Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

just bought my bike and this is my first. My dad told me I have to lube my chain once a week and never said anything about cleaning it, and I would like a second opinion. All I have for my chain right now is a can of jp1 blue label. Is this going to be okay for my chain, do I need anything else? How often should I clean and lube it.

Also I was wondering if there is any particular reason that I havent seen a single gsx650f with vance and hines exhaust other than mine?
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f22/c ... 010004.jpg

to clean chain you need, for example, WD40, but try to find something special for chain. you need to clean it each time after rain, or each time after 600 km

By the way - nice chose

it looks like the side of my chain is a bit surface rusted, but the inside looks fine. I always soak my bicycle chains in degreaser then put them back on and re lube them. Can I do the same thing here to get it clean?

The easiest way to clean your chain is with a rag, a toothbrush, and kerosene. Don't use harsh solvents, because they can ruin the O-Rings, Kerosene is good for your O-rings. Kerosene can be found at any department store, usually in the camping section.
When picking a lube, make sure it's also O-ring safe... this is key.

I clean & lube mine regularly... every 500k or so... more if it gets wet. It's best to lube after riding when the chain is still warm, it allows the lube to creep into the O-rings.

You need to consider the fact that your 650F chain has rubber O-Rings between the links to retain lubrication. Some solvents will damage or even destroy these O-Rings. So whatever you use, make sure it is safe for O-Ring chains.

Personally I have never cleaned the chain on my 650F and I am not convinced that cleaning it actually achieves anything other than making it look nice. I only lubricate it maybe 4 times a year using aerosol motorcycle chain lube, though I am quite thorough. I also adjust the tension with the same frequency. I have 24,000km on my bike at present (averaging about 200km per week) and the stock chain shows no wear or need to replace.

I will probably get flamed for saying this, but everyone seems to clean, lube and tension their chain more often than I change my underwear but I honestly have never needed to be so meticulous on any bike I have owned, and the only chain I have ever had to replace was on a CB250 that didnt have O-Rings (I tend to sell my bikes when they have about 30,000km on them...)

well considering that i am not the first owner, what signs of chain wear should I look for, and how do I make sure it has the proper tension.

I clean my chain twice in one year. with a ODO of 15000km / year
I bought a KETTENMAX (http://www.louis.de) which is a little box, with toothbrushes inside.



When connecting a little hose, you can add solvent, and all old grease, dirt ... will be flushed away.
Respray the chain, and you're good to go.
In Summer, it could take 3 or 6 weeks, before respraying , in the fall I respray every week, sometimes with heavy rain every other day



this one has done 14000km, and starts to rattle, make noise.

Noise and vibration in the foodpegs are the best indicators for changing chain and sprockets.
When you replace the set, you can upgrade from O-ring to X-ring chain.

The owners manual recommends using kerosene, and cleaning it every 600 miles I believe, or when it looks grungy. Easy to clean on a center stand, but be careful you don't get "lazy" and start the bike, put in gear so the chain is moving. Move it manually, and still keep your fingers away from the back sprocket. Also easy to get rags caught in it. I use a product called the grunge brush, along with kerosene. Kerosene does lube it. It you want to add lube then your can of PJ1 is fine, but I'm sure you'll find all sorts of opinions here on auto lubers, chain wax, etc. You need to decide what is best. This is the first bike with a chain I've had since 1978, going to shaft and belt drives that don't need to be cleaned. Takes more time to pour a small amount of kerosene into a pan than to clean the chain. You can also get a good look at the rear sprocket for bent or worn teethe, and see if your chain is adjusted (should be checked off the center stand). Good luck

While we are on the subject of chain cleaning, how often (if at all) do you take the front sprocket cover off and clean the front sprocket? I have 13000km and have tried to take the cover off but the bolts must have thread lock on them and I am afraid I am going to strip the bolts, so I may have to have the dealer clean the sprocket. Anyone have trouble getting the cover off?

Good question! The screws are a little snug but do come out. However, when I took off the cover there was something else in the way that did not allow access to the sprocket. Not sure what it was, others of knowledge here may be able to tell me.

As for cleaning, I use kerosene and a toothbrush, dry with a rag and lube with a spray lube for motorcycle chains with orings, sorry but don't have the name of the lube on hand right now.

anyone mind telling me how I can take the chain and sprockets off?

good video, learn, easy. I use Motul road lube and Motul chain cleaner - easy little nozzle for aim. 1000km's or so. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSGEzbDxKY

Page 441 is the beginning of the section in the service manual that deals with the chain and sprockets. http://www.mediafire.com/file/zztznvzam ... 73-03E.pdf

You're going to need two torque wrenches, a 1/2" drive and a 3/8" drive. Also, a center stand or paddock stand, prefferably the paddock stand, and you're going to have to understand how to properly use those torque wrenches. Do not attempt to do this type of work with the bike on the side stand.

Search this forum about changing the front sprocket to a 16 tooth, someone posted a really good summary of how to get to it. I think it may be under the modification discussion, but look around. They had pictures of pulling off the covers on the very similar GS1250, and step by step instructions.

For this info I use an old pc/laptop in the shed and read the pdf with it.
Also I have a pocket pc that contains adobe pocket pc pdf to read the pdf on route,and it is used for navigation.
Last year they stole my zx14 and the old computer and thanks to that old pc I know who did it (guys from suriname) and I now have all his login credentials/social network/home adress, the police like it too.

-I found out that they use paper and pizza delivery to find new bikes.
-They use the pc and google maps to look for getaway routes.
-I have one of them on video survaillance checking a bike in my street,he comes along on a bicycle and turns around when he spots the bike, so another bike on the list to steal lateron.
-they ask eachother for bikes to steal and go out at around 1:00 at night stealing.
-They have plenty of time to spot your bike, just wait in a car, smoke some weed and when you come along the game starts, it is that simple.
-80% of crime is done by people who know your area, this guy lives 2000 meters from my old house.

I am not done yet and will fix this issue later... we moved to a place without sur,--ehh thiefs.