For new riders attempting this, listen to what the advice he is suggesting as a 1/4 turn at a time with the adjuster nuts. A full turn or two moves the wheel a significant margin and you will know right away in the chain tension or looseness. Do one quarter turn each side. Check chain tension. Check twice. Adjust as necessary. Check chain tension. Check it twice. Adjust as necessary. The only thing I wish was the notch marks on the bike were large lines with 3 smaller lines in between the large ones for finer adjustment.

@Ifyaonlyknew

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@SlickMotoMike

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Mine has no markings and I was going to do 1 full turn on each side.

@jbean530

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I loosened them a lot. Probably too much. I don’t know really how much. My slack is high.

@izzy8609

2 жыл бұрын

So you loosen both adjusters on both sides in a progressive way to bring the wheel back in an equal amount? So 1/4 - 1/4 each side then check 1/4 - 1/4 correct? snug the locking nut then check wheel alignment?

@johnnyappleseedz422

Жыл бұрын

​@@izzy8609After loosening the rear axle nut, I loosen both side locking nuts and then one side at a time, I turn about 1/4. Then I turn the other side 1/4. Then I check my chain slack. I check the chain slack like 2 or 3 times to ensure I am confident with my observation. If I need to tighten more, I do 1/4 turn on the adjuster bolts, one side, then the other. Then I check my chain slack again. Once I am satisfied with my chain slack, I use a flexible (fiberglass?) tape measure with Millimeter markings to ensure my knotch marks and alignment lines are within 1mm. My bike has markings that are 5mm apart. This matches the tape measure perfectly. I line up my tape measure to the bike markings and then check the opposite side. If my alignment line is in the middle of two alignment knotches, that would be on the 3mm line of the tape measure. I ensure the opposite side is also on the 3mm tape measure line. Not the most efficient method, but it is very accurate. I also use a Milwaukee fat tape measure to measure my chain slack. I set on level surface, raise the tape measure. Identify my lowest point and highest point but the tape measure never moves. The tool in the video looks even more accurate. When done, ensure you are using two wrenches to tighen the adjuster nuts. You don't want to use one and then turn the adjuster nut a tad more. You must hold it in place while tightening the lock nut. After all that, make sure you torque the axle nut properly. Mine is 95.9ft lbs. I set for 95 ft lbs and use the last .9 to rotate the nut to where I drop the cottle pin in. The manual says 95.9, and then up to a 1/4 turn more for the cottle pin. I just don't want to over-tighten it.

Brilliant video just saved me £50 and now my gear changes are so much better. Videos like this make me want to do more work on my own bike

Been at this for literally my entire life, as in, I started riding at 9 years old and am 54 now, never not having a bike in that time. I have still never heard the rag in the sprocket trick. Thanks for that one!

@mssippijim

2 жыл бұрын

Same here!

Good vid, one of the most important bike maintenance that many riders over-look. Liked the 69 tribute on the side, RIP Nicky Hayden.

would like to add that its always a good idea to adjust the tension in the tightest part of the chain, otherwise you risk over-tightening... great video as always

@Dowent

7 жыл бұрын

If the difference between the tightest and loosest parts are big, it usually also means that the chains is at the end of its life.

@kolby4078

7 жыл бұрын

if you ride hard or miss just 1 lube you can easily get a stretch spot doesn't mean your chain is ruined just a little abnormal wear it's fine if you keep an eye on it.

@bamxuberant

5 жыл бұрын

How do you find the tightest part in your chain?

@russellgoodban7068

5 жыл бұрын

@@bamxuberant roll the bike backwards or forwards, on the ground and you can see the chain tightening a little then relaxing. Where its tightest measure from there.

@seanylewl

Жыл бұрын

As with most maintenance jobs, the manual will tell you not only what the slack should be, but exactly where on the chain to measure this slack. You can see it if you pause at 1:19, the manual shows you precisely what to do.

1:22 this is correct but it’s important to spin the wheel and measure the slack when the chain is at its tightest point during the rotation meaning find the tightest point and then take your measurement per most manuals

Even though I have seen numerous other videos of how to adjust chain, I would still watch Ari how to do it!

Instructions unclear, I left my wife

@blkflvm

2 жыл бұрын

Seems like the instructions were pretty clear then

@diabolicaldoodle

Жыл бұрын

😂

@thrillbylg

Жыл бұрын

Is everything ok at home my guy?

