Do I Need to Lube My O-Ring Chain?

Yes. Even a sealed O-ring, X-ring, or Z-ring motorcycle chain still needs lubricant.

A sealed motorcycle chain uses rubber rings to trap factory grease at the pin–bushing interface, but that seal does not cover every moving surface in the chain. One critical contact point stays exposed and relies on you to keep it lubricated.

Where a Chain Actually Moves

There are two main areas of movement in a sealed motorcycle chain:

Pin–bushing area (sealed)

The inner link rotates around the pin and is sealed by the O/X/Z-rings with factory grease (green area).

Roller–bushing area (unsealed)

The roller rotates around the bushing as it contacts the sprocket teeth (red area). This area is not sealed and requires lubrication.

Why Sealed Chains Still Need Lube

Even though the pin–bushing area is sealed, the roller–bushing contact is exposed.  

What Proper Lubrication Does

• Reduces friction between the rollers and the bushings
• Helps prevent corrosion of the steel components
• Helps protect the rubber seals from drying out and cracking

What Happens If You Don’t Lube the Roller–Bushing Contact

• The roller stops spinning and starts sliding across the sprocket teeth
• You get accelerated sprocket wear
• You lose power and efficiency as friction increases

A sealed chain is not maintenance-free. 

Introducing Oinker®

I invented Oinker® because I was frustrated with how inefficient and sloppy the straw-only method was. I found myself wasting material trying to hit both sides of each link plate.

Oinker® concentrates two pressurized streams onto both sides of the inner link plates and drives the lube between the plates and to the edge of the rollers. From there, the lube flows underneath the rollers to the main friction zone.

The precision of Oinker® was important to me, so each dispenser for the motorcycle version is chain-specific. This allows both exit ports to be aligned over the tops of the inner plates.

Whether you ride street, track, adventure, or off-road, the same friction zone exists at the roller-to-bushing contact. Oinker® helps you hit that spot on every link instead of coating your wheel, tire, and swing-arm.

Where to Apply Lubricant

• Best spot: the lower run of the chain.
• For thin lubes, place a rag under the chain area to catch any drips.
• If the lower run is hard to reach, apply lubricant at the top of the rear sprocket.

After application, rotate the chain several revolutions so the lube can distribute around the rollers and bushings.

Whether you ride street, track, adventure, or off-road, the same friction zone exists at the roller-to-bushing contact. Oinker® helps you hit that spot on every link instead of coating everything around it.

FAQ: O-Ring Chain Lubrication

How often should I lube my O-ring chain?

Follow your owner’s manual and riding conditions. As a rule of thumb, many riders lube every few hundred miles or after riding in rain, mud, or washing the bike.

Can I skip lube because the chain is “sealed”?

No. The O/X/Z-rings only seal the pin–bushing area. The roller-to-bushing contact is still exposed and needs lubricant to reduce friction and sprocket wear.

Where exactly should the lube go?

Focus on the roller edges and inner link plates so the lube can seep underneath to the roller-to-bushing contact point.

Where to Get Oinker

Oinker® is available directly from our online store, on Amazon, and through select power-sports dealers. If you are unsure which chain size, use our size finder.

Key Takeaways for Sealed Chains

• A sealed chain is not a maintenance-free chain.
• The roller-to-bushing contact is unsealed, moves thousands of times on every ride, and needs lubricant to protect your sprockets and power delivery.
• Oinker makes it easy to hit that exact contact zone and keep the mess off everything else.

About the Author

Ferrell McCollough, two-time national motocross champion and inventor of the Oinker® chain lubrication tool.