how long does a chain last?
how do i know when it is about to go or do i just wait for it to blow?

I am just asking cause I regularly lube my chain and have about 21k, dont think i have anything to worry about cause it doesnt make any wierd noises or give any indication that it would be going out. Thanks for any info.

 

Are you saying that you have 21k miles on your current chain?[sm=jawdrop.gif] If so, I'm no expert, but I'd say it's time for a new one. And don't ride it until it breaks. I don't know if you've heard stories about that happening to people but from what I hear it never turns outgood, for the bike or the rider. Also if you change your chain think about changing your sprockets along with it.

 

There's a couple ways to check, if your929 is completely stock there'san alignment stickerat the rear axlethat has an indicator tellingyou if you've exceeded spec.

I prefer the way a mechanic taught me long ago,at the rear sprocket grab the chain and pull away from the bike. If you see any significant daylight between the chain and the sprocket it's worn enough to replace.

 

Wiggle the rollers in between the links. If there's any, and I mean any slack between the roller and the seal rings, then it's time to replace the chain. IMHO this is the best method..

 

21000 miles on a stock chain? you need a new chain, no doubt about it.

 

i am a larger person(250+) and i go through roughly a chain a season mostly i do a lot of clutching and it takes a lot for me to get the bike up in 2nd and 3rd . but anyway just a few weeks ago i had a chain break on me luckily my license plate holder(around sprocket) stoppeed the chain from comming up and doing any damage

 

i bought the bike in august of 05. had about 15k when i took it home. I dont stunt with it, mainly ride to work and back but do the occasional trip to canyons. Why change the sprockets? Is it important to do that as well? Sorry for asking questions that may seem like common sense but i dont know much about the mechanics of bikes just love to ride.

 

Wow......you guys are worried about a chain because of the miles on it? My 900RR made it 24k before I had to put a new one on it and my 1000 just got changed at 25k. Clean it and lube it on a regular basis and it will last for a VERY long time. I've never had a stretching problem, it's usually a roller problem. Both of mine that I've had to replace ended up binding as a reason I got rid of them. They would work good after a lube job for about 300 miles and then the rollers would start sticking and getting wadded up..........that's how I know it's time for a new one. They bind.....as in when the links are on the bottom of the swing arm....the look like they dont lay flat anymore...........but it has never occurred for me until generally after the 22k mark. The pulling away from the sprocket is another way to see how the chain is but like I said, it never had a problem there, they just quit rolling correctly.

I have NO idea how in the hell you go through a chain a year..........running it too tight is a great way to kill a chain, as is not changing the sprockets at the same time. New chain = new sprockets front and rear!!And vise verse.

 

thanks for the input guys,definitely will be changing the sprokets as well.

One last, ok couplequestions though......
I want to keep the sprockets the same as stock, how many teeth do the factory sprockets have?

What chain and sprocket sets should I be considering?

 

16/43 is stock.....go 16/45 or 46 and you will enjoy it much more. You could probably get away with a 15/43 520 conversion and like it very much.

DID is the chain I've always used and used both Vortex and AFAM sprockets and like both.