In this article, we use so-called affiliate links. With every purchase through these links, we receive a commission from the merchant. All relevant referral links are marked with . Learn more.
Error correction: We made two errors in the assessment of the lubricants in our BIKE 5/23 print issue. Although nothing has changed in the final score, we would like to correct the incorrect data below.
- When weighting the lubricity, we have only given 40% instead of 50% in the tables in the booklet. The grade was calculated using the correct weighting and corresponds to the values in the booklet.
- Incorrect values were also transferred in the evaluation of the Danico Biotech Ketten Kaiser, so these did not match the corresponding conclusion.
Environmental compatibility: instead of 9 points: 10 out of 10 points
Lubricity: instead of 10 points: only 7 out of 10 points
Creeping ability: instead of 5 points: only 4 out of 10 points
At the BIKE judgement "very good" and the score of 46 does not change, however. As mentioned in the test, Danico's organic chain oil is a very good organic lubricant with good lubricity and particularly high corrosion protection. The Ketten Kaiser was also convincing in terms of handling with good dosage and a handy bottle.
One drop of crude oil can contaminate 600 to 1000 litres of water. We bikers should therefore rethink and use environmentally friendly lubricants for the bike chain.
When the chainsaw eats its way through the undergrowth, its chain is almost always lubricated by environmentally friendly oil. As early as 2003, the proportion of organic chainsaw oils on the market was over 80 per cent. When bikers cut through the forest, their chains usually run more smoothly and quietly, but far too rarely on a lubricating film of organic oil. The range of organic bicycle chain oils is growing, but only slowly. We tested 14 lubricants labelled as "organic".
We tested these 14 organic chain oils:
- Antidote chain oil
- Atlantic organic chain oil >> e.g. available here
- Danico Biotech Ketten Kaiser
- Dr Wack F100 organic chain oil >> e.g. >> available here
- Dynamic Bio Allround Lube >> e.g. >> available here
- Hanseline Bio MTB Oil >> e.g. available here
- Motorex Chainlube Allround >> e.g. >> available here
- Muc Off Wet Weather Lube >> e.g. >> available here
- Pedro's Go! >> e.g. available here
- Rohloff Oil of Rohloff >> e.g. available here
- Toniq Chain Oil All Weather >> e.g. available here
- Tunap Eco chain oil >> e.g. available here
- Wash 'n' Roll organic drive oil
- Weldtite Pure Wet Lube >> e.g. available here
(Click to go to the individual rating)
You can find these topics in the organic chain oil test:
Test of environmentally friendly bicycle chain oils
The term "organic" is as elastic as chewing gum and not every oil contains enough of it. Products are considered readily biodegradable - and this is the basic requirement that a modern bio-lubricant must fulfil - if they are at least 60 percent degraded after 28 days at the latest. The OECD 301 test standard is also an essential basis for the award of recognised
recognised environmental labels such as the EU Ecolabel or the Blue Angel. Not all products in the test fulfil these requirements. The organic chain oil from Wash 'n' Roll for example, consists largely of white oil, a product made from crude oil that Pedro's Go! likewise. Both are not easily biodegradable and, according to current
not climate-friendly either. We have therefore decided to include them in the test without a final score.
A special case is the oil from Motorex. Although it bears the OECD 301 seal, it is based on PAOs and mineral oil, as the manufacturer stated on request. Although polyalphaolefins (PAOs) are labelled as biodegradable, they are actually also made from petroleum. Their maximum biodegradability is only 30 per cent. The rest remains in the soil for years.
The other candidates in the lubricant test not only rely on environmentally friendly raw materials in their composition, but some also use recycled materials for dropper bottles and labels - a big step in the right direction. However, the most important argument for bikers to opt for organic lubricants in the future are the results of our extensive test: The best organic products lubricate at least as well as the winners from our last comparison in 2020 - and, with a little side blow to the forestry faction, also significantly better than chainsaw oil.
>> Read more about sustainability in biking in our special: How can cycling be even better for the environment? <<
What is BIO?
The term organic is not protected. Just because a product is advertised as environmentally friendly does not mean that it is harmless.
What the standard says - OECD 301 (A-F)
A lubricant is less hazardous to the environment if it biodegrades quickly if it contaminates the soil. To do this, the lubricant must be converted into CO2, water and biomass through oxidation with oxygen with the help of water and bacteria.
biomass. According to OECD 301 (A-F), the lubricant must be at least 60 per cent degraded within 28 days in order to be considered readily biodegradable.
