Love my T120 but new to chain final drive (last 5 bikes were belt driven). How does one deal with chain maintenance and care on 1000 mi + tours. Should I just carry a can of chain lube and lube in motel parking lot. Can't see myself doing a chain clean on the road. Also with normal riding how long does a chain adjustment normally last. Also can't see myself doing a chain adjustment on the road plus the extra tools to carry (ie torque wrench etc)
Make sure the chain is adjusted before you set off and carry an aerosol of chain lube, I prefer the 'dry' lube and as you suggest lube the chain in the motel parking lot. Do it when you get to the hotel and the chain is warm from the day's ride. A pot of gear oil and paint brush has the possibility of getting messy in the luggage or where ever you store it on the bike! You should have no problem in going well over 1,000 miles before the chain needs adjusting again. Have a Good Trip!!
I should have read this earlier, I'm off to bed now but will check which lube and cleaner I use in the morning. Just a few points now, I clean and re-lube my chain every 500 miles. Particularly if i have been riding in the rain. Be warned if you are using your hotel car park, they might not appreciate the mess you leave behind. I put a sheet of cardboard covered in old news paper under the bike before spraying on the cleaner. The much is a devil to get off the block paving on my drive and I certainly don't want a greasy puddle in the garage. I also have the T120 Diamond edition. Love it.
Hi Bruce and welcome to the forum best to clean the chain before leaving home with WD40 and a rag , then apply your lube (oil or aerosol). I have a 3sided brush that I spray the aerosol on and then apply to the chain, to avoid overspray and mess. Enjoy your trip.
I've fitted a chain oiler which works on vibration, brilliant bit of kit, not needed to adjust the chain in 3000 miles.
Has anyone had an issue with chain adjustments and the close proximity of the muffler to the axel nut and adjustment nuts on the swing arm? How is one supposed to get a wrench in there?
Access can usually be gained using either an open ended spanner or a ring spanner. open ended spanners are used for the adjustment nuts. When the wheel needs to be removed, for tyre changes, you need to remove the silencer, or muffler to get the axle out.
Bumpgate. Got a T120 like yourself. Have bought a couple of "offset" ( the spanner opening is at a different angle to standard spanners) spanners which are still a bit of a faff but a lot easier than taking off silencers. As for axle nut torque I use a crows foot (it's open ended spanner for torque wrench fitted to wrench at 90 degrees) with the wrench which will fit on nut without fouling the silencer. Sorted. Hope this helpful. As for what started this thread I just take a mustard pot of gear oil a rag and a toothbrush on hols for the chain, and apply as needed and after rain. Never buying spray lube again, much to expensive and D.I.D. recommend gear oil for their chains, that's good enough for me.
Finally a response from someone who understood my question and who has actually put a wrench on their bike! Thanks for your input.
Bumpgate Hi, got my "offset open ended spanners" from Prime Tools. £8:50 ish each. It's still not the easiest but it is easier than silencers.
Mileage between adjustments will vary and be highly dependent on accurate wheel alignment, use/abuse and lube schedule. From memory I used to get around 4,000 miles between adjustments on my old 2018 Green&White.
On tour I've chosen to carry a tube of Motul C5 chain paste. It's small, doesn't leak, easy to apply. Perfect on the road. Apart if you ride 2K miles, you won't need to adjust the chain.
My T120 went in for its first service, (600miles). I had lubed the chain at about 250 miles, the dealership cleaned and lubed the chain at the service. I have been 137 miles since the first service, the last 20 odd miles was in light rain. The chain now has spots of rust on it. Would not have believed it could happen so soon, last 20yrs only shaft drive bikes. Learning curve - Time to clean and lube the chain tomorrow am. I had been considering an auto chain oiler, now one is definitely going to be fitted.
Hi RB, had a V system Scottoiler on my Bonnie for 8 years. Worked fine, considering putting one on my Latest T120. I also have the E Scottoiler on my 900GT Aragon. Hope this helps....Tony
Both work well. Sorry, it is the X on the tiger. No problems at all on the Bonnie, Just a case of getting the flow rate correct. X system 1 let me down in Spain last year. I had it connected to a thunderbox, had to turn on manually every use. On return from Spain, I sent unit back to Scottoiler, they replaced it with system 3 at no cost to me, and works great with the thunderbox as they said it would. Both do a superb job, Depends on how much you want to spend. Big thumbs up to Scottoiler. Tony
