07-29-2020, 05:16 AM
First of all, I've checked the forum for chain adjustment discussions. Being a super cheap individual who tries not to spend more money than I have to, I try to get as many miles out of my chains and sprockets as possible, so I clean, lube and check adjustment as frequently as practical.
Putting my new tires on over the weekend, I set the chain slack per the service manual - on the center stand, in the "looser middle" of the range - 1.25", and tweaked alignment with a laser tool. Tightened everything up, checked again and called it good.
Putting the bike cover on at work this morning, after a 13 or so mile ride from the adjustment, bike on the side stand. I decided to bump the chain up and down a bit, and it seems pretty darn loose - the bottom run of chain can be pushed up to touch the swingarm. When I get home, I'll put it back on the center stand and give it another check. I understand that on the center stand, with the swingarm deflecting down more than it would be with the wheel on the ground, it might seem tighter than it would be with the bike on the side stand.
But, am I missing anything here? Yes, I rotated the wheel and checked at multiple spots along the chain, it's pretty consistent at all points that I measured, no kinked links along the chain. Checked at the center of the run. The bike has about 5,000 miles and is on the original chain and sprockets.
Putting my new tires on over the weekend, I set the chain slack per the service manual - on the center stand, in the "looser middle" of the range - 1.25", and tweaked alignment with a laser tool. Tightened everything up, checked again and called it good.
Putting the bike cover on at work this morning, after a 13 or so mile ride from the adjustment, bike on the side stand. I decided to bump the chain up and down a bit, and it seems pretty darn loose - the bottom run of chain can be pushed up to touch the swingarm. When I get home, I'll put it back on the center stand and give it another check. I understand that on the center stand, with the swingarm deflecting down more than it would be with the wheel on the ground, it might seem tighter than it would be with the bike on the side stand.
But, am I missing anything here? Yes, I rotated the wheel and checked at multiple spots along the chain, it's pretty consistent at all points that I measured, no kinked links along the chain. Checked at the center of the run. The bike has about 5,000 miles and is on the original chain and sprockets.