Based on the provided information, O-ring motorcycle chains require very little maintenance compared to older chain types when it comes to lubrication, due to their specific design.
The reference states: "Both O-ring and X-ring chains can offer extended service life requiring very little maintenance thanks to their design, which seals the lubrication and protects their free movement against dirt. They are a far cry from the non-O-ring chains, which require a lot of attention, frequent cleaning and lubrication."
This crucial design feature means that the essential internal lubrication, critical for the pins and bushings within the chain links, is sealed inside by the O-rings.
Here's what the reference implies about O-ring chain lubrication needs:
- Sealed Internal Lubrication: Unlike traditional chains, O-ring chains come with lubrication sealed inside the links by the O-rings or X-rings.
- Reduced Maintenance: Because the vital internal lubrication is sealed, the need for frequent lubrication to penetrate these inner components is drastically reduced. The reference highlights that they require "very little maintenance".
- Contrast with Non-O-Ring Chains: The reference explicitly contrasts O-ring chains with non-O-ring chains, which require "frequent cleaning and lubrication" – this refers to the necessity of regularly applying lubricant that can work its way into the moving parts (pins and bushings) which are not sealed on older chains.
Therefore, while some external lubrication on the rollers and side plates may still be part of a maintenance routine to prevent rust and reduce friction with the sprockets (a point not explicitly detailed in this reference), the primary need to "oil" the chain in the traditional sense – forcing lubricant into the internal wear points – is largely eliminated because the O-rings seal the lubrication where it's needed most. The design allows for very little maintenance concerning lubrication frequency compared to non-O-ring chains.