@williamforsythe9180

Жыл бұрын

Are you into men? Drop your britches around me and you’ll be howling at the moon 🤩

@GabesaNinja

Жыл бұрын

"Good enough isn't gonna cut it"

i have a mate who is quite new to the motorbike scene and i got him onto your channel... your vids are so basic and easy to follow man. thanks and keep them coming

@omaraslam8537

6 жыл бұрын

Ari Henning Can you please make a video on aftermarket air filters and aftermarket piggy bank ecu,how they affect the engine and should one install an aftermarket airfilter without a piggy bank ecu ?

I just tightened the chain on my Honda msx125 after watching this video. It was so helpful as I'm really not mechanically inclined at all! The bike rides fine now and the chain no longer jumps about when it's in 1st or 2nd 👍👍👍

@redline350zHR

3 жыл бұрын

Girlllllll...you da prizeeeee

@powerlink_provider

5 ай бұрын

​@@redline350zHRdady chillll

love these videos. Short, easy to understand and massively useful. Cheers!

Thank you for this video, I'm a few hundred miles in with my first bike, it seemed like it's time to adjust the chain. Gonna do it first thing in the morning.

Another very informative vid! Good job guys! I like the trick with the rag. Need to try that next time. I think a good topic to cover would be suspension. I feel that suspension adjustments are a very underrated necessity to getting the optimal performance / handling setting out of your bike.

I'm looking forward to the video showing the alternate methods for aligning your rear wheel straight to the bike. Love the vids, Cheers!

Awesome stuff Ari! What about a vid on steering dampers and how they operate?

I can't tell you how many times I've referred to this video. This is one of the best videos ever made period. So helpful. Thank you guys a ton!

Nice touch adding the Kentucky Kid sticker. He will be missed.

@mdcoomer67

7 жыл бұрын

Saw that right away. My bike is a 2004 RC51 with Nicky Hayden's signature on the tank. Still hard to believe.

@vishnusimba6136

7 жыл бұрын

Bob Peterson the first thing I saw in the start

@hertzkot

6 жыл бұрын

me too - rip Kentucky kid :(

@deathtroopers4345

5 жыл бұрын

Rossi was better

@greatBLT

5 жыл бұрын

@@deathtroopers4345 so, we'll be talking about how much we miss him and how good he was when he dies, too. until then, get your qualifying in order, rossi, dammit. quartararo is showing everyone up on a satellite yamaha

Thanks. Your video clarified a few steps that were not explained well in either my BMW manual OR the Haynes manual.

The best video out there -straight to the point. After several videos i'm convinced. You got a subscriber buddy.

I wanted to say thank you for the video. I had to keep readjusting and readjusting. Once you have the chain tightened the right side will move when you are tightening the axel nut, keep the wheel pressed where you need it to be as you tighten or it will move and throw off your measurements. Took me three times doing this to figure this out. But taking the measurement was the best method.

Thanks Ari, your videos are simply excellent.

Clean and lube chain first. Take a short ride. Chain will slack even more after lubing. Then adjust. I found this out when I adjusted first then lubed,. chain got loose, went back and had to re-adjust.

@gopalmaity63

6 жыл бұрын

Correct. I faced it

@gregorybolton6599

5 жыл бұрын

No. It's called wear and tear no matter how long the ride

@Sk2PPer

4 жыл бұрын

Not true

@Dankyjrthethird

4 жыл бұрын

Sk2PPer Ya i agree. I don’t think your chain can extend by a significant amount by just spraying some lube on it.

@jbox293

3 жыл бұрын

Um.... how can a chain slack after applying some lube? Better to drive first, and then clean and lube while the chain is warm. Then adjust between spec mid and minimum slack.

it is funny how I was about to do this procedure for the first time tomorrow, and this video pops out :D

Ari! This was a much awaited diy video! Thanks :)

Great video. I was just checking that I had it right. Now the old zx6r is ready to rock! 🏍

Love these videos Ari, keep up the great work!

Appriciate the information and simplicity of this video. Thank you

Great, short, to the point videos. Thank you.

I'm just starting to realize how important maintenance really is to a top performing motorcycle. My chain was hanging low and did wobble to and fro.

Brilliant instruction and advice. Thank you so much!

Respect to you for sharing the knowledge !

Someone has been going ham on that Z125... check out that rear tyre! lol

@mickleblade

7 жыл бұрын

aye, it's amusing how hard little bikes can be pushed, of course, it'll get murdered on the straights!

