Chain Slack Adjustment: Kawasaki Ninja 1000 / Z1000SX / Z1000 

That's an awesome way to adjust a chain. Wish more bikes were like this.

Jon, before loosening the pinch bolts I use a light-colored pencil to mark the "as-found" position of both eccentrics. It's a good opportunity to check them for symmetry, too. After adjustment I re-check them for symmetry. My own preference is to apply simultaneous force to both eccentrics (i.e. a pair of hex tools is needed) because this is what the Kawasaki racing team guys did back in the day!

Thanks for the guide, just adjusted my chain for the first time. I was at 6cm of slack!!!

I love these educational videos because I have the same exact bike you do. You are right to the point and have good information and clean video/audio, I really appreciate it!

Glad this exists. My 1994 Triumph Daytona 1200 has this same type of system for the back axle, noticed it had 50mm play while doing a chain cleaning today and I really wanted to see a video of these eccentric axles before trying to adjust mine.

Hi Jonathan, Thank you for making this video, I adjusted my chain today and was very excited to do it myself.

I might have missed it but you definitely should measure the slack on more than one place on the chain. If you don't - you might come for a surprise because the chain never extends equally. If you're unlucky your chain will be like a guitar string at some points when you rotate the wheel...

This is so much easier than my other sport bikes....I thought you had to remove the cotter pin and loosen the axle nut and all that. Glad I looked this up first!

Just bought a 2017 Ninja 1000 today so this video is so helpful. Thanks very much Jonathon.

Keep 'em coming Jon :-). I wish Kawasaki would fit smaller silencers for better paddock stand access, chain & brake caliper maintenance. I fitted some SP Engineering (a UK Co.) short stubby carbons which give great access, more pillion heel room and better sound.

Excellent guide video, many thanks, and so glad you didn't have any awful music playing on a loop

Just letting you know on the 2017- 18 ninja 1000 when you use motion pro slack setter tool you have to remove your muffler. It's easy only two bolts. Good videos.. Thanks😁

You make it so easy to understand ,keep up the good work .👍

Great info, found your video while searching how to adj a 2000 Triump trophy, it has the same set up.

Good video. Check mine at 400 miles. Was at 30mm(in the spec) for I left it alone. Knowing the chain will still stretch some more. I'm still enjoying my 2018 Ninja 1000. Soon I'll be setting rider sag on the suspension.

Thanks so much for the vid!! Picking up a new 2017 tomorrow. Moving up from the Ninja 400.

One of the best guides I've ever seen for anything, period as you Americans like to say :-) When I first saw these fittings I panicked, but found your video and all was well in the world again. Thank you for taking the time to produce and share such a wonderfully presented demonstration. I have subscribed and am hoping to learn more from you about this awesome bike. Have you checked out the 2020 yet? In case you're interested: Just picked up the new Ninja 1000SX (finally has the Ninja epithet here in UK/Europe) and found that the bike has a tendency to steer to the right very slightly. Though the dealer will sort when it goes back for 600 first service check, I noticed that the concentric marks were not perfectly matched. Though only a 1/7 difference, I suspect this is enough to result in the right drift. If you have a view as to the drift causes, I can say the bike is brand new, everything is stock, I have tested on positive and negative cambers, tyre pressures good, no wheel vibrations suggesting balancing correct. The thing I cannot get my head round is that if the wheels are not perfectly true, does it trigger counter-steer (or positive steer as they now like to call it) or steer in the direction of the wheels if that makes sense. I've done 250 miles since Saturday, but weather has turned here in UK, so unable to conduct any real testing again, but I hope that a minor tweak to the wheel alignment will address this issue. Thanks again. Bob

Thank you for your videos You makes my life much easier 🙂

Very clear instruction, keep the videos coming!

Thanks Jonathan, did mine this afternoon and cleaned/lubed chain while I had the tip off!

Thanks this was good help, just did my first chain adjustment!

Watching this as I'm about to do the adjustment on mine. I do have the manual but wanted the visual. One difference I noticed is that the torque spec for the pinch bolts is slightly different in my manual, which is for 2014-18 (mine is a 2014) and is 64 N-m or 47 ft-lbs.

Very clear instructions. Thanks!

Thanks so much for this, just did mine for the first time also (actually first time ever) feels good :) baby steps... Will be learning servicing next.

Once again I am doing emergency maintenance and Jonathan saves my butt lol.

Love your vids. More of you riding the Ninja would be awesome

Thank you Jonathon. All your videos very helpful

Another very helpful video. Thank you Sir!

Excellent video, Jonathan. Very helpful.

@Jonathan Long - 1:07 - that is not vertical movement, that is movement perpendicular to the chain which is not perfectly vertical.

Rear and front wheel removal video will also be helpful

Thank you. Now I can head off to Galway))

Really helpful video, easily followed, thanks.

