Alvina Mitchell, a reputable tax practitioner in Lancaster, California, provides tax planning, filing, and preparation services to clients through Mitchell Tax Professionals. When she’s not working, Alvina Mitchell loves riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. She has been riding for over two decades and spends much of her spare time on her 2004 Road King, which she renamed Road Queen.
One of the basic motorcycle parts that needs routine maintenance is the chain. The chain on a motorcycle is responsible for transferring power from the transmission to the back tire. It curves around sprockets in the front and back of the bike and is held in place by the teeth of each sprocket.
To ensure proper operation, motorcycle chains must be cleaned regularly. This removes grease and other dirt that may prevent the chain from moving as smoothly as it needs to, or cause it to wear down faster. In addition to cleaning the chain, riders must keep it well lubricated and adjust it every once in a while. Without lubrication and adjustment, motorcycle chains often wear unevenly and even lock up.
Beyond this, motorcycle chains must be inspected to ensure they are not too worn to function. Most chains last about 40,000 miles or more and can be easily checked while still on the sprockets. At the rear sprocket, riders should grab the chain and try pulling it. If it pulls at least ¼-inch away from the sprocket, it must be replaced.
Riders can also check how worn the chain is by measuring its current length and comparing that to its original length. Chains that have grown in length by at least 2.5 percent need replacing.
