Motul launches Racing Chain Lube, a bicycle chain lubricant engineered to maximize power output in competition.
Performance validated through a unique testing protocol based on pro team data: very low friction, high wear resistance, and shield protection for the drivetrain.
A product co-developed and field-tested under the most extreme conditions.
Aubervilliers, September 8, 2026 - In competitive cycling, every watt counts. Yet few lubricants on the market are evaluated using objective, directly comparable criteria. With its new Racing Chain Lube, Motul brings not only a high-performance bicycle chain lubricant born from long-standing expertise, but also a competition-derived testing methodology to precisely measure the impact of lubrication on performance.
ESTER technology for cycling performance
Lubrication is one of the top three factors in professional cycling performance, alongside aerodynamics and reduced rolling resistance. In this area, expectations for chain lubricants have evolved significantly in recent years. Today's cyclists are looking for far more than simple mechanical protection. They expect a product capable of real marginal gains: minimize power loss, deliver long-lasting drivetrain protection, and maintain performance regardless of riding conditions.
Drawing on its expertise in lubrication, recognized across the automotive, motorcycle, and bicycle sectors, Motul has developed a high-performance bicycle chain lubricant designed to meet all these demands.
Incorporating ESTER technology, a Motul innovation widely acclaimed in the motorcycle sector, where the brand is a European leader, the formulation of Motul Racing Chain Lube guarantees:
Very low friction level to save energy and maximize power output.
Superior wear resistance to withstand extreme stress and extend drivetrain lifespan.
Effective protection against environmental contamination, regardless of riding conditions.
The product is designed to optimize daily training and high-level competition, for professional cyclists as well as enthusiast amateurs.
Real benefits, validated through a competition-derived testing protocol
In the cycling market, performance claims are abundant, but few lubricants are backed by objective, reproducible, and cross-comparable measurements.
To maximize the performance of its formula during development and demonstrate the benefits of this flagship product, Motul created a laboratory validation protocol based on the metrics of a Tour de France stage: 280 watts, 220 kilometers, 45 km/h, 90 RPM, ensuring reproducible data that is directly comparable to competing lubricants. This testing protocol evaluates the tribological properties — friction, wear, viscosity — of the formulation by replicating the extreme conditions of competition.
The tests were then supplemented by real-world validation, thanks to Motul's partner teams — the Tudor Pro Cycling Team and BMC Factory Racing — which have been using the product for many months, during both training camps and races.
The measured results confirm the product's three key benefits and place it at the top of its category:
Very low friction: -17% less chain friction, representing a gain of 1.45W compared to the five best competitor lubricants tested. Over 220 km, this translates to a theoretical advantage of 22 seconds. Compared to an unlubricated chain, losses are reduced by -72%, demonstrating the significant impact of lubrication on transmission performance.
High wear resistance: an 8% reduction in wear compared to the best competitors tested and a 51% reduction compared to an unlubricated chain.
Shield protection for the drivetrain: complete protection in wet, dusty, or high-stress environments, whether in competition or during training.
“When we began developing our line of bicycle chain lubricants, we found that there was no recognized standard for objectively comparing the performance of the various products on the market. The scientific literature on the subject is also limited. To build our approach, we drew on both existing studies and Motul’s unique expertise acquired over decades in the motorcycle and automotive sectors: developing and validating each formulation through rigorous laboratory testing, then putting it to the test in real-world conditions alongside professional cycling teams. Our development is based on a tribological testing protocol specifically designed for bicycles, a unique one in the industry, supplemented by field validation conducted with our partners, the Tudor Pro Cycling Team and BMC Factory Racing. This approach allows us to offer products that deliver a level of performance, reliability, transparency, and trustworthy of the expectations of the most demanding cyclists.” Robin Danneels, Head of the Bike Segment
The flagship product of Motul Bike Care
Motul Racing Chain Lube will be available in Europe starting in fall 2026, in a unique 100 ml package, at a recommended retail price of €35 (depending on country and retailer).
Motul Racing Chain Lube is the flagship product of the Motul Bike Care line, which is structured around four product families:
High-performance lubricants: Motul Dry Lube, Motul Wet Lube, Motul EZ Lube.
Preventive liquid for tubeless tires: Motul Tyre Sealant.
Degreasers: Motul Chain Clean, Motul Brake Clean.
Cleaners: Motul Dry Clean, Motul Frame Clean, Motul Sports Equipment Refresher MTB, Motul Sports Equipment Refresher.
The Motul Bike Care lineup will continue to expand in the coming months with innovative, high-performance products, particularly in the lubrication category.
Cycling, a historic arena that Motul continues to shape
Since its founding in 1853, Motul has supported the most demanding manufacturers, teams, and championships in motorsports, from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to MotoGP, including the Dakar Rally.
Cycling is also part of the brand's history: Motul was already present at the Tour de France alongside the iconic Paloma-Margnat team, as early as the ‘60s.
In 2022, this expertise was structured with the creation of a dedicated Bike Care division, backed by the group's capabilities in R&D, testing, production, and distribution across 160 countries. The ambition is clear: to bring to cycling the same level of innovation and performance that has made Motul successful in motorsports.
To achieve this, Motul is implementing a partnership strategy covering the main cycling disciplines. In road cycling, the brand is an official product sponsor of the Tour de France and the Official Supplier of bike maintenance products for the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. In mountain biking, it leverages its partnership with the UCI Mountain Bike World Series and its collaboration with BMC Factory Racing to put its products to the test under the most extreme conditions: mud, humidity, impacts, and varying terrain.
Beyond their visibility, these partnerships constitute genuine laboratories of innovation. They enable Motul to develop, test, and validate its products under the most challenging conditions, in collaboration with athletes and teams competing at the highest level.
It is from this testing ground that Motul Racing Chain Lube was born, co-developed and field-tested with teams competing at the highest level.
Contacts
Agence Yucatan
Laura BERRE, consultante RP
lberre@yucatan.fr / +33 (0) 6 47 92 37 48
Jean-Alexis BOURGIER, consultant RP
jabourgier@yucatan.fr / +33 (0) 6 38 25 08 93
Motul
Serena DAPSENS, External Communication Manager
s.dapsens@fr.motul.com / +33 (0) 6 16 22 99 56
About Motul:
Motul specializes in the formulation, production, and distribution of high-quality lubricants that elevate performance in multiple usages from powersport to passenger cars, heavy duty, and industrial applications. Motul has pioneered synthetic oils with its flagship 300V, the first 100% synthetic multigrade lubricant. Building on this long-term know-how, Motul is now extending its expertise to care products for cars, motorbikes and bicycles, as well as advanced fluids for the thermal management of electric vehicle batteries and digital infrastructures such as data centers, addressing the performance and sustainability challenges of tomorrow.
Founded in 1853, Motul is a global company present in 160 countries. Over the years, the brand has built a solid reputation as a trusted partner to support the performance of leading manufacturers, top motorsport teams and major championships, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the WEC, MotoGP, Dakar, Goodwood, or the UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
