Utterly perplexed - GS125 chain

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Right, posted up a while ago and it turned out I had too long a chain (124 links).

I ordered it from Wemoto as part of the GS125 chain and sprocket kit so figured it would be fine, obviously it turned out to be too long.


So I dropped them an email, having googled around a bit and found that gear4bikes.com has the GS chain as being 116 links, great I thought; sent it off and sent back the chain yesterday, new one, 116 links, came this afternoon.

So I go to fit it, thinking all was well but it turns out it's too short!

I'm not 100% sure of chain measuring conventions (are the bits that seem to connect the biggers bits - technical terms here, bear with me - counted in the link count?) so I honestly don't even want to speculate by how many links but it's about 5.5" too short to make it 'round both sprockets.

In which case what size do I ACTUALLY need? Searched on here but with no luck. My Haynes says "GS125 models use 116-122 link chains" which isn't too helpful and I don't have the original owner's manual for the bike.

Largely useless, really, me.

Cheers in advance!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Paddy Blake]

Yes all links count.
Best thing to do is if you have the 124 chain take out two links at a time
until it is short enough to fit on there with some adjustment left for when
it gets slack.

Paddy.

[ttr]

Hi there - cheers for the response - think I mentioned in my post - I sent the chain back.

I don't have the tools (as far as I am aware anyway!!) to remove links from a chain? I presume it requires a rivetting device?

The chains are all split link chains incase you were wondering how I intended to link up the chain without the tools.

Will bear in my mind for future reference though.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Paddy Blake]

Have you let off the adjusters at the back wheel all the way.
Move the wheel forward as far as possible.

Paddy.

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The adjusters have 4mm left before they're all the way in - and start popping out (bolt type adjusters) - basically on the second to furthest in setting on the notch markers. I'd be worried if that would account for 5.5" of wear?
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Vincent]

I take it you havn't got your old chain still? what year is the bike?

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I do!

And it's a 98.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[ttr]

Interesting

I had a massive hunt and found the owner's manual

it backs up the 116 links!

Interesting problem then. Had a gander at the new and old sprockets - owner's manual states stock as 14/43 - the old sprockets match this fine. The new sprockets are 15/43, interestingly.

(nb; Noxious, if you read this, apologies - I miscounted the teeth on the old front sprocket the other night - doesn't seem to have a mark on it saying the number of teeth so we're relying on my counting here - and I'm easily distracted!)

1 tooth up on the front isn't going to account for 5" though right?

Pondering on this even more then - looking at the old chain, my counting may be off but I make it around 118/119.

Again, 2-3 links doesn't account for 5.5" surely? Would that small difference in links account for it factoring in the +1 tooth on the front?


but even then; it begs the question, what's with the owner's manual stating 116 links?!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Thom]

here mate, i just finished my gs500e and had the same problem, meant to have 110 links but i got a chain with perhaps 116

I just removed a few but it took a bit of patience.
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Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[Vincent]

It doesn't sound like five and a half inches could be made up, if it looks like it might fit but is very tight, you might be able to get it on by taking the rear axle out, placing the chain in place, ie over both sprockets then slide the wheel back and see if you can get the axle back in. If you end up having to get a chain that's a touch too long, most decent bike places will take a couple of links out for you for a couple of quid, just make sure you don't remove too many

[Kickstart]

Hi

If it is ~5.5" short then that would suggest that the original 124 link chain would have been too short (428 links have a 1/2" pitch I think, so that longer chain would only make 4" difference)

Old Autodata book lists the GS125ES as using a 116 link 428 chain with 14/43 sprockets.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[ttr]

I'm going to go remeasure, then.

The 124 link was hugely too long, but I swear when I measured earlier it came to 5.5" gap between the two ends-admittedly not including the split link if that counts for much!!


Aye Keith - same as what I have for the GS - as I say, unless that single tooth accounts for the gap it must be more than 116 for those sprockets? Or something sinister is going on - though I'm not sure I can see what that'd be, exactly.

As I say; will go measure again see if I made a mistake with the 5.5 inches thing!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[ttr]

Update!

I measured - my mistake; with the split link it was 4.5".

More interestingly though, and of course, problem solved; The chain has 108 links. The box says 116! Not too impressed with that!



Question is, with one tooth up on the front sprocket, will a 116 be alright or am I looking at a 117 and/or sending back the 15t front sprocket they elected to send me, aswell?

Cheers all, will dole out Karma in a sec.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Noxious89123]

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You posted in my last thread, asking if the sprockets were the same as stock - I said they were, because I can't count for sh*t, it seems!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Kickstart]

Hi

8 links shorter means about 4". And the extra tooth on the front sprocket would need an extra link, so another 1/2" there.

Chains have to be an even number of links.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

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[lozzypop1]