How often does your chain need adjusting?

asta1 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Dec 2015 Karma :

Hey guys,

I went away to Cornwall last week and took the bike with me. Total mileage for the week is probably around 1000 miles and I wasn't able to adjust my chain.

Finally found time to do the job this morning and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was still well within the manufacturers specification. The bike is pretty new and previously when I looked at it every 500miles or so it had visibly stretched. This brings me to wonder, has the chain now fully bedded in (2,500 miles covered since new in June) and how often do you find you need to adjust the chain on your bike?

I will continue to check every 500 miles or so for peace of mind and the chain is cleaned and lubed at similar intervals.

Thoughts?
Cheers,
A.
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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Whenever. I haven't adjusted (or lubed) mine for over 1k miles. It's fine. (I do however have a supply of cheap chains, so maybe not the perfect person to listen to).
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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

Worse bike I had for wearing out chains was a 250 single cylinder 4stroke.

The 944cc twin is still on the same chain from when I bought it in 2008 and done 40k on it. It's ready to be changed now but still has a few thousand left in it. The sprockets are pretty good too which for a big twin surprised me.

I'd say yes your chain is bedded in, keep doing what you're doing...checking..cleaning and lubing. I tend to clean and lube (THE CHAIN...ha-ha-ha...sorry..I am are twart Embarassed

) more during winter.
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Depends on the bike, chain, how it is being ridden, etc). But a newish chain treated fairly nicely can easily take quite a while before needing adjusting. 5k is possible.

Abused chain getting old and 50 miles is pushing it Laughing

All the best

Katy
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andys675 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Karma :

the standard chain on my bike was donald ducked by 6000, I really hadn't looked after it due to the cold weather

so i bought a DID "gold and black" and look after it, after 6000 miles it has been adjusted once
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MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

As said, if looked after and lubed with a 'proper' lubricant then there should/may be very little wear.
If the lubricant is doing it's job then the lube becomes the sacrificial component and absorbs wear and tear.
Replacing the lube regularly replaces the wear part. Theoretically. Smile

In reality we do the lube when we: Can be arsed/Remember or at other intervals.

I never have to adjust the chain on my litre bike. And it transmits full engine torque every time it is on the road on acceleration.

I have an electronic scottoiler fitted.

Other bikes have been profi-lube.
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Copycat73 · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :

Azoth · Brolly Dolly Joined: 07 Jul 2016 Karma :

Just clocked 500 miles on a new DID chain I installed. Middleweight bike. Doesn't seem to have stretched at all. No adjustment needed.

On my last bike (a tiddler), the cheapo chain I put on it needed adjustment 50-60 miles after it was installed, and every 100 miles after that.
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1-up · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Sep 2016 Karma :

I do 400 miles a week, I always use gold X ring chains and chain wax every day and adjust/fettle it once a week.

Baffler186 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2013 Karma :

I'd say once a year at most, which is about 4k miles. Last two times it was after two separate garages fitted new rear tyres and the chain was murder tight. I clean and lube every Friday, so about every 50 to 100 miles .

On my 125 though, older chain, perhaps every 500 miles i had to tighten until eventually replacing the chain
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