A lot of people seem to forget is that you should adjust your chain with someone similar to your weight sitting on the bike, because it will actually tension up more with someone sitting on it and if you will over tighten it if you bring it to 25mm and then add your weight. I did this and my chain snapped by overtaking a car on a highway

So clearly explained and showed!! What's your camera that you're filming with?! Images are so clean! Thank you!!

so is this the correct way to adjust the chain? using paddle stand? can you adjust the chain slack using only the side stand? my is zx6r 2019

merci pour ta video cela ma bien aidé

Great video!!!! Def help me out!!!!! Thanks for the clear instructions!!!!!!

Hi got a 2018 Z1000sx thanks so very much for all your info on our bike.how can I get your socket/ratchet set there is nothing over here in the uk like your,love cocker.

@Jonathan Long - If there was no chain on the bike, could that adjuster spin all the way around 360 degrees? If so, why are there only hash (tick) marks only partway on that adjuster? If not, what is preventing it from spinning all the way around? Also, did you even mention to loosen the nut that holds the rear caliper to the support rod so the axle can move? What about the range of sprocket teeth adjustment allowed with that chain adjuster. From one extreme to the other (max forward vs. max backward adjustment), what is the difference in teeth allowed? 3, 4, 5...? For example, if someone has a 45 tooth rear sprocket and the rear axle is in the highest position as show in your example, but instead they decide to go with a 50 tooth rear sprocket, will that adjuster allow enough "slack" to accommodate the "extra" 5 tooth rear sprocket? Also, what if the chain is already hitting the top of the swingarm with the rear axle in the highest position and someone wants to get a larger rear sprocket not only to change the way the bike accelerates, but also to try to space the chain more away from the swingarm. In adjusting for the additional chain slack needed for the larger rear sprocket, they will lower the axle that thus negate the spacing a "fixed" height rear axle would have given them. These types of adjusters have both pros and cons.

good video

Why exactly must the slack be checked on the sidestand? And why can't there be a conversion means of setting the slack while up on spools?

thanks awesome guide helps me allot

Hi , thanks for your video! I'm italian, i'm sorry for my english.. I wolud say: in my bike, after the regolation, the marks on both sides are not exactly the same, when I adjust one side it also moves to the other. Should I try to hold one side when adjusting the other? I tried but it's hard to keep one part locked. I have a Ninja 1000 Sx (year 2020)

Wow that is a clean bike

Very good explanation and thanks for that...could you also post a video how to allign the rear wheel...?

Ok, but the manual and the shop at the dealer says to make the adjustments on BOTH sides. Could you clarify what you meant by the chain can be adjusted on one side?

Hi. Do you have a video on how to allign the back wheel? Thx!

Hi what's brand and model of your key dinamometric? Thank you

Hi Jon, you're videos are excellent and I find them really useful however I'm a bit confused is it the maximum distance between chain movement? I'm presuming you move it up and then measure from the highest point to the lowest point?

How is your chain so clean!

Another video idea is chain change and maybe sproket, spark plug change.

How much slack one inch is normal?

I'm sticking to the older models they are less complicated

If your on a long road trip with no access to a center stand...is it possible to make this adjustment on the bike's side stand or will the weight of the bike preclude the rear wheel from moving? The bike is sold as a sport touring bike but they dont make a center stand for it...ie a 3 to 4 week road trip without access to a shop could be an issue...I am looking at buying this model but that question is the hold up???

awesome vid. Does the same apply to z900??

No need for new thread lock?

Could you do a vid on rear and front wheel removal?

so easy-to-follow-video. I do have one question though...what if the notches do not align properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do we set that straight!!!????? :( Thank you in advanced Sir!

What paddock stand and spools are you using? Thanks!

Why can't all bike have their chains adjusted like this?

Just wondering, what happens when the adjuster reaches the last marking?

Do you know if this is the same procedure on the 2021 ninja 1000sx?

Nice Vid but it’s an eccentric adjuster. If it was concentric it wouldn’t move the axle.

you seriously have to use a torque wrench ? What would happen if you over tighten ?

so I just need to adjust it from one side?

So, is 56 mm too much slack? Just kidding, it's more like 60 mm. Thanks for the video.

Chain seems too tight in video

you have 190\55 190\50 ??

10lbs of pressure why do you do this

Hey man are going to adjust engine or chain ...why all of that u made it so hard operation ...

Of course the measurement will be the same on the kick stand because you have the weight of the bike on the paddock stand/bobbins. Theres no difference

With a folding stick ... I do it in 70 seconds.

"Every 600 miles or so..." Uh, oh.

I tightened mine to that spec and it’s way too tight. So tight it’s making a binding noise as I rotate the wheel. So I loosened it. Rather too loose than too tight.

Do you really need all these tools man? I could do it with my nails ...

Troppe chiacchiere e troppi scrupoli ma chiaro.

you have to check the chain slack every 600 miles ??? what a pain thats gotta be , I'm glad my bike has a drive shaft !

Wish you didn't suck at explaining this

You speak too much!!! Its explainable in 2 minutes.

You did not find the tight spot on the chain. Fail !!!! There is no need to do this on a paddock stand. You should do this adjustment on the side stand where the correct tension is measured. Double fail !!! A youtube channel does not make you a good mechanic.