The different base oils
A distinction is made between mineral oils, synthetic oils and vegetable oils. Synthetic oils can be produced both on a mineral oil basis and on a plant basis. Synthetic oils of fossil origin are NOT easily biodegradable according to the current state of the art. Mineral oils per se are not. Nevertheless, white oils, for example, are marketed under the term organic. For more information on the composition of a chain oil, end customers can also consult the manufacturer's safety data sheet.
Environmentally friendly
To earn the "organic" seal, a Fahrrd chain oil should of course be readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 301. It should also contain no colourants or fragrances and be harmless to nature. In terms of sustainability, the packaging and label should be made from a recyclate, i.e. recycled plastic. Refill containers or refill stations at bike dealers also help to protect the environment and avoid plastic waste.
How BIKE tests
1 Lubricity
In the laboratory of Bremer & Leguil, the manufacturer of Antidot, we had all lubricants tested on an Optimol SRV5 testing machine. The friction coefficient, lubrication coefficient and wear are determined in accordance with DIN. A ball oscillates at 30 °C under a load of 300 N for 60 minutes on a test disc on which the lubricant is applied. If the test was cancelled (lubricant film rupture), the process was repeated.
2 Creep resistance
A defined amount of lubricant is applied to the edge of two degreased, slightly offset glass plates. Capillary force causes the lubricant to migrate between the plates for 15 minutes. We transferred the wetted surfaces to 95 g/m² paper and weighed the pieces.
3 Corrosion protection
In the Bremer & Leguil laboratory, cylindrical steel test specimens were immersed for 24 hours in a mixture of 300 ml of the oil to be tested and 30 ml of a 0.5 per cent NaCl solution in accordance with DIN ISO 7120. The resulting rust was wiped off and the corroded surfaces were classified visually.
5 Handling the lubricants
Several test persons evaluated the practical handling when applying the lubricants. The products and packaging differ greatly from one another. Good judgements were given for an adapted viscosity, which allows the drops to hit the chain in a stable manner and seep in in a controlled manner, thin-walled bottles, which allow good dosage with low finger pressure or drip caps with a long spout and small outlet opening, which make the drop release finely controllable.
Please also read these articles on the subject of lubricants:
Interview with Stefan Mitterer, Managing Director at OELCHECK GmbH
Always apply only the required amount of lubricant and do not "overlubricate" the chain!
BIKE: Are organic chain oils completely harmless to the environment?
Stefan Mitterer: No. The official tests for degradability (e.g. OECD, CEC) are not intended to be a licence. In cases such as hose bursts on machines or loss of lubrication (chain, chainsaw), these are more degradable in the environment, but should not be released into the soil or water in large quantities. Should this happen, countermeasures, such as excavation of the soil, will certainly be carried out. The industry is currently considering how to further improve tests on the degradability of lubricants.
Are attributes such as "free of labelling" or "Free from hazardous substances" Characteristics of an organic product?
No, free from hazardous substances does not automatically mean harmless to the environment. Biodegradable does not automatically mean harmless to the environment or living beings.
living organisms. Labelling-free merely means that toxicological tests have not exceeded a certain threshold value and therefore no hazard symbol is required on the product.
Some chain oils are proven to consist largely of white oil and are nevertheless labelled as organic.
As the term "organic" is not protected in this context, it should be checked whether the claim "organic" is accompanied by a corresponding test or fulfilment of an official standard (checking the label, data sheet). Otherwise, marketing reasons cannot be ruled out.
How can the biodegradability of polyalphaolefins (PAO) be assessed?
There are lubricants that are PAO-based and fulfil degradability tests. However, here too, this does not mean that they are "harmless to the environment".
Many of the organic products perform very well in the test. Are there any disadvantages compared to mineral oils?
Depending on the composition of the lubricant, so-called bio-lubricants can lead to resinification and are often more expensive in industry than classic mineral oils. Due to their composition in terms of environmental compatibility, the oils tend to be more susceptible to degradation reactions. These can also occur on the chain and then lead to gumming. However, as mentioned in the question, biolubricants often also offer technical advantages.
The results of the big chain oil test
Antidote chain oil
Laboratory: Exemplary lubricity and acceptable corrosion protection, pleasant viscosity, but low creep.
Practice: Fine dosage due to creamy consistency. The handy, firm bottle is somewhat difficult to squeeze. Cap with child safety lock. No refill option and relatively expensive.
