Rear chain life

[Keith Cross]

Just a question on what to expect.  I ask because, and this is going to sound terrible, I have just adjusted my rear chain for the first time at 15200 miles.  I have been watching the chain wear, but today noticed that it had maybe 2-2½ inches of up and down movement.
Not sure if this is normal or some sort of record, but while I have adopted the soak in ACF and leave approach to the bike as far as cleaning over winter is concerned, I have tried to keep the chain lubed up and clean.
Maybe its because I am taking it easy as old age approached (probably not as I fell of my Aprillia Dorsoduro after failing to complete a wheelie )

Keith C

[Jacko]

The owners manual recommends check and adjust (if necessary) the drive chain every 600 miles, I'd consider 15k to be stretching that interval somewhat..

[Strommer]

15-20k seems the most common range with a few going to 25k if ridden very gently.  I expect to get about 20k as I'm a town/A-road rider.  A good guide (other than stretch etc) is the wear on the front sprocket.  When that has gone just replace the whole lot.  Changing the FS on its own only gets you another 3k and that is the hardest part of the job anyway.

[Andy M]

The owners manual recommends check and adjust (if necessary) the drive chain every 600 miles, I'd consider 15k to be stretching that interval somewhat..

The owners manual was written by:

Engineers who don't want to get sacked if they picked one a little on the small side.
Their lawyers
Parts suppliers who want to sell chains
Their lawyers
Service providers who want to sell you a chain adjustment service and a new chain if you happen to break something while adjusting.
Their lawyers
Warranty controllers who want excuses not to pay out when the chrome falls off and the owner has shown  incompetance and abuse by not cleaning the chain hourly.
Their lawyers.
More lawyers.
Accountants
Their lawyers.

If it ain't slack adjusting it is just wearing the adjusters if you play with it IMHO. Slack is an inch and half at the slackest point. I used to get 15000 out of Triumph chains which were only disturbed by switching the outfit from summer to winter tyres. I know riders of solos only getting 5000 and adjusting every morning on bigger trips.

Andy

[Keith Cross]

I realise that the amount of slack was a little excessive, but I am used to bikes that are either:
Shaft drive
or
Off road/supermoto with loads of suspension movement and hence run with more slack on the chain.
However I think the point I was making is that if the chain can go for 15000 miles with only one (admittedly late) adjustment, then how long will it last.  I think 25k could even be a conservative estimate.
All this bearing in mind:
MZ baghira 660 - rear chain life approx 8-10k miles (great fun with sticky tyres such as Avon Pro Extreme Rain's, but then again 800 miles on a rear tyre  
Aprilia 660 Pegaso Strada - rear chain life 8-10k miles.  Great little commuter bike.
Aprillia Dorsoduro 750 - rear chain like 22k miles Fun all the way to falling of when tempting a wheelie
Honda CRF 250X - rear chain life approx 2k miles, mostly green laneing

Keith C

[frez]

Mine needed very little adjustment till 15k miles too. The adjustment got a little worse after that until I replaced it around 27k miles. Here is a useful article:

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/motorcy ... hains.html

[jimbo8098]

I think the manual says about 1inch of play each way. I would probably put just a tad more though , especially if you are a larger person or carry your panniers and sideboxes etc. I would get someone to site on the bike after I've done the work and check the chain then too , just to be sure it is OK.

Apart from that , make sure you are lubing the chain regularly and the sprockets are in good shape. After 15k , it wouldn't surprise me if the sprockets are starting to hook. The owners manual shows you things you should look at and how to keep ticking over well although their maintenance intervals are on the short side. I would say check the chain every month or so , you will be able to see it sagging a bit more than usual and you will notice a slight performance change , at least , I do!

[DesertStrom]

Quote from service manual for chain adjustment
'Place the motorcycle on the side stand, The drive chain should be adjusted for 20 – 30 mm (0.8 –
1.2 in) of slack' (total, not each way)

[greywolf]

Typically, chain adjustment are more frequent at the beginning of chain life, wearing in, and at the end of chain life, wearing out. Here is a poll that will provide some idea of the range of chain lives others have reported. http://www.stromtrooper.com/v-strom-ser ... chain.html

[Fatbelly]

I check the slack with my toe, every time I push it backwards out of the garage. That takes a few seconds - now surely that isn't a big job, even for me!

[nbsdave]

What about the front chain life?
Or does nobody care?

[Jacko]

Never check mine..

[UK_Vstrom650]

Mine might need tightening then?!? Measuring from the ground up, mine moves from 21.5cm to 25cm upwards...

 

 

[Fatbelly]

Turn it a bit, there will be a slacker point you can measure.

[greywolf]

If the run is in anyway uneven, make sure to do the measurement at the tightest point in the run. A little too loose is acceptable while a little too tight can cause damage.

[Strommer]

Easiest check is, on the side stand, push the chain up with your toe, it should be only just a mm short of kissing the bottom of the chainarm.  A small kiss is not a problem.

[user650]

Was it not checked-adjusted when you had it serviced ?