I am glad you emphasise that the bike should remain on sidestand, doing it on the centerstand can be disastrous as you over tighten the chain which can cause the bearing in Your gearbox to fail or the chain snaps and wrecks your crank cases.
Hi, you count length of 9 links wrong, actually. Starting pin is not "1", but "0". You count 9 pins, but by manual you should count 9 LINKS (not pins) and this is 10 pins (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9). Take an intent look at picture in the manual. So you measured 8 links, instead of 9. And if your 8 links was 5 inches, then 9 would be ~ 5.63". So your chain is almost dead. Other than that, great video!
And it is interesting, that in my manual for 2014 f800gs picture with chain and numbers is different. It has rivets counted from 0 to 9. And i found pdf manual for 2016 GS, and this picture has counting from 1 to 10 :) So, I think I'm right with what I wrote above.
Hi Albe, one thing you should always do when measuring chain tension is to check for tight spots on the chain which can happen as a chain wears. The chain tension measurement should always done at the tightest spot..
Soooo. I took the BMW maintenance course where I bought the bike. It was basically a morning class. I left still not knowing how exactly to adjust the chain. Nice video. Personally I loved the intro. Thank you, Thank you. Just did a fuel pump and filter in my 2014. Easy peasy, now for the chain.
Thanks Albe, Just got my bike back today from some new tires and found that my chain only has 15cm give. I am going on a 10 days ride tomorrow so better get that chain sorted out today. Thanks for your video which helps alot. Gracias.
Albe, your videos encouraged me to make my own maintenance instead of paying shitloads (sorry for my French) of money to the service. Thanks a lot man!
I used a motion Pro chain alignment tool after removing chain guard and the adjustment marks were off almost 2 mm on one side ! Cheap insurance to make sure that wheel is straight and tracks straight
When you mention it has to be the same left and right, it would be good to see what that looks like. But this looks great. I'm really pleased you made this video.
Dear Albe, today I have been struggling to measure the wear of the chain of my F800GS of 2016, following your video and maintenance manual, the manual begins by saying that the distance between 9 rivets with the chain tensioned must be measured, but then in the drawing below it says that the measurement is made between 10 rivets and that it should not be greater than 144.30 mm, then I have the doubt if there are 10 or 9 rivets ?
+Jorge Perez I looked over the maintenance manual and in multiple occasions refers to 9 rivets, I can't find where it says 10 rivets, unless the 2016 model manual changed that. I would think that your bike being so new shouldn't have any stretched chain problems, maybe the chain is not tensioned properly. Let me know.
Hello Albe, thank you for your response, well my bike is new but has 37,000 miles, I travel to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska from Mexico City and back last July 2017, in Fairbanks I had to change the chain that is installed now, this only has 9320 miles, if there is any way I can send you a picture of my maintenance manual so you can see what I mean about the 10 rivets, I live in Miami, but now I'm here in Mexico for work issues until December 2017, I plan to go to the local BMW dealer and I am going to ask him about the subject too. But if you are interested I could send you a copy of the manual sheet of my bike, maybe others also have the same dilemma of the 9 or 10 rivets
+Jorge Perez that would be great, you should be able to POST it on the albe,s adv Facebook page or instagram, @albesadv, for everyone to take a look. Thank you
Thank you for this video, it explains very well each phase to register the chain tension. The only thing that wasn't clear for me was on which gear should be engaged to measure the tension. But I've found the answer in the comments answers, that says no gear engaged during the tension measurement. Am I right? Anyway thank you for your video!!! Have a nice ride
I was going to watch this video but it’s quicker to read the manual than to sit through this painfully looooooonnnnng introduction. But thanks all the same
Hi Jerry, the 2015 manual says to measure from 0 to 9 rivets but the 2016 manual says from 1 to 10, they probably realized that 0 to 9 is confusing because people don’t usually count the 0, it’s still the same amount of links, so you are right it is 10 rivets.
Thanks for this video - I don't have that much mechanical knowledge, so I really appreciated your instructions. My bike is the BMW700GS by the way, it's pretty much the same bike, but with 19" allow wheels, not 21" spoked wheels - but I assume the chain tension (between 1.4" - 1.8" ) is pretty much the same? I'm going to check my manual anyway.
