Riding with a loose chain

[Ric]

Rode back to uni 100 miles odd last nite

and went to go out this morning, got half way up the road and i hear clanking

pull over quick feel over, chains loose as, think its near enough at the end of its adjustment (prob past it ne ways so loose)

can i ride it slowly like 30mph max, slow throttle avoiding bumps etc

to fix it i need to get it 2 miles to kawaski??

i hate being without tool!!

[LustyLew]

I risked riding with a loose chain once... Ended up with it bouncing off the back sprocket and locking the back wheel on a busy A2! I also ended up with 3 points and a £60 as I blocked a lane of the road waiting for the RAC.

I really don't suggest you do it. Save your licence and your ass!
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[numark1]

It will be fine as long as you stay slow and are not too aggressive on the throttle.

[Ste]

I'd reckon you can ride it for 2 miles, not sure if its a good idea or safe though. https://www.bikechatforums.com/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif

Just be very smooth with the throttle no sharp acceleration or changes in speed and you should be okay*.

Have a look at quite how loose it is before going, if its really loose then you'll need to be more careful when riding but as long as the chain is still one piece then you can ride just being appropriately careful.

* If you're not okay it is in no way my fault :P

[Scotsman37]

I would gently move off and keep it to more than 25mph, if you can, with no harsh use of the throttle at all.

[Ric]

mite have a word, see if they will pick it up


if not i think its go at a quiet time, and go steady as poss, it seems fine as a constant speed jus not 0-10mph

jus worried it will snap, hoping it'll be ok

another thing to chalk up next to my speedo cable (should be fixed by thurs)

[Dusty]

Obviously I can't guarantee your chain won't snap, but I think it pretty unlikely. I've ridden quite a few different bike with loose chains, had a chain come off before but never snap.

If it were me I would risk it rather than paying a fortune to have them pick it up.
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[stinkwheel]

I have chainstays on my supermoto. As a result my chain is pretty much hanging off all the time (you can touch the swingarm with it above and below).

The only worry I would have would be it hooking up on an equally worn sprocket, keep it smooth and the speed down and you will be fine for a couple of miles.
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[Scotsman37]

Yes that' the best thing to do is change your front & rear sprockets at the same you're changing chain otherwise it might not be to good putting a new chain on possibly now worn sprockets!

[Zoffo]

You'll just be doing more damage to the sprockets. I'd try to get any more adjustment out of it you can to make the trip to the garage.
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[lurker]

if the chains at max adjustment imagine the wear on the sprockets!
wouldnt worry too much about the damage youre doing to them cause theyre going to need replaced aswell.
ive rode with a very slack chain for a few stints and its never came off,
but then thats not to say yours wont.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

I rode with a loose chain last term, I didn't feel good about it. Not mega loose, but it would hit the swinging arm and make a knocking sound . (Actually quite loose then) , but it wasn't loose enough to come off the sprockets.

I cainied it and even did the 150 miles back as well, so you'll be ok for a couple of slow miles.

In hindsight, I should have sorted it.

Next time my parents bring the car down I'll bring my paddock stand and a few tools down for us to share.

Always need the tools, and feel a bit cheeky scanking other people's, ahem Drummer. Cheers though always appreciated!

[Ric]

its got adjustment left possibly? not sure i cant do it ne ways

i may get myself a socket set and a few bits

ive got a few spanners a few pliers a screwdriver and mole grips

u comin over to laugh at me fittin my speedo cable??

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Chain is easy to adjust. You just need sockets, torque wrench and open-faced spanners to adjust the tension. You can get away with using a breaker bar and just doing the rear axle nut up pretty tight instead of using the T. wrench.

In fact you don't even need a paddock stand. Still the tools are the main thing, which we need.

Yeah I'll come and laugh at you trying to fit your speedo drive, as long as the weather is nice enough to warrent me riding over to your place.

[mattsmith95]

One good thing about riding a Honda with genuine sprockets, the chain cannot jam the back end up because of that cool guard rail on the sprocket.

(sadly most people don't bother with genuine Honda sprockets because they are tight fisted)

[Jrod]

I rode until my chain fell off.... 3 times.

[Ric]

[Jrod]

Tarting came first, what a knob! Never again will I risk my safety for the sake of a shiney bolt.

[HurtMePlease]

Yea id take it very slowly mate, dont bother with the pickup idea as they will most likely rip you off unless it sounds fair like £20.
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[Josh|RD125LC]

I was riding around with a slack chain for ages. Only noticed it when I changed gear to go around a roundabout and hear a loud clunk. The chain came completely off the front and rear sprockets. I couldn't get it back on so I had to call my dad to bring s spanner out

2 miles doesn't sound too far, as everyone else has said, take it easy and it SHOULD be fine.
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