• Well-lubed motorcycle chains perform better and last longer than unmaintained chains.moto image by fotografiche.eu from Fotolia.com
  
  Motorcycle chains need cleaning and lubing about every 200 miles to ensure proper wear and tension. Different people prefer different types of oil. O-ring chains need a different lube than chains without O-rings, but overall the tools for oiling a motorcycle chain stay consistent even if different lubrication products are used.
  
  

Bike Jacks

• Many bikes come with a center stand that allows the rear tire to turn freely; for those that don't, it makes the job of oiling the chain much simpler if the rear tire is jacked up. Motorcycle jacks are a type of bike lift that picks the entire bike up off the ground so the person doing maintenance has free access to the chain. These lifts usually require the person doing the maintenance to tie the bike down so that it can not fall during the lifting process. Other devices lift the rear tire of the bike only a few inches off the ground on a system of sealed ball bearings that allow for free rotation of the real wheel.
  
  

Manual Motorcycle Oiler

• Manual oilers provide more sophistication than a simple spray lube but still require a manual effort by the person doing the maintenance. Some oilers oil both sides of a chain as the operator squeezes a trigger. The process takes only a few seconds. Other oilers only reach one side of the chain at a time, and take a little longer. The bike does need to be on a center stand or other device to get the rear wheel off the ground so it can turn without resistance.
  
  

Automatic Oilers

• An automatic oiler attaches to the frame of the bike. It contains the lube of the rider's choice, and automatically applies a measured amount to the chain as the rider goes down the road. These oilers provide the most sophistication and require the least input from the rider once the device is mounted on the bike, usually on the rear of the bike and hidden by the license plate.
  
  

Sprays

• According to WhyBike.com, the most straightforward method for lubing a motorcycle chain requires no tools other than a can of chain lube or general-purpose lubricant. Simply spray the lube on the chain while rolling the bike forward until the entire chain has been oiled.
  
  

Soaking

• Although not usually necessary, if you want to ensure that the chain is fully lubed after the bike has sat without use for several months, remove the chain from the bike and soak it in a bucket of motor oil. This is the most labor-intensive method of oiling a chain; depending on the bike it might require removing the rear wheel and possibly removing and replacing the sprockets as well.