Makt Universal: £2.99
Bike cleaner: £5.99
Bike lube: £3.99

Test Log: About half a container’s worth of each, in average to well below average conditions on suitably neglected test steeds.

From the Rochdale based company formerly known as Gozon, for those who haven’t been paying attention, come these maintenance products.

The universal is a water displacing, penetrant lube, which leaves a PTFE (Teflon) coating when the solvent has evaporated. It shouldn’t be regarded as a chain lube in any form but it is useful for protecting framework, penetrating seized or rusted parts. We’ve brought several chains back from the brink with this type of product and its always useful to have a can around for polishing up and cleaning components as well as fixing squeaky doors and other round the house stuff. But if you’re cleaning up chains it is better to wipe it off after as it may interfere with your chain lube’s ability to ‘stick’ to the chain. And don’t get it near cartridge bearings as it will degrease them. The universal is available in a 400ml can with direction nozzle.

Performance: 3
Value: 3
Rating: 3

The Bike Lube is available in a smaller 250ml can and is recommended for use on cables, chains and derailleurs. The can comes with a stubby director nozzle that remains attached when the lid is on so it doesn’t get lost the first time you use it, unlike the long ones that do. On the chain it seems to last well, doesn’t attract too much muck and keeps the chain sweet in most conditions despite plenty of rides in the crud. A certain disease interrupted testing and the can is still half full so we’ll keep passing it round at the start of rides and update you if there’s any developments. The 250ml can is pretty good value at four quid. Also available is a heavy-duty version of the bike lube for more arduous conditions.

Performance: 3.5
Value: 4
Rating: 4

For those that use them, Makt also produce a bike cleaner, though lines seem drawn over whether cleaning agents are worth it. In the Bike Cleaner’s defence it loosens dirt well, particularly on hard to reach places like between tyre blocks and cassette cogs. We found it useful when used in combo with a (careful!) jet wash. Spraying the Bike Cleaner liberally on the bike, waiting a few minutes (but not allowing to dry) and washing off we found reduced the time taken with the jet wash and therefore the risk of blowing grease away in vulnerable places like hubs, bottom brackets and headsets among others. As with most cleaner though, if you clean your bike as often as you should the 1ltr bottle doesn’t go that far. We didn’t see any evidence of marking or corrosion, but didn’t want leave it on just to see either, just be careful to follow the instructions and you won’t run into trouble and as always if anything occurs as we keep using it, we’ll fill you in.

Performance 3
Value 2.5
Rating 3

We’ve also got our mitts on the Makt bearing and suspension greases for a forthcoming test but the old F+M and a spell of riding fully rigid have delayed a comprehensive test so we’ll keep using that over the summer too.

Contact: www.makt.co.uk

Crabtree Sports & Leisure 01535 640 000 / 01535 640 044 www.crabtreesport.co.uk