Information on Antidote chain oil
- Price: 8,95 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml 17,90 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 50 m
Evaluation Antidote chain oil
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 9 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 51 points I very good
Atlantic organic chain oil
Laboratory: Moderate wear protection and low corrosion protection, solid and lasting lubrication performance at low forces.
Practice: Handy bottle with fine spout, easy to squeeze and can be applied cleanly and selectively. Somewhat sticky. Now available in recycled packaging.
Information on Atlantic organic chain oil
- Price: 4,90 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 9,80 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 50 ml
Rating Atlantic organic chain oil
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 5 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 41 points I good
Danico Biotech Ketten Kaiser
Laboratory: Lubricant based on sunflower oil. In the mid-range for friction and wear, convincing for corrosion protection. High viscosity with moderate creep behaviour.
Practice: Very fine to apply and not too sticky. Packaging with low recyclable content, refillable at the retailer.
Info on the Danico Biotech Ketten Kaiser
- Price: 33,20 Euro
- Price per 100 ml: 33,20 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Evaluation Danico Biotech Ketten Kaiser
- Environmental compatibility: 10 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 46 points I very good
Statement on the Danaico Biotech Ketten Kaiser by Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor:
Who would have thought that sunflower juice would lubricate the chain so well? In any case, I no longer use mineral oil-based chain oil on my bike.
Dr Wack F100 organic chain oil
Laboratory: Consistently solid coefficient of friction and very good wear protection. Still protects well against corrosion, but only creeps moderately.
Practice: One of the best dropper bottles in comparison, also largely made from recycled material. Easy and clean to apply without dripping thanks to its medium viscosity.
About Dr.Wack F100 organic chain oil
- Price: 16,99 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 16.99 euros
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Rating Dr.Wack F100 organic chain oil
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 51 points I very good
Dynamic Bio Allround Lube
Laboratory: With lubricity only in the rear area, wear is also rather high. However, the oil provides reliable protection against corrosion. Creeps only moderately despite low viscosity.
Practice: Drips easily from the bottle when tipped, less easy to dispense due to its thin consistency.
Info on Dynamic Bio Allround Lube
- Price: 12,99 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 12.99 euros
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Evaluation Dynamic Bio Allround Lube
- Environmental compatibility: 7 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 6 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 8 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 41 points I good
Hanseline Bio MTB Oil
Laboratory: The coefficient of friction is very good, but the uneven measurement curve indicates inharmonious lubrication performance. Moderate wear protection, but excellent corrosion protection.
Practice: Must be shaken for a long time to distribute the graphene particles. Low viscosity and difficult to dose. Very inexpensive.
Information on Hanseline Bio MTB Oil
- Price: 7,50 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 6,00 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 125 ml
Evaluation Hanseline Bio MTB Oil
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 8 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 6 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 47 points I very good
Motorex Chainlube Allround
Laboratory: On average one of the highest friction values, but with smooth running. Wear and corrosion are moderate. OECD-301 compliant according to the label, but the base oil is controversial. Therefore not entirely harmless.
Practice: Very thin and difficult to apply cleanly, despite the dosing tip. Not very sticky.
Info on the Motorex Chainlube Allround
- Price: 8,95 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 8,95 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml; Spray, 300 mm
Rating Motorex Chainlube Allround
- Environmental compatibility: 4 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 8 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 6 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 6.5 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 44 points I good
Muc Off Wet Weather Lube
Laboratory: Low coefficient of friction, but somewhat uneven curve. Therefore not a top value for wear protection either. Corrosion protection at a high level.
Practice: Handy bottle, long spout and sufficiently high viscosity, making it easy to dispense. Contains fragrances and colourings - not ideal for an organic product.
Info on the Muc Off Wet Weather Lube
- Price: 7,99 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 15,98 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 50 / 120 / 300 ml refill
Rating Muc Off Wet Weather Lube
- Environmental compatibility: 8 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 9 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 5 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 9 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 50 points I very good
Pedro's Go!
Laboratory: Not readily biodegradable according to OECD 301, therefore not rated. Moderate lubricity, but outstanding in creep behaviour and protection against corrosion.
Practice: Despite its thin consistency, it can still be dosed sufficiently, handy bottle and dropper cap.
Info about Pedro's Go!
- Price: 13,39 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 13,39 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Evaluation of the Pedro's Go!
