Muc-Off X-3 Dirty Chain Machine review

They may not be the sexiest piece of cycling kit, but a good chain cleaner is essential to keep your prize steed in good working order and, more importantly, looking nice and shiny. The Muc-Off X-3 Dirty Chain Machine is an innovative offering that should make the job of keeping your drivetrain spick and span that little bit easier.

What sets the Muc-Off X-3 apart from its competitors is the way in which it keeps dirty degreaser away from the clean chain. The included drivetrain cleaner is poured into a small reservoir above the chain, and is then released by pressing a button on the top of the device. This is then forced into the drive train by the rotating brushes before collecting in the bottom of the device, making sure it's not recycled and you're not covering your clean chain in dirty liquid.

In practice the system worked perfectly. The fully biodegradeable drivetrain cleaner was strong enough to remove even the most caked-on grease and grime, while the firm brushes ensured it was well distributed throughout the chain.

The addition of a handle on the side of the Muc-Off X-3 was useful for holding the unit steady, although keeping a hold of the handle and pressing down the button to release the drivetrain cleaner with one hand was a little tricky.

The only other problem we could find was the price, which at £30 RRP may be a little on the high side. Admittedly this includes a 75ml bottle of drivetrain cleaner, but if you're planning on using the Muc Off X-3 regularly this won't last long — we used half a bottle during our test.