How to Adjust a Motorcycle Chain on a Single Sided Swingarm

How to adjust the chain on a motorcycle equipped with a single sided swingarm, with a brief history of the Single Sided Swingarm as a bonus!
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#chainadjustment #chainadjust #motorcyclechain #singlesidedswingarm #sssa

[@thesoapster]

Having just picked up my first single-sided swingarm bike, I was curious how this actually worked. Thanks for actually showing the mechanics at play!

[@zijiechen3846]

Finding a video to adjust the chain on my cb1000r is a pain in the as*. This video is by far the BEST OF THE BEST . Really appreciate your work here.

[@pasha_houston]

wish more people would be making quality videos like this. excellent. thank you !

[@RichO1701e]

Thank you!! As a rank amateur with limited ability and even less patience, this video is exactly what I needed to know to adjust my VFR800 chain.

[@XRedJar]

Really good video!! I have a 2015 VFR800 and knowing the history of the single sided swingarm is pretty cool.

[@CanyonChasers]

Glad you liked it - It was fun doing the research for that bit. :)

[@JQiRamos]

Best video around this topic so far!!!!

[@jimc793]

Very good video. I didn’t realize that I can check my Ducati chain slack when it’s on the rear paddock stand-thought it had to be on the side stand but duh now I see that the chain is under the same tension on the rear paddock stand! Riding 57 years and still learning.

[@BroqHans]

Super slick, professional and well presented right to the point. Thanks a million!

[@chanakpugkaing]

This is amazing info. Thank you for making these videos!! I MAY have a fix for the infamous fuel sensor failure on Ducati’s; a problem that has plagued my multistrada for years. 3 different dealer installed sensors in as many years has only been a temporary solution!

[@CanyonChasers]

You do!? My MTS has been lucky to not have this problem, but I'm a rare exception..

[@Lumbago10101]

Thank you for making a very good reliable video . So glad skilled people also make DIY’s👍

[@The333]

Great video, thank you. One thing of note - on the 2018 Honda CB1000R, the adjustment is the opposite - the chain loosens by pushing on the spanner in the manner you demonstrated in your video - and tightens by pulling up on the spanner when positioned under the tightening hub. Seems odd, but yeah...

[@CanyonChasers]

Yeah it even changes from Ducati to Ducati. So much for standardization.

[@ChauToVal]

The 333 so have you ever had yours seized? If so, how did you un-seize it? Possibly, since i dont have the long spanner tool, could that be a factor that my eccentric hub not moving because pf insufficient leverage?

[@The333]

@@ChauToVal No (knock on wood), but a big factor on the CB1000R is removing the rear plate hugger and the rear wheel (I have a video for this on my channel) so you can get to it easily. The adjustment bolts must be completely loose or it won't budge (it's actually very cool that the hub tightens down so easily for safety). And yes, you will need a large spanner for sure - it locks in and rotates the hub very easily.

[@fizaraja2205]

🫡 I recently bought a cb1000r and first thing in my head was chain tightening. Thanks for explaining it so easily and making this video👍

[@CanyonChasers]

Glad it helped!

[@A_S_100]

Thanks a lot. Great video.Now I can adjust my Chain. My Bike, The Hawk Gt's identical little 400cc brother (BROS 400) has an elf single sided swing arm as well.

[@andycampsall3832]

These videos are ace for a complete novice like me thanks so much 👍

[@kevinneal1503]

Thanks. Just what I needed.

[@mason3307]

Thank you so much for this information! I just got a new cb1000r. Super helpful!!

[@faridh2999]

Great video, thanks for the history regarding single sided swing arm 👍

[@mariabutler3356]

Yes, great explainer with the very much needed extra information. Cheers

[@rochmel1409]

Thank you. Great video. Very useful especially with the wheel off for a better view. And the history was interesting too.

[@manueljimenez112]

Great video. I wish all youtube content was so succinct.

[@ev.c6]

Awesome information. Thank you.

[@kornelkovacs5662]

Great video, thank you for the info!

[@alexmorgans5635]

lol was randomly thinking and wondering how it’s done on a single swing arm lol never seen or owned one to know

[@jaromor8808]

thanks a lot, great video 👌🏻👌🏻

[@porshenn]

thanks for this video, very useful and informative!

[@TheJosa007]

About making a video about removing the chain cover? Thank you

[@TheGerry53]

thank you,,,you made that look so easy....

[@robertking1032]

For the uncommon feature of chacking the chain with somebody on the bike is just to make sure the chain is not too tight, tight chain can damage your transmission (bearings) so not very nice, be just sure and double check.

[@CanyonChasers]

This is exactly right. The whole reason for chain slack is to allow for full swingarm/suspension movement without binding the chain. If anything its better its a bit too loose than too tight.

[@JoshFeinbergmusic]

Thanks for this. Just got a cb1000r. The issue I’m having is I can’t measure the chain slack as specified in the manual (40-50mm on the bottom of the chain with bike on the side stand) bc the chain hits the swing arm before the slack is taken up when I push the chain up to measure. Any tips?

