Touring - Chain adjusting

[Southend65]

Brethren
I’m off on a Euro trip two up with luggage, in a week or two and will be covering c2500 miles, 1st distance tour on a bike with a chain – My question is to those who have gone touring and covered some miles. Did you have to adjust the chain?
My bike’s a 22 done under 2000 miles, it’s a standard chain and to be fare I’ve adjusted it once and that was more out of sympathy rather than necessity, I may have answered my own question
I will take a small tin of lube with me & some oil for the chain 😃
Cheers

[wessie]

No, not on any trip on my 2016 XR. Longest one was last year to Pyrenees & Picos. That was just after fitting a new chain & sprockets though. Apart from when the original chain was near the end of life, my XR's chain was only adjusted when changing tyres, so about 3500-4000 miles with S21 tyres.

I carried the correct size socket under the seat on trips away and the tool kit had the locknut spanner. I figured if the chain did need adjustment, I could borrow a half inch socket wrench from any workshop. I've never been that worried about "correct torque" for an axle nut! A decent grunt or two has always worked.

[Southend65]

Appreciate the knowledge Wessie - Particularly the just taking the right size socket and borrowing a ratchet if need be - Cheers

[Wildhaus]

I toured from the UK to the Czech Republic and back this summer, starting off when my 2023 XR had just 645miles under its wheels from new - so running-in service done at which I don't know if the chain was adjusted, but from what I write, I doubt it. When I returned home it was 3,050 miles later - and the chain was still perfectly tensioned. I cleaned and lubed it for the first time and the bike is now 500 miles later and I have still not adjusted it.

My bike has the M-package that comes with the endurance chain made by Regina and whilst I know this doesn't mean no maintenance, it is certainly very, very low maintenance. The bike was ridden extensively in foul weather, with continual rain for miles on end and gritty roads, yet still no stretch.
To say I am impressed is an understatement. The embedded photo is from when I arrived home.

Edited to add that I was two-up with my teenage son, plus fully loaded panniers and top box.  We calculate that the all up weight was easily 400 Kg.  We also didn't spare the beans when it was safe to do so, including a throttle-pinned run all the way up to 150mph as confirmed by the datatool GPS tracking app.  As reported, still no stretch.

Further edited to add that I see you have the standard chain.  I'd still expect it to be high quality and in your shoes would simply take a can of lube for peace of mind, and if the chain needs adjusting ask a garage (not just a motorcycle garage) if you can borrow a 34mm socket and 125NM-capable torque wrench (correct torque for a '22).  I used this approach on the same basic tour with my 1998 Honda Hornet last year.   No probs.


Enjoy your tour on your epic bike!

[peterwbaker1100]

As others said you should be fine, provided you are not a wheelie wizard:-). I'm 2000 miles into a 4K trip and everything looks good!  I took the precaution of taking chain cleaner/lube with me as the weather was looking bloody awful...   I'm confident no adjustment needed until home again!  Peter

[RyanGTXR]

I'm still contemplating going somewhere next week . . . . . . . . .
Each time I go away I take basic tools with me including what is required for chain tension. Doesn't take much room for a socket, ratchet and couple small spanners . . . . . (have more than 2 spanners in tool kit on bike at all times anyway, just add socket/ratchet if going long distance, just in case)
And a lot will depend how you ride too, also weather . .(rain/water will get to chains more than nice dry sunshine)

[Salem]

Originally Posted by Wildhaus

When I returned home it was 3,050 miles later - and the chain was still perfectly tensioned. I cleaned and lubed it for the first time and the bike is now 500 miles later and I have still not adjusted it.

I think you posted a pic of your cleaned chain. My chain does not look like that after 3000km, and I clean it about every 3-4k. M-chain has no effect on the outside of the outside links
edit 3000mls, nearly 5000k

[Wildhaus]

I presume that is humour 

[esso_sa]

Originally Posted by Southend65

Brethren
I’m off on a Euro trip two up with luggage, in a week or two and will be covering c2500 miles, 1st distance tour on a bike with a chain – My question is to those who have gone touring and covered some miles. Did you have to adjust the chain?
My bike’s a 22 done under 2000 miles, it’s a standard chain and to be fare I’ve adjusted it once and that was more out of sympathy rather than necessity, I may have answered my own question
I will take a small tin of lube with me & some oil for the chain 😃
Cheers

Went to the Italian Alps 2 weeks ago. With pillion and 3 full cases, so our total weight was probably around 400 kg’s. The Alps are really difficult for the chain, especially when you are heavy like I was. Lots of hard acceleration, braking and downshifting, especially from 2nd to 1st when approaching the tight hairpins. So I carried a socket and wrench with me, just in case, but the adjustment wasn’t necessary. Covered 3000 km’s, of which about a 1000 in the rain. No stretch at all
I have DID ZVM-X chain on the bike

[Southend65]

Thank you all for your confidence inspiring replies, much appreciated