If you ride a bike with a chain it makes real good sense to keep a check on it and that's one reason why I haven't bought a snot-oiler. I've heard horror stories about chains snapping and seizing with disastrous effect on the rider, sadly sometimes resulting in death. I like to clean, lubricate and inspect my chain every week-end. My riding style [1] places quite a lot of "strain and the chain" so it makes sense to keep in top condition. As well as checking for tight spots and any obvious damage the chain tension if vitally important, this normally requires the use of some card to mark off the top and bottom of the chain slack then measuring the distance.

In the M+P catalogue they advertised a "Chain-Checker" for 39ukp so I decided to give it a try.

Construction:

It's very well made with good quality plastic moulding and an aluminium body. A clear L.C.D. window which displays the measurement in mm.

Instructions:

A joke written in very poor Engrish. They over-complicate the entire procedure. It's a waste of time reading it. For example, "Chain tension is checked on a stationary motorbike".

Operation:

1)      Set the Chain-Checker under the chain at the mid point between the driven and driver sprockets.

2)      Adjust the Chain-Checker until the lower point of the slack is reached; you have to put some tension on the chain.

3) Press the red button.

4) Twist the hand grip until the chain is place under tension at the top of its travel.

5) Read the measurement from the LCD window.

It's as simple as that. I've checked the measurement using the "old fashioned method and it's very accurate.

Recommended.

[1] Wheelies.