ninetyfivehp
12/7/2006 9:36:15 AM
may not make sense but my bike shifts a hell of a lot smoother when the chain slack is set to about 2". i know the manual says 1 - 1 3/8" slack and anything over 1 15/16" could cause frame damage but i don't see anywhere the chain could hit anything. is it O.K. to run this much slack? thanks F4i gurus
Ruftags
12/7/2006 12:28:39 PM
From what I have been told your slack changes when rider is on bike. I haven't verified this, but if there is a little more while your on, it may be enough to hit something. To much slack will also get you premature wear on sprockets, chain and extra stress on gears by the snapping when you get on it hard.
ninetyfivehp
12/7/2006 12:43:29 PM
your correct, your chain tightens as the suspension compresses. i weigh 202 lbs so i'm thinkin when i sit on the bike i'm hittin the sweet spot for chain slack
jay arr
12/7/2006 8:22:54 PM
I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't think manufacturers would print a specific amount of chain slack if there was substantial difference in slack when the suspension's compressed. I haven't had my CBR long enough to know from experience, but on my last bike when it would shift better with too much chain slack it meant time to change the oil.
Jenk2k
12/12/2006 9:41:11 AM
Obviously, the chain performance can be affected if it's dirty, grimey, or caked up crap in it. The coefficient of friction goes way up when it's impoperly maintained.
Given that, shouldn't a heavier rider ride with a little more slack? I am on the heavy side ( 290 ish) and it definitely shifts much jerkier if I don't keep it lubed and adjusted.
Ruftags
12/12/2006 12:07:11 PM
Feelin your pain on the weight Jenk, I keep mine as clean as poss. I figure it s workin hard enough.
Jenk2k
12/12/2006 5:43:09 PM
What can I say? I like to eat. =)
ninetyfivehp
12/12/2006 8:09:02 PM
how much chain slack is typical on a race bike or how much would the track officials recommend for a track day? woody, tahoe?
krash
12/13/2006 12:23:25 AM
My old cruiser manuals states that you have to adjust the slack
with the rider on the bike, much like setting the pre load.
but apparently, from what I have read, the manual does not require
our bike to be loaded. Someone told me the difference between a cruiser
and a sportbike is that the pivot point of the chain is different between the two.
On a cruiser, the transmission sprocket is several inches in front of the swingarm,
causing a major change in slack when loaded.
However, a sport bike, the transmission gear is very close to the pivot point
of the swingarm, which causes little effect on the chain tension when loaded.
