicator.
Like the Tutoro, the
Motobriiz performs extremely well and within just a few
kilometres we could see that the chain was coated with oil
and no mess to be found.
There was no faulting either oiler while on good quality,
dirt free bitumen. The big test would come once we hit
the Australian outback with its sand, powder and often
mud, would either oiler make a difference to the life of the
TRAVERSE 104