[@derekzmoto1604]

Hi! Just bought a used triumph here. I was trying to adjust my chain a few days ago and when I try to tighten its “locked” like won’t move. But I can loosen the chain and tighten it back up to that same spot. Does this mean my chain is close to be shot? Or hub needs to be lubed. It happened to be still within spec but close. Thanks and great video!

[@gg48gg]

Have you heard of any viable aftermarket handlebar options? I recently bent mine in a crash and am looking for a less expensive, and perhaps more ergonomic option. The stock bar is upwards of $180. Because of the wide control area, a Renthal or Pro Taper will not fit without custom extensions.

[@CanyonChasers]

Like, a motorcycle tube bar? Renthal and Pro Taper both sell a myriad of different handlebars in a myriad of different bends. Check any dirt bike shop so you can find one with a bend that you like. they run between $50 and $80, give or take. You can even get them in black, titanium, silver....

[@jerryx2000]

does the tyre have to be off the ground?

[@CanyonChasers]

Usually you want weight on the rear tire - your bikes owners manual will tell you the specifics for your bike.

[@Herold1977]

Excellent video .. thanks

[@patrickcallahan2885]

My bike has a single sided swing arm. It’s a 2013 CB 1000R, I typically clean and lube my chain every 500mi, and adjust it as needed. But I do have a question, my adjusting nut seems to only allow me to tighten. When I have tried to loosen (thinking I may have over tightened) my wrench just slips off? Either I bought the wrong tool ( Bike Master) maybe the Motion Pro is better? But it is a bit frustrating to use, hence maybe I don’t adjust it as often as I should? I do keep an eye on it....

[@stevegriffith7236]

Would love to see a video on valve adjustment for ducati 1199r

[@CanyonChasers]

haha. Not likely. Even we take our 4V Ducati's to the certified mechanics. :)

[@pulsarloverCG2444]

Bro what is the size of adjuster `C` Wrench. For adjusting and tightening the chain .please tell me the size bro . Thank you

[@CanyonChasers]

Bro, links to the special tool are in the description. The DSS Tool is our new favorite.

[@crispal408]

ever possible there is nothing on the Monster 1200?? can you please show us how to regulate a chain on the Ducati Monster 1200? Valve adjustment??Oil change? aHow to change clatch liquid or bleed brakes??Thanks

[@CanyonChasers]

It's effectively the same on all Ducati's. Watch any of our video's on the subject and we show you how to do most those things.

[@jaimeguereca2177]

Great video. Thanks.

[@anthonyianni7949]

Can you post a video of a 999 with 848 single swing arm conversion

[@CanyonChasers]

Haha. Probably not. The swingarm on the 999 was way ahead of it's time.

[@xlargest]

I have a Triumph Daytona 2002 Single Sided swing arm, can I adjust the chain with the rear tire on or off the ground? Does it matter?

[@CanyonChasers]

It's just easier with it off the ground.

[@robertbotta6536]

So good. Thanks.

[@chancejanociak1279]

What if I was loosening the chain and I pushed too far and it began to get tighter? Is the bearing toast!! What do I do!

[@CanyonChasers]

It's fine. It just moves in a circle. Some bikes have stops to prevent full rotation, others don't. On older Honda's race bikes, we'd rotate them 180 degree's to put the spindle on the bottom of the rotation to effectively change the bikes rear ride height. But you probably want to put it back where it came from the factory to make sure the bike handles the same.

[@christiandupree8963]

My '01 Speed triple has a chain adjuster that seems to be jammed or seized, and no amount of force seems to move it. The bike is jacked so the rear wheel is lifted. I just rebuilt the bike, but nothing rear of the gas tank had any damage from the accident whatsoever, so it's not that. Thoughts?

[@CanyonChasers]

It's almost 20-years old. My first suspicion is that it's just seized. Which is not uncommon. You'll need to get everything loose, soak it with penetrating oil and slowly work everything apart. Then clean and replace parts as needed.

[@ChauToVal]

CanyonChasers what kind of penetrating oil do you recommend? Also, when you say get everything loose, do you mean a full disassembly of the bearing / hub? Seems a bit hard since some bikes dont have a center stand. Couldn’t i use a longer spanner tool for more leverage?

[@CanyonChasers]

Everything loose the bolts required to rotate the eccentric. Any penetrating oil will work, but you have to let it soak, sometimes for a day or more, reapplying as necessary.

[@ChauToVal]

CanyonChasers yeah ouch for me. Seems when i removed the bearing pincher bolt and then tried installing it, i stripped the threads in the hole. So now i have it at a “tap and die” shop.

[@jordanlee5002]

All sounds easy until you look at the right side of some bikes and realise you need remove the exhaust everytime you do a wheel change. Also when removing the pinch bolts, back them both off a small amount at a time otherwise you'll overload and stress the aluminium swingarm, the same as you mentioned for install

[@traianima]

tank you

[@SAXONWARLORD1000AD]

MOTION PRO does NOT have this tool on their website and i called them also to check - NOTHING

[@Jaxxo11]

I got mine from a manufacturer called motomfg. Pretty good tool