I love these mc garage videos keep it up

Another great vid Ari. How about a video on setting dynamic and static suspension sag? It would also be great to know how to properly set suspension damping. I see a lot of guys/gals riding bikes not properly adjusted for their body weight and riding style.

This helped quite a bit! Thanks for the help and the great video!

this was a great video, really helped. I was feeling a bit stupid reading the Haynes manual and not knowing what the swingarm is. thanks!

Simple but massively important. Thanks!

Always excellent knowledge in all of your vid's.Thanks alot mate.

Simple, clever, thanks for the video

Maaaaan I love your videos ! Thankx for sharing your knowledge !!!😉

Great video, especially the part about putting the rag in the sprocket to pull the wheel back on the end plates. I've struggled with that for years.

@bench175

Жыл бұрын

Can you explain the rag trick? It seems on my TU250X putting a rag between the chain and sprocket/axle actually pushes the axle forward away from the adjustment bolts.

Holy crap getting that chain slack tool. What a great thing.

Wait... An american guy using the metric system?! I LOVE YOU. You are awesome!

@randysavage1997

5 жыл бұрын

A lot of us are moving more towards metric bro, I've been using metric for a while now

@powerlink_provider

5 ай бұрын

​@@randysavage1997good submit to the metric cult.

@asiberiantiger188

5 ай бұрын

​@@powerlink_provider ok now I'm not doing it anymore

I followed the instructions and it worked! Thanks

am fairly new to all this and these videos are mad helpful cheers pal much appreciated

finally i know the proper way to adjust my chain! tnx mc garage! 😀

Question is: how much force should one use when raising the chain? I have heard different things and there will be a big difference in stopping at first resistance vs applying more force

Жыл бұрын

I am coming from a video from 'Fab Motorbikes' and he said the upper section of the chain should not be moving while you are raising/lowering the lower section. With Ari's measurement on 1:35 it was moving. Bike manual doesn't say anything also. I am lost on this one.

@Mech.E

Жыл бұрын

​@ fab motorbikes is most likely right. Otherwise you are taking or adding slack from the upper side as the tension changes. It's also in line with what the picture in the manual/swingarm shows so I assume that's the way.

@jridenour31

8 ай бұрын

​@@Mech.EYou don't need slack on the upper side. All of the slack is going to be on one side when you're riding. If you leave slack up top, your slack measurement is going to be tighter than the actual number.

best bike videos on the net hands down!!!

lOVE YOU GUYS ...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...YOUR DOING A LARGE FAVOR TO THE NEW RIDERS :D

best video on the topic I've found.

Great! another very useful video, thank you!!

man... i love this page

like all the time..great video. thanks guys!!👍👍👍

Thank you, Your videos are super helpful

You're a great teacher bro.

Thank you! I'm still a newbie at this...and I want to do this by myself instead of sending it to the shop.

Thanks for the link to the slacksetter it will go nicely with my motion pro chain alignment tool....

Awesome vid brother thanks a million 👍🏼

This guy did it all in 3 minutes and i couldn't even get one bolt out for 2 hours

@ahsanabbas1237

6 жыл бұрын

Ahmed Mukhtar hahahaha,hats off bro.😜😂🤣

@JeremyUSA

3 жыл бұрын

I hear ya. These guys make it look so easy. I seriously think I lack a single mechanical gene in me.

Great video this helped me so much

Does your chain hang low? Does it wobble to and fro? Can you tie it in a knot? Can you tie it in a bow? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then this video is for you

@caleb8075

4 жыл бұрын

thank you for this

@cozartboy1573

4 жыл бұрын

Is this a parody of a song

@rmayr2075

4 жыл бұрын

Keith Cozart bit late but its Do your balls hang low Do they wobble to the floor Can you tie them in a knot Can you tie them in a bow

@jansenfromsg

3 жыл бұрын

L lol

To get the measurement I open the jaw of an adjustable spanner/wrench to the desired distance…instant measuring tool that is easy to hold . Thanks for the video, from England

Thanks man it’s really help me do it for the first time 🙌🏻

thank you ,its so nicely explained

Amazing... The best expanatiin ever on youtube keep going bro

Didnt realize I had to push down on chain when taking 1st measurment. Learn something new everyday

Not having ridden a chain bike in some years - I needed this refresher!! Thanks.

very informative great video thanks

It's good to see a video with my exact same bike.

