Ball in deep + lube. Now snatch has gone!

[SA14]

Massive improvement today!

Shoved a nice ball bearing into my P.A.I.R.S. airbox tube plus super cleaned and lubed my chain and just went for a quick spin around the local streets. I do tend to exaggerate a tad (largely for my own amusement) but I'm tellin' ya...feels totally smoother and different. Far more pleasant to ride.

My chain was making crunching sounds before I started. I totally cleaned it - almost to the level of polish then gently washed it out with water then wiped it down with microfibre cloths until the cloths were clean. Even got into the rear sprocket and wiped that down both across the teeth and in the "U"s until all noise was totally gone then lubed it and now it has the great sound you've all described...rtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrt.

Even found some numbers on the chain but couldn't find the exact type. Got to run off now but I can really feel the difference. Smooth in all gears (only got to 4th), tried to power on and off (reasonably) suddenly in all gears (even 1st) and it felt like a bike should, not snatchy at all.

I'd be happy to declare almost all snatch has gone - further testing required. Going for a ride around the city tonight.

Thanks to y'all for your help and ideas.

P.S. These photos are before the lube but the lube feels waxy and not oily. Makes the right sounds with only a very slight whoosh whoosh which I think is the rear pads just barely touching the disc. Disc might have a very light minute warp - how normal is that? It's very slight.

[KiwiCol]

That's a very clean chain n sprocket SA14.

[SA14]

That's a very clean chain n sprocket SA14.

Thanks, because I'm a bit nervous of doing it right I go a little overboard. Now, according to advice on here, I won't have to clean it for a while; just lube often. I'm going to aim for every tank or two.

When I got the bike, the chain was so dirty i didn't even know it was gold!

[grog]

Very clean Mate👍  My chain schedule, riding in clean conditions, clean n lube, mainly when i feel like it, distance wise, around 1500 to 2000ks. I always do both, just me.A dusty, muddy or wet ride, i try to do it asap. Seems to work.

[SA14]

Very clean Mate👍  My chain schedule, riding in clean conditions, clean n lube, mainly when i feel like it, distance wise, around 1500 to 2000ks. I always do both, just me.A dusty, muddy or wet ride, i try to do it asap. Seems to work.

Thanks man, you've been very helpful along the way. I'm out restoring headlights at the moment but now wish I was riding what to me feels like a smooth and growly killer bike.

Is that correct? 😉

[grog]

Take the killer bit out, we dont need that. 🙏 They are brilliant bike, sort out what you like/ need, check all the adjustments, totally what makes it good. After that just ride, enjoy.Basic maintenance from then on.  Mine never ceases to amaze me, just never gets old. Have you heard the description from old org. Magic Carpet Ride with Rocket Up Its Arse. Ive always liked that. Might look into a shirt with that printed.

[Kiwifruit]

Baz, just a final check on your chain. When you take the bike off its centerstand and sit on the bike the chain gets tighter. Get someone to sit on the bike with their feet just touching the ground then double check you have the correct freeplay.
Same goes for your engine oil level. Filling to the top mark while on the centerstand will put the oil level above it when both wheels are on the ground.
Pleased you are enjoying you bike now 

[SA14]

Take the killer bit out, we dont need that. %uD83D%uDE4F They are brilliant bike, sort out what you like/ need, check all the adjustments, totally what makes it good. After that just ride, enjoy.Basic maintenance from then on.  Mine never ceases to amaze me, just never gets old. Have you heard the description from old org. Magic Carpet Ride with Rocket Up Its Arse. Ive always liked that. Might look into a shirt with that printed.

Haha, in my speak that means "very very good" but I also get very serious when riding it because it can also be a literal description. Not in my plans. I was overtaken by a scooter the other day...lol I was fine with that. I do my thing, he can do his thing. He was also wearing thongs, a t-shirt and was wearing a jaw-grinder. I do none of those things.

Baz, just a final check on your chain. When you take the bike off its centerstand and sit on the bike the chain gets tighter. Get someone to sit on the bike with their feet just touching the ground then double check you have the correct freeplay.

Same goes for your engine oil level. Filling to the top mark while on the centerstand will put the oil level above it when both wheels are on the ground.

Pleased you are enjoying you bike now 

Thanks, must admit part of that enjoyment is reporting back to you guys and asking questions despite the odd spear being chucked at me for being such a noob.

Oil window has a nice bubble at the top when on the centre stand (no good?) and the chain is about 30mm play on the centre stand as well. I literally have no one here to sit on the bike. Spose I could ask my neighbour. They wave at me periodically. But good to know. Might meet another biker out on the road at a coffee stop one day. Maybe tomorrow because I'm heading out on a nice long ride again.

