Why do some people say you should only adjust your chain whilst on side stand?

My 2p worth says adjust it however you like, so long as you check the adjustment with bike + rider afterwards to check that it is not too tight. The more weight you carry on the subframe the more important this becomes.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

My 2p worth says adjust it however you like, so long as you check the adjustment with bike + rider afterwards to check that it is not too tight. The more weight you carry on the subframe the more important this becomes.

Chain should not go tight throughout the whole range of suspension movement. The weight carried is irrelevant as if its adjusted properly, the chain will never go tight.

Originally Posted by ophic

Chain should not go tight throughout the whole range of suspension movement. The weight carried is irrelevant as if its adjusted properly, the chain will never go tight.

Absolutely, but more weight means the suspension is more likely to bottom out. If you do over tighten it, at least you have a better chance of realising that, if there is weight on the bike when it is checked. Weight is only irrelevant if the chain is adjusted properly, and how do you know that it is if you don't check it properly?

Originally Posted by timwilky

I have seen a few posts telling people not to adjust their chain whilst on a paddock stand. why is this?

Cus its the right way to do it... no more questions I have spoken.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by simesb

Apples and oranges there - race bikes are not comparable because they are not being used on the road. No potholes, pillions, etc. Track bikes run different tyre pressure - you wouldn't suggest you ran the same on the road

Apples; still got a swingarm, at an angle. With it's pivot some distance from the frotn sprocket. Still suspension, with travel (it's not a f#ckin h*rley! )

Oranges; different road surface, less bumps, suspension put from one limit to the other practically every corner (well maybe not quite...).


But anyway no, a race bikes chain slack needs to cope with suspension movement exactly the same. Needs to go through whole stroke of the rear shock without becoming too tight. Which is the whole point of the exercise. If the chain is tight and the suspension hits a big bump to compress the suspension... the chain will lose every time!

My dad adjusts mine while I sit on the bike, normaly with the topbox on aswell. This has worked for me and he does the chain tension by what he knows to work (from his vast experiance) as opposed to using the guide in the book.

Its worked, I don;t suffer any excess chain / sprocket wear or any excess wear on the gearbox output shaft etc etc.

[tigersaw]

Fitted a scottoiler at birth. Never needed to adjust in 3 years

You adjust chains?

Who knew.

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

...... (from his vast experiance) as opposed to using the guide in the book.

Your dad has more experience with motorbikes than Suzuki!?

As every time I see chains being adjusted in a workshop or in pits,in real life or on the telly,they always seem to be on some sort of stand apart from the side stand fitted to the bike. This observation applies to all makes with chain drive,not just Suzuki.
I can only surmise that Suzuki have taken the view that not everybody has these facilities and for the sake of basic maintenance they have pointed out a way for the less technical to check chain tension while on the side stand.
I prefer to check/adjust the chain while the bike is properly supported and not perched on a single point while I apply the necessary torque to loosen and tighten the rear wheel,if only for H&S
45years experience tells you to do things the easy way rather than at an angle on an item that is not stable and likely to fall over if you have to apply excess pressure for tight wheel nuts-----------------The hand book is basic maintenance not gospel

.