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Hi all, I have an '86 Kawasaki Ninja 600R, and I was just wondering if I should be tensioning the chain - the vertical travel on the lower run is within the proper range, but the top run seems to be touching the swingarm (well the chain pad on the swingarm anyway).

Should I leave it be or maybe try and lift the top run off the swingarm by increasing the tension (maybe beyond spec)? Thanks as always for any input!

Doug

On all the bikes I've owned, the chain will set on that pad when at rest. Judging from the wear, the chain's centripital (or is that centrifugal?) forces pull it away from it when riding.

Right, the pull from the engine should tighten it enough to get it up more. However I think that it takes quite a bit of pull to get mine up enough (ie. just while accelerating).

Then again, it might be assuming a lot to say that what I hear is indeed the chain on the pad, given all the other noises going on and that I'm still relatively new to riding.