Hi - I have spent the weekend going over the 89 GS500E I picked up on Friday - getting a sense of what I need to work on .
Quick question on chain tension:
the first photo shows the 'sag' in the chain.
(http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/TrekieDash/th_DSC00408.jpg)
the second photo shows how much play it has.
(http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/TrekieDash/th_DSC00409.jpg)
From my time ridign bicycles, I tended to NOT have so much play in the chain.
Should it be shortened?
Thanks
Barry Richmond BC
if the ajustment is all the way tite then the chain needs to be replaced. you should only have 1" of play max.
It's something like 0.8" - 1.2" of tension.
Break out the measuring tape... Check the tension in a few places around the chain.
Warning: the first photo is with the bike on the centerstand! Incorrect way to measure slack!
First - put the bike on the sidestand
push up on the chain and measure slack
move bike forward (or backwards)
measure slack again
repeat a few more times so that you are measuring different points of the chain.
If any are within spec, leave it alone.