Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hopefully a quick question about chain tightening. I tightened my chain according to the manual at 2000 miles and now with 3700 miles it is loose again. I will be tightening it again tonight. How many times/how often will I need to tighten it before it settles into its "final" length? I realize that it could/will keep stretching until it is too long or breaks, but will there come a time where it settles in for a "long" while or is it a constantly changing thing?

Try to have someone sitting on the bike when you check it. Also set it toward the loose side. Check it at least once a week and clean and lub it every two weeks. I use to change out my chain every year, but today I think they run the chain and sprockets as a set. One of the reasons I like shaft drive.

I agree with JohnJ on everything except for sitting on the bike when the slack is checked. Every chain drive bike I've ever owned specified that the chain slack should be checked on the sidestand with no one on board. Having someone sit on the bike will result in a chain tension that could be out of spec on the loose side.

I adjust my O-ring chain about every 7K - 8K miles. I always adjust it to the loosest end of the spec. Back when I was a newb, I got the idea that if I tightened it to the tight side of the spec, I wouldn't have to adjust it as much. The opposite turned out to be true. A tighter chain wears faster.

Your chain will never settle into it's "final length" as you use it, it will wear and keep stretching until you have to replace it (hopefully it won't break. That can be disasterous).