Any bikers here???

[ged]

... have to change my chain soon - Its only done about 5300km but I didn't look after it for the first half of that :/

Would that have been before or after I mentioned it to you in this thread?

5,300 km is a very poor life for a chain on a small bike. Even on my 1200 Bandit I'd normally expect to get 20,000 to 30,000km (but a few years ago I swapped it for an FJR -- mainly because the FJR is shaft drive, so chains aren't an issue for my touring bike any more ).

Having said that, I suspect that in addition to poor maintenance you might have had a cheap chain to begin with. Do you know who its manufacturer was? Chinese?

if I pull the back link away from the sprocket when the chain is adjusted properly it barely moves but there isn't much adjustment left so I take it that means it needs to go?

Chains rarely wear evenly, especially if neglected. Check it at several positions. Rotate the rear wheel a turn or so between each check.

I'm assuming since it isn't a big bike that the chain has a split link. If not you'll need a chain riveting tool to do anything with the chain, or you'll have to take out the swinging arm to change the chain.

Don't rely on the amount of movement left on the chain adjuster to decide if the chain is OK. If it sits well on the sprockets with no risk of riding up and coming off them then it should be OK to take half a link or a link out. Half a link sounds silly but it's possible.

I have a new chain for it and I know how to change it but it will be the biggest bit of maintenance I've done so far

I hope you bought a decent chain.

It's usually advisable to replace the sprockets and the chain together. Worn sprockets can wear a new chain very quickly. It's less of an issue on a smaller machine but it's still an issue. Look carefully at the sprockets, most importantly at the one on the gearbox end of the chain (because it's a lot smaller than the one on the wheel and tends to wear faster). If the teeth show any sign of being hook-shaped instead of symmetrical then you should replace the sprockets or you're just wasting money on the chain.

Sprockets aren't all that expensive but replacing them is a bigger job than replacing the chain. Don't attempt it if you aren't confident. A chain flying off the sprockets at speed can cause a very nasty accident.

 

[Asa Samuel]

It was when my dad came round and told me off that I started looking after it! The chain I bought was from the replacement parts part of the company that made the bike.

I'm confident that I can change it, I'm actually looking forward to tinkering around with it
Thanks as always for the advice

 

[tree beard]

Cracking looking bike bud , what was that you were carrying the kitchen sink .. haahaa

Lol. . . . . Everything but fella . . .
But thats what happens when you take the missus.

 

[gsfgaz]

i know what yer saying bud ... as long as the beers were packed first ...

 

[markie*mark0]

Had a number of bikes, i wont bother listing them all hahahaha

Just a few...

KXF450 offroad animal

GSXR 600 race bike

Another GSXR 600 road bike, toured around Europe & Nurburgring

One of my first race bikes ZXR400

I also have a GSXR 1000 streetfighter, but i can't find any pictures at the moment

 

[greensurfingbear]

I got a Kawasaki versys last year hoping now I have the panniers and top box to use it for some longer trips this year.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

[maddave]

I'm gonna put "BIKER" as my religion on this years Census !!

 

[gsfgaz]

good man

 

[Robbi]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69572

still for sale lads !!

 

[Snarf]

Hello folks,

Need a bit of advice, i'm in the market for a set of paddock stands and i have a limited budget (£60-£80 max)

I dont mind spending the cash on quality kit but i can't blow a wedge on em.

Any ideas or reccomendations, found these on the bay, any good?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ged]

... in the market for a set of paddock stands and i have a limited budget ... Any ideas or reccomendations, found these on the bay, any good?

Obviously the page you've linked shows the price per stand, so it's at the top end of your budget for two of them.

My tubular steel stand seems to be a bit on the skinny side for a heavy bike, but it's fine for a lightweight machine. The stand doesn't have a diagonal brace like the one in your link so it ought to be better from that point of view as long as it doesn't get in the way of anything.

The other thing to watch out for is whether they'll actually fit! The square cup-style swinging arm rests supplied with my stand are a bit of a pain to thread through the Hayabusa's rear brake caliper and gubbins so I bought some purpose made screw-in fittings which are a lot nicer. With them, it's possible to put the bike on the stand without having a friend there to catch the bike when it falls over.

You getting a race bike then?

 

[Snarf]

Obviously the page you've linked shows the price per stand, so it's at the top end of your budget for two of them.

I thought that was for a pair

You getting a race bike then?

No lol, i need some so i can service my bike properly.

I dont have a centre stand on mine so i just hoick the bike up on my toolbox (bad i know)

 

[Tracer1969]

Just sold my CBX, now having a XT500 and maybe a M20 soon

[/IMG]

 

[Robbi]

Oooo !

i love the XT500 !

got any piccys ?

 

[Tracer1969]

I'll try to take pictures one of these day's but i most warn you.
It's a restauration project. But the engine turns, thats enough for me.

i love the Vincent, but way out of budget

 

[gsfgaz]

now thats a braw bike m8 ....

 

[Asa Samuel]

Changing of the chain went fine, easy at anything

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

I have a Triumph Speed Triple, but I really never get any time to ride her.... So she is taking a short trip to ebayland :-(

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Oooops this was the pic I meant to post.... I can't get the hang of this technology!

 

[ged]

Changing of the chain went fine...

Keep a close eye on it for the first few hundred miles. They tend to bed in more quickly at first.