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Foundation — 1970

Putoline’s history begins with Jan Put, a Dutch motorcycle and moped enthusiast, rider, mechanic, and entrepreneur. He founded Putoline Oil on 1 April 1970 in Heiloo, Netherlands.[1]

At the time, motorcycle and moped owners often had limited information about which lubricant was appropriate for a particular machine. Jan Put recognised an opportunity to make oils specifically matched to different motorcycle and moped brands and applications. The original concept was straightforward: rather than selling a generic lubricant and leaving the customer to determine whether it was appropriate, Putoline supplied oils in clearly identifiable packaging intended for particular makes and applications. The company’s name itself is derived from “Put’s oil line”.[1]

Jan Put’s own experience was particularly important. He had competed in motocross and enduro and became Dutch champion in the 50cc junior motocross/enduro class. His practical experience with small motorcycles helped shape the company’s early products.

Early products

The original product range focused on bicycles and mopeds. Because of Jan Put’s interest in motocross, the company soon expanded into specialised lubricants for off-road motorcycles.[1] This specialisation became one of Putoline’s defining characteristics. Instead of trying to become a general lubricant supplier, the company concentrated on understanding the mechanical requirements of two-wheelers.

Expansion during the 1980s

During the 1980s, Putoline expanded beyond the Netherlands and entered international markets. The company’s export activities grew as its product range expanded, eventually establishing Putoline as an international motorcycle-lubricant brand. Putoline states that its products are now sold in more than 60 countries, although the exact number of markets can vary depending on how distribution territories are counted.[1]

From small workshop to international manufacturer

The company’s early production reportedly began in a small shed behind Jan Put’s house in Heiloo. Production subsequently moved to larger facilities, including locations in Alkmaar and later Bladel.[1] The company’s development is therefore a classic example of a specialised European enthusiast business evolving into an international technical brand.

Putoline’s current portfolio covers considerably more than conventional motorcycle engine oil.

Four-stroke engine oils

Four-stroke motorcycle oils represent one of the company’s most important product categories. The range includes fully synthetic oils, mineral oils, motorcycle racing oils, road motorcycle oils, off-road oils, scooter oils, V-Twin oils, and different SAE viscosity grades. Examples include the N-TECH® Pro R+, N-TECH® SPR+, Ester Tech 4+, Boxer 4, and Genuine V-Twin ranges.

Putoline emphasises that motorcycle oil must satisfy requirements beyond simply lubricating an engine. In many motorcycles, the same oil can be involved with the engine, gearbox, and wet clutch, meaning lubricant formulation is particularly important.

Two-stroke oils

Putoline also maintains a substantial two-stroke range. Products include RS 959, TT Sport, S2, MX 9, MX 7, MX 5, TT Trial Pro, TT Scooter+, Classic Scooter, and Castor R. The company states that its two-stroke oils are designed for both premix and direct oil-injection systems, depending on the specific product and application. This category is especially relevant to motocross, enduro, trials, scooters, classic mopeds, and other two-stroke applications.

Transmission oils

Putoline produces dedicated oils for motorcycle transmissions and gearboxes, including products designed for particular applications and viscosity requirements. Its current portfolio includes products such as SP Gear LV 75W-85 and SP Gear HV 75W-140.

Maintenance products

Putoline’s business extends beyond lubricants into motorcycle maintenance. Its portfolio includes products for chain maintenance, air-filter maintenance, brake and mechanical maintenance, cleaning, cooling systems, and general motorcycle care. This allows Putoline to position itself as a broader motorcycle maintenance brand rather than simply an engine-oil company.

Bicycle products

Bicycles remain represented within the company’s broader product portfolio, reflecting Putoline’s origins in two-wheelers.

N-TECH®

One of Putoline’s major modern technology platforms is N-TECH®. Putoline describes N-TECH as an advanced additive technology developed for motorcycle lubricants. The company has used it as part of its effort to create high-performance oils for modern motorcycle engines. The current N-TECH family includes products such as N-TECH® SPR+, N-TECH® Pro R+, N-TECH® V-Twin Pro, and N-TECH® Pro R+ Off Road. The range includes multiple viscosity grades, including 5W-40, 5W-50, 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, and 10W-60.

Ester Tech

Another important Putoline technology is Ester Tech. Ester-based formulations are particularly associated with high-performance lubricants because ester base stocks can provide useful characteristics relating to lubrication, thermal stability, and film strength. Putoline’s Ester Tech family includes motorcycle, off-road, scooter, and other specialised lubricants.