I checked both manuals for the F700GS and the F800GS - actually there is a slight difference, the F700GS is 30 - 40mm sag, and the F800GS says 35 - 45mm, I'm not sure why - maybe on account of the slightly larger wheels.
Hi Albe I just adjusted my F800GS chain after watching your video. Much more information that the DVD Service Manual. Thanks. By the way I started using the same Motorrex 15W 50 Top Speed 4T Synthetic motor oil and K&N oil filter with the nut welded on cap. Is that your normal combination for F800GS? My next project is new DID chain, sprocket set, and chain guide. By chance to do you have a video on this job? Lastly what do you think of the automatic chain tensioned gizmo by Souther California MotorWerks www.southerncaliforniamotowerks.com
+voip kam yes, that is my normal combination for most bikes I own. I don't have a video about the chain and sprocket, my chain is still in pretty good shape, if DID sends me a set maybe I'll do it just because, LOL, if you are talking about their mechanical chain tensioner for the distribution chain I've seen it and it intreagues me, I might actually do it to my bike, if you are talking about a chain tensioner for the actual final drive chain, I didn't see it.
Hello, I need your guidance in resolving a problem that I am facing related to chain adjustment. if I keep the chain within the required slack there is a chain noise under load/hard acceleration. I tried tightening the chain a bit and noise is gone.
It’s hard to say, there could be multiple reasons for the noise, a chain that is too tight is a problem a max load or if you bottom out the rear suspension because it will stretch or might snap altogether , a chain that is too slack, will slap around and possibly jump the sprocket or damage the bike. I would adjust it so it doesn’t make noise, then make a few of your friends sit on the bike until you bottom out the suspension and check that the chain still has some slack. If it’s too tense when it doesn’t make noise, then maybe it’s time to replace the chain, but it could also be a single stuck link or a million other reasons.
At low speeds, but not idle, my F800GS is making a 'tap tap' noise. I think it is the chain tapping against the plastic chain guide thing. Do you think this is normal?
Aidentified if you are sure the noise is coming from the chain area, it is possible that the chain has too much slack and it's slapping around, it's also possible that, the chain is not properly lubricated and maybe a couple of links seized with each other giving you the tap noise when they go around, also check if you have a rock stuck in the front sprocket cover. Good luck 👍🏼
Hi my chain makes exactly the same tap-tap noise, under those same conditions, I have disassembled the rear wheel, I have checked and I do not find the cause, I would appreciate any tip .. greetings Jorge
Hello thanks for your videos áre very helpfull, Clanking noise from my bike as well, the chain is well lubricated and with the correct sag by the way the bike just went 1000 KMS service and the dealer said is normal :-\ I'm quite concerned with this annoying noise, thanks i'm advancr for any advise on this..
Also check if the noise is coming from the rear of the engine, the F800GS cam chain tensioner is notorious for being sloppy and making a clanking or tapping noise
Thank you! Quick answer :) I hav pulled back the big one, one trace in both sides and then assured that the small screw is near the part - understand? ( bad english)
Ciao Albe, ho notato che la mia catena è ovalizzata nel senso che ha alcuni punti piu alti e alcuni piu bassi, sapresti come aiutarmi nella misurazione? Sei un grande grazie!
Dimmi di più, non sono sicuro di aver capito il problema, se puoi fai una foto e postala su i miei social, Facebook page o instagram with the #albesadv
Se è ruggine probabilmente no, se sono solo sporche è possibile, prova a lasciare la catena a bagno in un po' di benzina e vedi se si sgrippano, dopo di che gli dai una bella lubricata. Fammi sapere
Pierre amico mio, you are lucky, the 1200GSA is a great bike, a little on the heavy side for what I would like to do with it, but never the less a great bike.
Yeah. I actually loved the 1200GSA for a lot of reasons. But at some point, all that extra weight and mass started to annoy me a tad too much, and I sold it. Now, with my "little" 800GSA, I'm having a ball!
Pierre ADV yup. BMW just came out with the 2017 1200GSA Rally, which is supposed to be lighter and more off-road oriented, I wish I could get my hands on one.
Albe's Adv ah yup. Saw that. Same here, I already love the looks and color scheme of that thing. What I'm also 100% sure about, is that I'm not gonna like the price tag LOL
