Chain final drive is a very efficient method of power transfer. In good condition, a chain consumes considerably less of an engine's hard-earned horsepower in friction than a shaft drive does - as you can quickly tell when rolling both configurations around a garage, as we often do. While the H-D owners will tell you a chain is not as maintenance-free as a belt, the steady refinement of O-ring chains has gone a long way, both figuratively and literally, to minimize the difference.

However, there is still plenty of room for improvement. A chain is still a hundred or more little steel hinges, and hinges like to stay oiled. So a chain that's dirty and ignored won't last nearly as long as it could, and could be stealing perhaps 10% of your hp in friction.

And, of course, the worse the weather, the more often it needs oiling. With that in mind, it's not surprising that a top-notch chain oiler should come from the British Isles, invented in Glasgow, Scotland, by one Fraser Scott ('hence the name), The distributor says the product has a virtual cult following at home, with sales of 80,000 units in 10 years in the U.K. alone-mainly by word-of-mouth.

If regular chain lubrication is the sort of messy job that inspires your procrastination, the Scottoiler could be the perfect lazy-man's solution to meticulous maintenance. What you're offered is a choice of sizes, one a large 400cc-capacity touring model, good for perhaps 5000 miles between refills, obviously designed to be hidden behind a big square British rear license plate, and the other, a discreet 50cc model that can be easily mounted on virtually any motorcycle with the generous range of supplied hardware. The unit utilizes engine vacuum to open its oiling valve, (we simply plumbed it into a carburetor vacuum-synchronizing port) so oil only flows when the engine is running, and the quantity is precisely adjustable.

The quality of the unit in its design and construction is exceptional. Mounting took a little over an hour on the editor's NT650 Hawk. If you don't care for the exposed look, it can easily be hidden away, and was, after the photos were taken. Big bore sport-bikes may have room for the large capacity-touring reservoir. Topping-up the oil reservoir is easy with the provided refill bottle.

Once installed, we found that oil flow could be adjusted from 7-35 sec. per drop at idle (with 20-30 sec./drop suggested). The only drawback is that during long periods of extended idling a tiny puddle could collect on the ground. However, at $119.50 for the standard kit, or $149 for the touring model, the Scottoiler could easily pay for itself in extra chain life, reduced maintenance expenses and hassle, and improved fuel mileage. And, of course, you could have some fun with the unleashed horsepower.

-Dave Searle