A significant part of Putoline’s brand identity is its emphasis on in-house manufacturing. According to the company, it controls the production process from raw materials through to finished lubricants at its own production facilities. It states that this approach allows it to maintain consistency and respond quickly to developments in the motorcycle market.

Putoline also states that its facilities are ISO-certified and that its products are supported by relevant qualifications and specifications.[1] The company describes itself as an independent manufacturer, which it considers an advantage when developing new products or responding to changing motorcycle technology.

Research and development is central to Putoline’s positioning. The company says that its experience comes not only from laboratory research but also from practical experience in motorcycle racing and competition.[1] This is particularly significant in segments such as motocross, enduro, road racing, off-road riding, and high-performance motorcycles. Competition provides a demanding environment for lubricants because engines operate under high temperatures, high RPM, heavy loads, and rapidly changing operating conditions. Putoline uses this technical experience to develop products intended for different motorcycle designs and operating environments.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Putoline is its vehicle-specific product recommendation philosophy. Rather than simply asking customers to choose an oil based on viscosity, Putoline provides a recommendation system where users can enter the motorcycle’s manufacturer, model, year, and engine/application. The system then recommends a lubricant according to the motorcycle’s requirements and manufacturer specifications.[1] This reflects the company’s original philosophy from 1970: the right oil for the right motorcycle.

Motorsport has played an important role in Putoline’s identity since its founder Jan Put was himself involved in motocross and enduro. The company’s early move into specialised MX products was directly connected to this background.[1] This heritage is still visible in Putoline’s product segmentation, particularly its dedicated Off Road lubricants. The company therefore occupies an interesting position between a technical lubricant manufacturer and a motorcycle enthusiast brand.

Putoline’s fundamental brand proposition can be summarised as a specialist lubricant company dedicated to motorised two-wheelers. That specialisation differentiates it from much larger lubricant companies such as Mobil, Shell, Castrol, Motul, or TotalEnergies, whose portfolios cover many automotive and industrial applications. Putoline instead builds its identity around motorcycles and related two-wheelers.

Its current brand messaging emphasises technology, specialisation, performance, reliability, motorcycle-specific formulation, research and development, racing experience, and independent manufacturing. The company’s current slogan is “Driven by Technology”.

Putoline’s products are divided according to the different types of two-wheelers and riding environments they serve.

Road motorcycles

Designed for everyday road motorcycles, touring machines, sport bikes, and other street applications.

Off-road

One of Putoline’s historically important categories, covering motocross, enduro, and off-road motorcycles.

Scooters

Specialised oils and maintenance products for scooters and similar small-displacement vehicles.

Quads

Lubricants for ATV/quad applications.

Racing

High-performance lubricants aimed at demanding competition environments.

Classic motorcycles

Products intended for older motorcycle designs, including mineral-based and specialised formulations.

These segments are reflected in Putoline’s official product and dealer structure.

Putoline began as a Dutch company but expanded internationally during the 1980s. Its historical materials describe the brand as being present in more than 60 countries, making it an internationally distributed specialist lubricant brand. Despite this international presence, its identity remains strongly connected to the Netherlands and to its original founder.

Today, Putoline presents itself as a specialist Dutch motorcycle-lubricant manufacturer with more than five decades of experience. The company says it has more than 50 years of experience, more than 800 unique formulations, dedicated motorcycle/powersports specialisation, in-house production, its own R&D capabilities, a worldwide distribution network, and product recommendations based on specific motorcycles.

Its product portfolio has consequently evolved from the simple moped oils of the 1970s into a sophisticated range of synthetic, semi-synthetic/mineral, racing, off-road, scooter, transmission, maintenance, and specialty lubricants.

Putoline’s importance within the motorcycle industry comes less from sheer corporate size and more from specialisation. The company was built around an idea that was relatively distinctive when it was founded: motorcycles should not necessarily be treated simply as small automobiles when it comes to lubrication. Different motorcycle engines, transmissions, clutches, two-stroke systems, scooters, racing engines, and off-road machines have different requirements. Putoline built its business around addressing those differences. That philosophy has remained remarkably consistent from Jan Put’s original company in 1970 to the modern manufacturer offering hundreds of formulations.[1]

1. Which motorbike oil? The fastest oil recommendation for your bike! – Putoline
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