Had my bike now for 2000 Km. I do my own servicing so i never took it to the shop. I have done the oil multiple times now as well as adjusting the brakes, clutch, throttle. I never torqued the bolts or adjusted my chain. How neccasary is this to do? My chain does have quite a bit of freeplay I noticed today so I wanted to ask http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Its normal for new chains to stretch but how often should you adjust/tighten your chain. I dont even know if the shop does this as part of the first service. Or torqueing the bolts

They should have! All chains will give, the ammount varies on your weight, riding style and how well you maintain it.
You should only have 20-30 mm of play in the chain........adjust as necessary. Inspect, Clean and lube every 600 miles depending on the riding conditions. A 15 minute job.

I adjusted my K5's chain at 3200km's at the same time installing 190/60-17 209 GP,
at the moment there was a minimal stretch found.

Currenly 5500 km's, 3 oil changes, 3rd rear tire, several track days behind but no more adjustement needed.

Chain adjustment is pretty important. A very, very loose chain will cause you to drop out of gear under hard acceleration, cause excessive wear on your chain guides/protectors and eventually eat into your swingarm.

You should follow your owners manual and check your chain tension. You want to check it at its TIGHTEST point. Do not over tighten your chain.

Most manufacturers call for chain clean/lube/inspection every 400-600 miles. Take care of your chain and it will last a long time.

ive never adjusted a chain how would i go about doing this? Just like a pedal bike where you loosen the tire and pull it back? what tools will i need etc..

ive never adjusted a chain how would i go about doing this? Just like a pedal bike where you loosen the tire and pull it back? what tools will i need etc..




Are you sure you should be doing your own servicing? This is a modern day sportbike not a 10-speed. Please go and buy a service manual ASAP. Hell it's even hosted in this forum for non site members. I worry that you may be endangering yourself by tinkering with your own bike.

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/hip.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/hip.gif

haha give me a break. I dont do my own major servicing i take it in for that. (i know adjusting the chain isnt major servicing) But I dont change my own tires and when i take it in for that they adjust the chain for me so i dont ever bother doing that myself. I just noticed that the chain was sagging a little bit so wanted to ask (because ive never done this myself) I know the basics of tightening the chain and yes i do have a service manual but I always like asking people with more experiance. Oh and SPL I ask about tightening a chain and your asking about taking a chain guard off? nice.

tie off a piece of string and let it dangle off the swing arm. get a permanent marker and mark where on the string the chain sits. then push up on the chain and mark how high the chain goes up. chain play is supposed to be .8"- 1.2"

on the rear of the bike are 2 bolts that control chain tension. there are markings as well to show that the tire is straight. tighten those bolts up some to draw the tire back and therefore tighten the chain.

Geezas....1 1/4' of play at the top of the chain.......it's not fuggen rocket sience.... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/disappointed.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

just make sure to line up your wheels....also, when tightening the axel nut, stick a phillips screwdriver in the last tooth where it meets the chain, that'l keep the chain from over tightening.. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Some words of advice.

Take your measurements at the center between the rear and front sprocket with the bike on the kickstand.

Do not go by the marks on the adjuster as they are not accurate. Measure each side to make sure they are exact.

When measuring slack a ruler or caliper is nice as you can set it at 20 mm and get it right on. Keep in mind the 20 mm is from the lowest point to the highest point so you will need to move the chain in both directions with your finger to get it exact if you want to be totally precise.

After you tighten everything back down re-check chain slack and re-measure to make sure the wheels is the same distance on each side. Many times when you tighten it down the wheel moves. The screwdriver trick mentioned above works but you still nee to recheck. Do not be cheap and use the cotter pin over.

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thanks all http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just finished adjusting the chain. Quick question.. On either side of the swing arm when you tighten the bolt to move the tire back to tighten the chain you are supposed to measure each side of the swingarm (where the adjustments are) to make sure it is the same. Well on the left side its a little crooked. Its not by much but the top part is a little farther then the bottom part. you know what i mean?? when it tightens i thought it should tighten evenly. its pretty close but the top part is a little farther then the bottom part. The right side of the swingarm is even though. I just wondered if this is normal. My buddies bike has the same thing

You are measuring the distance from each side of the axle to your measure point. Your concern is the axle is the same distance from your measure point on both sides. As long as the axle is the exact same distance on each side you are good to go. Also check your chain tension when you are done to make sure it did not get to tight.

yeah i checked it once i was done and after a ride. Its all good http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif 20-30mm really isnt that much so it seems tight compared to what it was since it was pretty loose. Its very close on both sides to being the same. I think its off just barely and i mean BARELY. so it should be all good. I took it for a good ride and at highway speeds and it seems normal http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif What i was talking about though was the actual axle part that moves when you tighten the bolt it was a little more forward on the top then the bottom as if it went sideways a bit. you know what i mean? Again it wasnt by very much but it is as if when i tightened it , it tightened more on the top then the bottom and went sideways a bit. i dunno i tried loosing it and tightening it again but the same thing happened. And this was only on the left side

Is there such a thing as too much adjustment? Like if you were to get to the end of the adjustment lines?

when making up for slack as the chain stretches over time

Do your sprockets look like a radial saw blade yet?

Chain slack is important for a few reasons,one is to reduce the amount of driveline lash when egaging the clutch.Another is when you sit on the bike or accelerate the chain is trying to pull the rear wheel up into the fender,not enough slack will put to much tension on the rollers and the chain could snap.I have also seen the seal on the countershaft leak due to the stress being put on it from a to tight chain.I beleive the wear limit on a chain is measured at 320mm(12.6") over 21 pins

lol well no...I do have about 4 or 5 markings left though on the adjustment.

oh my.
no ones really mentioned torqueing bolts... basically, if you over tighten, you could sheer the bolt, or youll never get it off again. to loose and it will vibrate loose, and depending what the bolt/nut is holding in place, you could well be up shit creek.

i didnt torque my frame protectors once(the fixing bolt replaces one of the engine mount bolts) and i only noticed when i was cleaning her and the prtector was spinning round. if it had worked loose, imagine what would have happened......

never ever cut corners on maintenance.

Hell, adjusting the chain is easy. I use my foot to at least do a spot check before each ride. But, to really check things, do like the manual shows but in addition, rotate the wheel as to check extra points on the chain. As a chain nears end-of-life, it may develop tight spots; which likely occur because of poor maintainance or bad alinement. Its better to have the chain a little loose than too tight but both equally will shorten its life. Basic maintainence like that should be in motorcycle-101!

just make sure to line up your wheels....also, when tightening the axel nut, stick a phillips screwdriver in the last tooth where it meets the chain, that'l keep the chain from over tightening.. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good tip I'll have to try that.