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In replacing a chain on a 1980 KZ550 where the chain broke (the bike sat for many years, and then was ridden without oiling the chain) and chewed up the sprockets.

Both sprockets have been replaced but with slightly larger sprokets than stock (17T/40T instead of 16T/38T) since that's what he could get for his bike.

The question I was wondering was when you replace a chain, where should you adjust the rear tire of the bike? Should it be all the way forward somewhere in the middle or what? What's the best practice position for the tire, or alternatively how can you tell where the best spot is?

I'm not sure I know what you're asking. When you replace the chain, the wheel position (forward or rearward) is going to depend where the chain gets the proper amount of slack. With larger front and rear sprockets, I'd assume that the wheel will be a bit farther forward than it would be with the stock sprockets (assuming you keep the number links in the chain the same).

What am I missing?

Hmm .. maybe I don't know what I'm asking .. but the stock chain was 100 links (530-100 was the notation, I believe), but the chain we got from a dealer was something like 530-130, and he said that we could use a chain breaker to get it down to the right size.

So, I guess that's the question. With a larger sprocket size on both front and back, I assumed that the chain size would have to change, and depending on the number of links it would change where the tire is, right? For example, you don't want the chain so long that the wheel is adjusted fully back because that gives you no room for modifcation later.

Sorry if I'm being a bit vague or confusing .. I've never replaced the sprockets and chain on a motorcycle before and was just wondering. Maybe I'm thinking too much..?