Thanks again for another great video especially for someone coming from being a Guzzi shaft driver lol 😂

Thanks for the tip .mind need chain adjusting ,like soon .

thax ari, well explained informative and entertaining, could you please do a video explaining exhaust wrap good and bad, best way to get spare parts, sources, best used motorcycles under... most reliable ones. thank you so much

Cool, thanks for the information

Thanks for another great and concise video. How much more slack should there be for off road riding?

its the little things what makes this channle so nice

My chain is very loose, and I was noticing it struggle with downshifts sometimes. Think I slightly stepped on it too 😬 So this will come in handy

Hi Ari, I would suggest you for the next episode of MC Garage to explain the whole procedure in details of the install of a new engine mapping on the dyno. It would be even better if you can show all these steps getting done for real. Thanks !

Great tips thank you

nice explanation. and nice sticker on bike.

Brilliant job.

Great vids!

Thanks for the great videos! Cornering ABS would be an interesting topic: which bikes have it, how does it work and does it really work that good on any road surface?

Hi Ari. Could you make a video on the pros and cons of changing the bikes gearing? (Front and rear sprockets)

@paulhorvath9784

4 жыл бұрын

There is a special segment on a KZread program called MOTOVUDU, the application is basically exactly the same as a ten speed push bike say with two cogs on front and some sprockets on rear..

Also check the manual for slack reference. Its not always the middle of the chain, on some models you use lower and upper point of the chain as the reference.

Great video, thanks for the efforts​ to explain to us bike afeciondaos all these tips and tricks. also, what tyoe of chain lub you recommend in a dusty and humid region?

check and adjust every 500 miles?!?!? that's a days ride! lol

@DoodleOnAMotorcycle

5 жыл бұрын

CW Gillan LOL I panicked at that

@kwak1k

5 жыл бұрын

More check than adjust. Only adjust if you need to

@Axu_02

5 жыл бұрын

That is why you should buy a Cobbra nemo 2 automatic chain luber.

@bamxuberant

5 жыл бұрын

lol i said the same thing... I am at about 1,500 on my new bike... I was like dang I am well overdue... Lol, I always check it though it is doing pretty good still.

@nomadben

4 жыл бұрын

I thought the same thing haha

Thankyou for the insight gladly appreciate it thanks 😊👍!

So helpful! Thx

Muito bom parabéns 👏

Perfect. Thank you.

very helpful. thanks

Thanks man 🔥🔥🔥🔥😁😍 love u bro

Just got a bike after 40 years hiatus. What the hell would I do without Motorcyclist Magazine? Oh, it's the ultimate modern fartknocker bike, a CTX700. I'm diggin' it.

Hey Ari!! Greetings from India! As this is summer time here and temperatures go almost 50°C on the road, how about a DIY on coolant change??

Hey Ari... I know you guys tend to focus on new bikes, but how about a vid with tips to help cool down a classic (or any) air cooled sport bike? My FJ1100 gets blistering in the AZ heat. I have the stock oil cooler and was thinking of replacing with a car tuner cooler or even just bolt on some PC suction fans. I'm interested to see what you guys come up with. Awesome vids... keep it up! Mike

"Complex, high level mathematics" lol

@barryweaver8833

4 жыл бұрын

it's complicated for me, I don't know where he got 40-5 from?

@joshuahusebye1333

3 жыл бұрын

Barry Weaver I have no idea either

@andrewgalloway8012

3 жыл бұрын

@@barryweaver8833 He took two measurements, one from the bottom of the swingarm straight down to the horizontal midline of the chain (pins or rivets or whatever those are called) when the chain was stretched to it's maximum (40mm), then another when the chain was pressed as close to the swingarm as possible (5mm). Subtract the difference and your chain slack is 35mm.

@joshuahusebye1333

3 жыл бұрын

@@andrewgalloway8012 So in this video a Z125 is used it looks like in the final measurement he pushed the chain all the way up against the bottom of the swingarm. Does that mean for Z125 and the groms the final measurement will always be the same since it always tops out against the swingarm? Cause on mine if cant touch the swingarm its way too tight.

@andrewgalloway8012

3 жыл бұрын

@@joshuahusebye1333 I would measure it anyways, just in case it does end up being too tight.

Good video!

Great tip

How to disassemble your transmission case!! Would really help me alot. Or any other video of howto steps to disassemble your motorcycle engine/clutch/transmission! From a proud owner of a '89 Honda NX650 Dominator ;-). Your video's rock!

Excellent!