How often do you adjust drive chain tension?

[Fizzy Pies]

I've done 2500 miles on my six so far and only just feel it time to do it. It wasn't less than an inch of free play when I got the bike so perhaps it was tight. Anyway, how often?

[red98]

depends a lot on the quality of chain and your riding style....ive adjusted the chain once in a year on my thou,quality did chain,and a fairly smooth rider when iam not with the london foccers    probs done about 3k in the last year....had cheap chains on the six and probs adjusted every month approx 1k rode that a lot harder 

[darrsi]

Agreed, that's why i always suggest to people the heavy duty D.I.D. X ring chains because from personal experience they've needed minimal adjustment.
I had 10 years of a riding a shaft drive bike before the Fazer so really wasn't looking forward to dealing with a chain to be honest, but once i got a new chain on i was really pleased with how little maintenance it needed.
A good scrub every few months, but i'd say keeping the chain well lubed is the main priority, especially in winter.
Just keep an eye on it, as long as it's within 30-40mm slack then i just leave it alone.

[stevierst]

I do 10k/year on my 600, and the answer is...... I don't. Probably due to having a chain oiler fitted. I probably adjust it when I change the tyre.

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[noggythenog]

Ive done about 3k on my bike & havent needed to adjust the chain yet either.
reading other posts it seems like people have had more hassle by adjusting there chains & going too tight rather than just leaving alone.
Stevie - silly question time, like you said about the tyre change, will a bike garage adjust the chain once they've replaced the back tyre or do they just chuck it back on as was???

[Dead Eye]

I adjust as is necessary - having the chain too tight will increase the wear on the chain by stretching it and therefore causing you to tighten it more often. Also, don't forget when adjusting it to make sure you measure at the tightest point of the chain - I forgot this and ended up with my chain particularly tight, oops :P

noggy, I would guess it depends on the mechanic but I would have assumed that most would adjust the chain. Only takes a few seconds to check it yourself afterwards though

[noggythenog]

I adjust as is necessary - having the chain too tight will increase the wear on the chain by stretching it and therefore causing you to tighten it more often. Also, don't forget when adjusting it to make sure you measure at the tightest point of the chain - I forgot this and ended up with my chain particularly tight, oops :P

noggy, I would guess it depends on the mechanic but I would have assumed that most would adjust the chain. Only takes a few seconds to check it yourself afterwards though

Cool sounds good, i'll ask them as im getting new tyres next week, had the spanners out the other day just to do a test adjust but i couldnt even slacken off the big nuts, i was trying to use the bike tool kit though so i'll need to invest in some better tools for the job.

[stevierst]

Stevie - silly question time, like you said about the tyre change, will a bike garage adjust the chain once they've replaced the back tyre or do they just chuck it back on as was???

I do all that myself because I take just the wheel in so I Wouldn't really know noggy. I would have thought they'd have to do the chain tension as part of the service if they take the wheel off, but don't quote me on it.
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[Dead Eye]

I adjust as is necessary - having the chain too tight will increase the wear on the chain by stretching it and therefore causing you to tighten it more often. Also, don't forget when adjusting it to make sure you measure at the tightest point of the chain - I forgot this and ended up with my chain particularly tight, oops :P

noggy, I would guess it depends on the mechanic but I would have assumed that most would adjust the chain. Only takes a few seconds to check it yourself afterwards though

Cool sounds good, i'll ask them as im getting new tyres next week, had the spanners out the other day just to do a test adjust but i couldnt even slacken off the big nuts, i was trying to use the bike tool kit though so i'll need to invest in some better tools for the job.

Ah yeah, I've only had one screwdriver as part of the bike tool kit from two different bikes :| I could have sworn it was a myth until ChristoT showed up with it :P

I have a 750mm breaker bar for anything that doesn't want to move So far its gotten through everything apart from the hub nut on my car - that bugger did NOT want to budge

[simonm]

When I went to the bikesafe course and the copper told me it was too loose ;-)

I suspect this is the first adjustment in the bikes 6000 miles.  I thunk I done it proper.

I also figured out the scottoiler wasn't working when the chain was rusty.

I'm a steep learning curve.