• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

How often do you tighten your chain?

How often do you tighten your chain?

  • Once a week

    Votes: 1 3.3%

  • Every 250 miles

    Votes: 2 6.7%

  • Every 500 miles

    Votes: 10 33.3%

  • When it drags on my freakin' center stand!

    Votes: 17 56.7%
  • Total voters
    30
2WheelAddict

2WheelAddict

New member
Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Location
San Francisco
Moto(s)
1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6
I am a lazy bastard when it comes to keeping my chain tight. I do it probably once a month--this is probably my worst habit in terms of my motorcycling. So how often do my fellow BARFers get this task done? Any tips on getting it done more frequently? I think I'm going to have to assign a once a week appointment for myself--i.e. tighten the chain every Monday night at halftime during Monday Night Football or some such shite.
 
Didn't vote. I have 20,000 miles on my stock chain with no adjustment needed. None of your options applied to me.

I tend to lube it about every 1000-3000 miles (or about every day if I'm on a multi-day trip)
 
Uh --- what about when needed ?

I'm no mech, but I'm pretty sure during the lifetime of a chain, the older it gets, the more quickly it comes out of adjustment. When new, tighten it once a month.

After 5000 miles, tighten it once a week. I check the chain once a day, minimally at every fill-up. oil minimally every other fill-up.
 
rocketbunny said:
Didn't vote. I have 20,000 miles on my stock chain with no adjustment needed.
Click to expand...

Damn, are you serious?! Yamaha makes their stock chains out of adamantium titanium carbonium kryptonite now or what?!
 
Lube and check the chain every 500 miles, adjust if needed. Sometimes I miss the 500 mile check, but it's a good point for that bit of chain maintenence.

I check the oil after every other ride, but I've yet to need to top off my Triumph and it has 20K miles on it now.

BTW: I still have the original chain and rear sprocket, so keeping up maintenence on it will prolong it's life. My mechanic said that he will change it out next service for sure, but it's still in good shape. :thumbup
 
I think my chain on my superhawk is a bit loose. I should adjust it this weekend.

Last time I went for a ride, only when I was going downhill and when getting off the gas (front suspension loaded, rear extended), I heard the chain rubbing against the swing arm. That would mean it is loose, right?? :confused
 
I check it every time I ride, but have never had to adjust it. The Busa loves rear tires though, so the chain has to be set with the tire change (every 1500 miles)... Already got a Christmas Card from Metzler, as one of their top customers.
 
I check / adjust the chain when it starts making "I'm about to have sex with the swingarm" noises. Unfortunately this is often, because I've yet to replace the plastic chain 'sliders' that are usually mounted just aft of the front sprocket.

Surprisingly enough, since I dropped a link on the chain last month, I haven't had to adjust it - the master link that was on it was REALLY tight, but the new one is not kinking the chain at all (which was of course most of the problem with the old chain!)
 
You need another category. I adjust the chain every time I get a new tire (3-4000 miles). The intervals you have for this poll might work for how often I lube it.
 
How about measuring the slack and adjusting it if it's called for? Clean and lube your chaion every 500 miles and check the slack. If it's taken care of it will need fewer adjustments.
 
Chain? Adjust? I thought they did that when they installed the neon lights.
 
4-500 miles I lube the chain

When I get a new rear tire (2000-3000 Miles) i'll adjust the chain.
 
tony said:
I check the chain once a day, minimally at every fill-up.
Click to expand...

I guess the case could be made that it doesn't take but a couple of seconds to see if the chain needs adjustment, but damn, that seems excessive.
 
On the SV, I check it when I lube it. I think it's only needed to be adjusted 3 times in the last 12,000 miles.

I would adjust the chain on the ST, but I'm still looking for it. Honda is so tricky about such things. . . .



:laughing
 
I can't remember the last time I adjusted the chain without changing the rear tire so I guess about every 3-4000 miles whether it needs it or not. I have a Scottoiler and got 23K on the first chain. I replaced the sprockets then as well even though they weren't really worn. The second chain is now coming up on 17K and not showing any signs or stretching or binding. Sprockets still look new as well.

Something to be said for the chain oiler although it is messy even at lowest drip setting. I only clean the chain with biodegradable degreaser when I wash the bike. The oiler takes care of the rest. YMMV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top