Just on the P.A.I.R.S. disablement, the bike feels smoother but I even got a little pop. Exhaust seems "growlier". Could be my imagination and I'm mindful of confirmational bias but I was not really keen to lose the popping but this new "sound" unless it's all in my head kind of makes up for it. In any case, it's a really nice bike that acts and sounds like the big-blockness that it is.

Going out for a blast tonight as well after dinner. Warmer weather has arrived this week. 

[SA14]

I've tried to look up the chain using the numbers that are on the links but not coming up with anything.

Looking here http://global.rk-japan.co.jp but neither 50, GSV3 nor 2678 are coming up anywhere. I'm pretty good at searching usually. Maybe superseded? You guys who know the RK chains, which is the model number? RK are good chains...no?

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Hi SA14, RK chains are pretty good, as long as its a 530 series should be fine .  Yours looks pretty clean, you've reminded me to do mine now. 

A good check for correct chain tension is when on the side stand you have about 20mm play.  I pick the approximate centre between sprockets and hold a steel rule  from the swing arm down. Push the chain up, if its correct, you should be able to push up about 20mm. 

At least that's how I check mine and my chain has done at least 8000km with no worries.

[SA14]

Hi SA14, RK chains are pretty good, as long as its a 530 series should be fine .  Yours looks pretty clean, you've reminded me to do mine now. 

A good check for correct chain tension is when on the side stand you have about 20mm play.  I pick the approximate centre between sprockets and hold a steel rule  from the swing arm down. Push the chain up, if its correct, you should be able to push up about 20mm. 

At least that's how I check mine and my chain has done at least 8000km with no worries.

Thanks, I can't see any other numbers on the chain so I'm not sure what series I have. I'm not a thrasher though so it should be ok. No idea how long it's been on there though. Bike has 41,000kms (25,500 miles). I'll measure it on the side stand in the morning. It doesn't seem to have any tight spots though and measures about 30mm at the centre point on the centre stand and judging from today's quick ride it's behaving fine. If it's still 30mm on the side stand tomorrow I'll nip it up a smidge before heading off.

Thanks for the advice.

[grog]

Bike mechanic told me, always keep chain middle of adjustment, not tightest. He said hed done so many gearboxes from over tightened chains, loads up output bearing and stuffs them. Makes sense to me. I thought thats what was wrong with mine few years back, so noisy. Turned out a seized chain link. Chain was always looked after, cut it up and full of rust in lots of links. Never used spray chain lube again,now gear oil as ive said b4. That was RK chain but i blame the Wurth less wax lube.

[SA14]

Bike mechanic told me, always keep chain middle of adjustment, not tightest. He said hed done so many gearboxes from over tightened chains, loads up output bearing and stuffs them. Makes sense to me. I thought thats what was wrong with mine few years back, so noisy. Turned out a seized chain link. Chain was always looked after, cut it up and full of rust in lots of links. Never used spray chain lube again,now gear oil as ive said b4. That was RK chain but i blame the Wurth less wax lube.

I ended up leaving it at 30mm on the centre stand. Just got back from a 130km ride up through the twisties and there was no cluncking, chunking or snatching. As I was riding I was trying to think of a way to describe the change (since I balled up the P.A.I.R.S.) and it's "like an automatic". Shifts were smooth and fast with no jerking. As I was coming on and off the throttle mostly in 3rd and sometimes 2nd the delivery was smooth as a really smooth thing.

So you reckon the lube wasn't keeping the o-rings supple enough to hold the chain's lube in? Since you guys explained that the lube isn't actually to provide lubrication for the chain over the sprockets but to keep the o-rings from drying out I'm curious to know how much what lube we choose makes a difference. In any case, it's still sparkling clean and making that great sound.

Tomorrow I'm taking it in to Peter Hoey Racing for a basic suspension setup. These guys only do bike suspension - no mechanical, no chain lube...just bouncy bouncy. $50. Can't wait. Will report back.

[grog]

Thats a good move SA. I spent $800 on mine, forks resprung and set up, not revalved. Rears just overhauled, still stock, springs stock. Amazing compliant suspension after that. Forks took all the dive from front but way better over bumps. Best bucks ive spent. Can feel front and rear working independently.

[SA14]

Yeah, I'd like to keep it as stock as possible given the incredible performance it already has so I'd prefer to see if the stock shocks can be rebuilt (if needed) to suit me. So far the only thing I've done is check that the rear knobs all move (they did) and turned up the rear preload to maximum (due to my rhinoceritis). It took at least 16 clicks and the original owner did mostly long cruising two up so not sure what's going on there. Haven't touched the front. Peter will give me a full report.

Still got a megasoreous but not so much as last time so maybe me bum is toughening up as some people suggested it might. The evolution on this bike is progressing at a mighty speed. So happy, these would have to be the best bikes on earth. If not they certainly are to me. Loving it so much. Every ride more and more and my riding on today's road was a lot more confident than last time. I'm really growing into this amazing bike.

Not missing the snatch. Well, not this snatch anyway