- Environmental compatibility: 0 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 5 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 9 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: without rating
Rohloff Oil of Rohloff
Laboratory: Slightly increased but uniform friction and excellent wear protection. Low creep due to very high viscosity.
Practice: Flexible and perfectly dosable bottle. Viscous like honey, therefore quite long application time on the chain. Refillable at the dealer.
Info about the Rohloff Oil of Rohloff
- Price: 7,90 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 15,80 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 50 / 1000 ml
Rating Rohloff Oil of Rohloff
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 10 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 49 points I very good
Toniq Chain Oil All Weather
Laboratory: Very light, but somewhat uneven curve. High protection against wear. Medium viscosity and creeping ability.
Practice: Hard bottle and somewhat large opening, therefore not optimally dosable, despite good consistency. Refill option and recycled material for dropper bottle and label.
Info on Toniq Chain Oil All Weather
- Price: 12,99 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 12.99 euros
- Available containers: Fluid, 15 / 100 / 500 ml
Evaluation Toniq Chain Oil All Weather
- Environmental compatibility: 10 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 10 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 8 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 49 points I very good
Tunap Eco chain oil
Laboratory Somewhat high coefficient of friction with slightly uneven running. The wear is also below average, as is the corrosion protection. Unfortunately not yet at the level of Tunap's standard chain oil.
Practice The handling and dosage of the bottle are excellent and the materials are recycled.
Info on Tunap Eco chain oil
- Price: 14,95 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 14,95 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Tunap Eco chain oil rating
- Environmental compatibility: 9 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 6 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 5 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 9 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 38 points I good
Wash 'n' Roll organic drive oil
Laboratory: Not readily biodegradable according to OECD 301, therefore without evaluation. Both test runs were cancelled after about one minute. The white oil product was unable to separate the test specimens very quickly. It does not creep very well and offers weak rust protection.
Practice: Hard bottle, therefore difficult to dose.
Info on Wash 'n' Roll organic drive oil
- Price: 1,95 Euro
- Price per 100 ml: 11,95 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Evaluation Wash 'n' Roll organic drive oil
- Environmental compatibility: 0 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 2 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 5 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 6 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: without rating
Weldtite Pure Wet Lube
Laboratory: Very uneven running with large run-outs, therefore increased wear. Good coefficient of friction, but hardly any protection against corrosion. Moderate creep resistance.
Practice: The thin oil runs quickly out of the somewhat large opening and is difficult to dose. The bottle itself sits comfortably in the hand.
Info on Weldtite Pure Wet Lube
- Price: 10,95 Euro >> available here
- Price per 100 ml: 10,95 Euro
- Available containers: Fluid, 100 ml
Evaluation Weldtite Pure Wet Lube
- Environmental compatibility: 7 out of 10 points
- Lubricity (50 %): 6 out of 10 points
- Creep resistance (20 %): 6 out of 10 points
- Corrosion protection (15 %): 4 out of 10 points
- Handling (15 %): 7 out of 10 points
BIKE judgement*: 40 points I good
*The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the testers. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (60 - 56 P.), very good (55 - 46 P.), good (45 - 36 P.), satisfactory (35 - 26 P.), with weaknesses, unsatisfactory.
Mineral vs. ecological lubricants
If we compare the best candidates from the current and our last Test in BIKE 11/20one thing becomes clear: there is no longer any sensible reason to rely on mineral oil products to lubricate the chain.
Tunap Chain Oil Ultimate
In the last Chain oil test in BIKE 11/2020 was able to Tunap with Ultimate chain oil secured the test victory. The lubricant impressed with a minimally uneven lubricity curve and an outstandingly low coefficient of friction of 0.088. Corrosion protection was also at a very high level. Tunap only lost points in terms of creep resistance. Due to the viscous consistency and the long drip cap, the Tunap oil was easy to dispense and scored a total of 50 points - final judgement very good.
The best organic oils
Our current Test winner Antidote performs even slightly better than Tunap in terms of the coefficient of friction at 0.082. Atlantic also achieves an excellent value of 0.084, but the more important wear protection is significantly lower here. It is striking that 7 out of 15 oils in the current test have a coefficient of friction of less than 0.1 - which is an excellent result. In the last test, only two products achieved this threshold. With good scores for corrosion protection and optimum handling, the organic oils from Antidote and Dr Wack convince all along the line. Muc Off, Rohloff and Toniq also fill the small dropper bottles with excellent, environmentally friendly lubricants.
Stefan Frey
Editor
