life of a chain...

[melloGS]

How many miles can expect outta a chain? stock chain is a 520, right?
I think mine is done, but I'm not sure. When i turn my wheel, while it's on the center stand, there is a spot where the chain tightens up, and it make a sound while riding...it's relatively repiticious with my m.p.h.. I've check both sprockets and they're fine, i've also checked the disc brake for warpage...even cleaned and lubed the chain...symptoms are still there...

[My Name Is Dave]

How many miles can expect outta a chain? stock chain is a 520, right?
I think mine is done, but I'm not sure. When i turn my wheel, while it's on the center stand, there is a spot where the chain tightens up, and it make a sound while riding...it's relatively repiticious with my m.p.h.. I've check both sprockets and they're fine, i've also checked the disc brake for warpage...even cleaned and lubed the chain...symptoms are still there...

I don't have an answer, but I am curious how many miles you have on that chain.

Dave

[NWDave]

Just had the same problem tonight on the way home, no more rear drift but I think this is the same problem.  The chain, I checked my rear disc and it's not warped either, I guess I'll give it one more good cleaning tomorrow and see what happens.  I'm not sure of the mileage on my current chain, how much can I expect for a new one?

[brembo]

I've got 37,600km on my original chain, starting to rust a little and it's almost at the last mark on the swing arm. Just about time for a new one I reckon.

[Cal Price]

The life of the chain will depend a lot on how it has been looked after, lube every 600 miles and it will go a looooooong way. It would be unusual to have a chain worn out and sprockets still in good condition, chain and sprockets often replaced together. Give it a realy good clean and lube and check that the wheel is aligned correctly.

[melloGS]

Right on, is the chain covered in the SEP? I've cleaned and lubed it twice and the wheel alignment is pretty on it...i have 10200 miles on this oem chain...

[John Bates]

.................... When i turn my wheel, while it's on the center stand, there is a spot where the chain tightens up, and it make a sound while riding...it's relatively repiticious with my m.p.h.. .......................

I just went through the same thing and my chain was the culprit.

With those symptoms it sounds like you have a dead chain. 

The only way to tell is take it off and check every link for flexibility.  There should be no stiff links.

[corndog67]

Do you still have any adjustment left?  Since the GS is a pretty low powered bike, I tend to let them go a long way before replacement.  ALWAYS change the sprockets at the same time as the chain. 

I've got a story about chain quality.  I used to own a CBR1000F, a kind of sport touring bike, 1993 model, with about 125 HP.  The stock chain was a DID OEM chain.  I used to do a lot of wheelies, a lot more high speed riding (100 plus), all I did was adjust it and lube it.  The stock chain went 28,000 miles.  I called Chaparall, and the guy recommended an RK Gold O-Ring chain, with a set of  Sprocket Speciaties Steel rear and front, in the stock sizes.  So, I ordered them and installed them.  In the first 1000 miles I had to adjust it 3 times.  At 2500 to 3000 miles, it started loosing rollers.  I rode a lot back then, so it was only a little more than a month.  I sent the chain back to them, they told me that there was battery acid on it.  I looked at my sled, the battery drain tube was on the opposite side, intact and installed correctly.  There was also no damage to the swingarm or the frame from any battery acid.  I called them and was told, too bad.  If I was close enough, I would have thrown it through their window.  I pulled the sprockets and inspected them very closely, there was no wear on them, and decided to put them back on.  I talked to some racer buddies, and was told that DID was the absolute best.  I ordered a DID ZVX, I believe it was.  It was about $150.  I put that chain on, I put another 30,000 miles on it, and never had to adjust it again.  I won't buy anything but the best DID chain that they make, I won't buy anything from Chaparral or RK again.  Their customer service was BS. 

[Budrick320]

Very imformative post corndog, I too have had a bad experience with chaparral. They sent me a 2 inch full color catalog the other week and that thing looks like it cost 10 bucks, trash it went!

[roguegeek]

How many miles can expect outta a chain? stock chain is a 520, right?
I think mine is done, but I'm not sure. When i turn my wheel, while it's on the center stand, there is a spot where the chain tightens up, and it make a sound while riding...it's relatively repiticious with my m.p.h.. I've check both sprockets and they're fine, i've also checked the disc brake for warpage...even cleaned and lubed the chain...symptoms are still there...

I just went through this because I was having the same issues. Your chain is warped. Get a new one. Stock chain for the GS is 520. I'm not a believer in that you need to change your sprocket every time you change your chain. If you don't see wear in the sprocket, it's fine. Just get the chain.

[hmmmnz]

i had issues with tight spots on my chain, it was because i didn't look after it, it broke in the end wasting my hugger, i still have the same chain now though, as it broke at the link,
take the chain off the bike find all the tight spots, lube them up with wd 40, get your plyers out and work the join till its loose,
do this to all the tight spots,
get a rag out and try and get all the wd 40 off, then lube proberly with oil,
im up to 32000 miles on that chain, and its still fine, although i carry a spare now, and maintain it better.

[Cal Price]

Ten Thou does not seem a lot in terms of chain life but perhaps its had a lot of hammer or just bad luck, maybe, just maybe, not enough lubrication. I found that forgetting to lube every 600 miles came very easy to me so now I have one of these brilliant bits of kit.....http://www.scottoiler.com/pc/Scottoiler_Motorcycle_Products/Scottoiler_Mk7_Universal_Kit.html