Correct chain tension

hereiam · May 25th, 2015, 09:41 AM

Any help would be appreciated.. I don't have a manual for my 2008 Ninja 250R and while on a ride on Sunday one of the guys in the group thought my chain looked too slack. I plan on doing a 320 mile run on Saturday and definitely don't want to be riding with an incorrectly tensioned chain. How can I tell if is the right tension? TIA..

csmith12 · May 25th, 2015, 09:46 AM

This page is for a pregen, but the measures are the basically the same.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...chain_slack%3F

hereiam · May 25th, 2015, 09:51 AM

Excellent.. thanks so much csmith

Motofool · May 25th, 2015, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hereiam

......... while on a ride on Sunday one of the guys in the group thought my chain looked too slack.........

Please, read these, taken from the manual of your bike:
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...9&postcount=17

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...9&postcount=20

As you know, too much slack combined with a rear tire out of alignment can make the chain jump out of the sprocket.

hereiam · May 25th, 2015, 12:03 PM

Thanks Motofool.. I am acutely aware of how things can go wrong, wanted to arm myself with the details from the manual before I take my bike to a bike shop tomorrow for them to check it out. This chain was fitted 7000km ago and I have religiously cleaned and lubricated it - lubricated after each long ride and cleaned with Dirt Nurse and a brush every 700-1000km. I personally don't feel that it is too slack, but I have taken on board what was mentioned to me and plan to have it checked out. The comment was made when the bike was standing on its side stand but I believe that there is a certain amount of 'tightening' once there is a weight (me) on the bike. Thanks for the reply.

InvisiBill · May 25th, 2015, 03:48 PM

http://www.kawasaki.com/ServiceManuals/ChooseVehicle has an online copy of the Owner's Manual.

hereiam · May 25th, 2015, 09:17 PM

Thanks so much InvisiBill!

Motofool · May 26th, 2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hereiam

Thanks Motofool.......... Thanks for the reply.

You are welcome

May 25th, 2015, 09:41 AM	#1
hereiam ninjette.org member Name: Carol Location: Cape Town Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1996 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 30	Correct chain tension Any help would be appreciated.. I don't have a manual for my 2008 Ninja 250R and while on a ride on Sunday one of the guys in the group thought my chain looked too slack. I plan on doing a 320 mile run on Saturday and definitely don't want to be riding with an incorrectly tensioned chain. How can I tell if is the right tension? TIA..

May 25th, 2015, 09:46 AM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	This page is for a pregen, but the measures are the basically the same. http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...chain_slack%3F __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 25th, 2015, 03:48 PM	#6
InvisiBill EX500 full of EX250 parts Name: Bill Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Aug '15	http://www.kawasaki.com/ServiceManuals/ChooseVehicle has an online copy of the Owner's Manual. __________________________________________________ * Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *

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May 25th, 2015, 09:51 AM	#3
hereiam ninjette.org member Name: Carol Location: Cape Town Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1996 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 30	Excellent.. thanks so much csmith

May 25th, 2015, 12:03 PM	#5
hereiam ninjette.org member Name: Carol Location: Cape Town Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1996 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 30	Thanks Motofool.. I am acutely aware of how things can go wrong, wanted to arm myself with the details from the manual before I take my bike to a bike shop tomorrow for them to check it out. This chain was fitted 7000km ago and I have religiously cleaned and lubricated it - lubricated after each long ride and cleaned with Dirt Nurse and a brush every 700-1000km. I personally don't feel that it is too slack, but I have taken on board what was mentioned to me and plan to have it checked out. The comment was made when the bike was standing on its side stand but I believe that there is a certain amount of 'tightening' once there is a weight (me) on the bike. Thanks for the reply.

May 25th, 2015, 09:17 PM	#7
hereiam ninjette.org member Name: Carol Location: Cape Town Join Date: Jul 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1996 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 30	Thanks so much InvisiBill!