How often do you adjust your chain?

[shinyribs]

If i putt around I can get ~300 miles before it needs adjusting. And i mean really putting around,like never going over 3 or 4k. Normal riding i have to adjust every 200 or so miles,which is not even two tanks of fuel! No way this is right or normal. What am i doing wrong. And my sprockets still look like new. I'm surprised they are not chewed up to be honest, but they really look perfect. My current chain is a Custom Chrome. What am i missing here? Or do I just have a junk chain? I can actually adjust my chain to perfection, cruise 5 miles to the nearest highway,full throttle bang it to max speed(which i love and do often),cruise back home and my chain will be loose. Not full loose,but loose.

[TOOLS1]

I still have yet to adjust my new EK chain. About 8K miles on it now. Are, you adjusting it too tight?
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Rub it in,bud! I adjust with the bike on the side stand and shoot for 3/4''-1'' slack. Usually a little closer to the 3/4''. I noticed when the chain gets loose you can feel it when you shift gears. You can tell there is slack in there.

[TOOLS1]

I adjust my chain, so that it moves up, and down a total of 2". I have never felt slack when shifting gears. I think that is all in your head. You know they have medication, for that now.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

I'm with Tools.  Only time I had to adjust my chain was because I needed to take the back tire off to replace it.  I have about 8K on it so far.  It's an expensive gold coloured chain that I bought at a ducati dealership.  It was the only one they had in stock and I didn't want to wait (needed one badly).

[sgtslag]

If your chain is getting longer, keep an eye on the adjusters on the rear axle, to be certain it has not stretched too far...  If it has, then, yes, you got a junk chain.  Mine hasn't been adjusted for over 2,000 miles, and it is fine.  If your chain gets too long, "Danger!  Danger, Will Robinson!  Danger!"  Check it for stretch, as per the FSM.  If it is stretching that much, it will break before very long.


Bikes, and chains, can be replaced.  Be safe, Shiny!  I don't cherish the thought of your GF coming on here, and ripping us a new one, all because we didn't give you some ideas...

Cheers!

[shinyribs]

Haha! No worries Sarge. I already tossed that chain and am waiting on my new one. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong to kill my chains . Apparently I just bought two junk chains. And she does have a mean streak in her,believe you me!

Not being a smart aleck,honest question: I thought that 10K miles was about the life span of a chain. How can a chain go 8K without needing adjusting if its dead at 10K?

And you can feel the slack when a chain gets too long. You can feel it when you left off,or if you dont shift real smooth. It clunks. Slack-no slack-slack-no slack. It's pretty noticeable.

[sgtslag]

I believe modern O-ring chains, with 100% loss, auto-lubrication systems, can allegedly go up to 21k miles (see below).  Here is an article, and at the bottom, one reader comments on his chain life:  21,000 miles!

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/scottoiler/

[Piute]

  After this past wk end my chain  (630 stk.) was real loose,yes I heard and felt it all the way home(was bad),
  BUT,rather then just tighten I put in my new 15T gear then tightened and noticed I lost my cotter pinNow weather the whole thing moved not sure ,but can bet I'll be keeping an eye on it .
  I hit and popgears pretty hard but havn't missed and never red lined YET

[Cabreco]

Ribs DUUDE! Stop pulling your chain so much....you'll go blind!

[Re-run]

Did you get new sprockets too? Even if the sprockets look ok, they wear a certain way and will wear out a new chain very fast. No matter how good the chain is.

[shinyribs]

Ya got me Andy

Rerun,I didn't get new sprockets. I was curious if I needed them or not. I let the guy at the bike shop look at them and he said they looked OK to him. The chain seems to fit nice in the teeth,not like it is over extending or anything,but I'm still pretty new at all this so I could be dead wrong. The chain I have now (9700 lbs) only has 150 miles on it but it hasnt stretched one bit. So it is way better than before considering those 150 miles were pretty hard riding. 50% of the time I park my bike I feel like I owe it an apology. This poor thing will flat take a beating. I know my day will come when something pops,but so far it seems indestructible.lol

[shinyribs]

Two hundred miles today. Ran to 100 mph+ twice and 7 wheelies. Only two good ones,though. Chain is still right where I set it.Problem solved- I'm happy

[Piute]

                                                               

   Mines been pretty good to me also ,been oiling the $h!^ out of it ,and weathers been lot cooler.
 But never hit 100= more then 1s and like my rubber down., Thought about a few times ,but naaa

[Cabreco]

Good point Piute,

Ribs don't forget to oil it real well.
I was using oil for a while then I cleaned the chain with Kerosene REALLY well and started using Dupont teflon Chain Saver. This stuff goes on nice & dries like candle wax.
Neatest application I have EVER used. Got it at Lowes

[shinyribs]

I spray lube on my chain every other time I ride,which is usually about every 50-60 miles. Im sure thats over doing it,but I live on a gravel road and my swingarm stays super dusty. I figuered keeping a bunch of oil build up in the chains should seal the outer rollers up good. The o rings only seal the pins. Gravel dust sucks. I have to clean everything constantly

[Cabreco]

You'll love the Dupont stuff.
It's not oily so it doesn't attract dust & dirt. It actually dries like a wax.
My chain is super clean with no build up, and I only applied it ONCE!

The best thing is it's quiet.
IDK if anyone else here uses it but hopefully they will chime in. I found it to be a great alternative to oiling!

[shinyribs]

Cool. I'll have to check that stuff out then. The stuff i use is Liquid Performance. It's manufactured and distributed local by guys we race with. Gotta buy local when ya can,right?

[ace]

I use Amsoil MPHD. It's awesome ! Dries like a wax. Stays on and cleans up very easy with good ol WD40.

[sgtslag]

Here are some reviews of the Teflon Chain Lube:  link.  Looks to be a great product.  Cheers!