Chain Adjustment…

Forgive my ignorance but I’m new to bike maintenance so unsure of ALOT but willingly trying…!

When you adjust the chain, do you have the bike on a paddock stand or just on the side stand? I’ve seen conflicting views/vids on this so not sure.

To me it seems like the bike should be on the side stand so the weight of the bike is on the chain but if someone could clarify that would be ace!

Thanks all!

 

Side stand usually, although if the tension is correct then you can measure on both so you know the correct value in each case.

 

Doesn't matter. The weight of the bike is still compressing the shock a little with both.

 

Thanks guys that's really helpful!

 

Hi Guys, a little late to this post but my 2 cents.
I have a new 2023 Bonne T120 Black I bought last October.
Checked the chain at about 300 miles on the center stand and found that there was 1 3/4 inches slack in the chain.

So, I set about to do the adjustment. Found there were no adjustment marks on the frame but just kept track of how many turns on the adjustment bolts. I Adjusted down to 1 1/8 inches.

With that, I noticed that clutch engagement was a lot smoother. Also used Lucas chain lube on the chain; no wax in it and its foam seemed to penetrate with not much spin off.

 

In my handbook it says on its wheels and upright. I set it like the book said then put it on the main stand and checked the amount of slack. Since then I can adjust it on the stand. Easy. I cannot see how it can be done correctly on the side stand.

 

Says in my manual side stand, I measured both on paddock and side stand at the same point, were identical.

 

Putting something under the sidestand to get the bike closer to vertical is one option. A paddock stand is by far the easiest/safest/most accurate way of measuring the chain IMO as you have the full weight of the bike on the stand close to the rear axle (even through the axle with some stand mounts), it can't fall over and you can spin the wheel freely which you need to find the tightest point in the chain.

 

UPDATE: Checked the adjustment after a short 6 mile ride BUT did the check on the side stand instead of the center stand. There is a difference. Found that the slack had changed from 1 1/8 inches on the center stand to closer to 7/8 inches on the side stand; adjusted the chain again by turning the adj screws inward just a bit to give more slack and called it good.