Just bought this same model and adjusted the chain and suspension. I agree 100% with your chain advice, I thought my chain was ridiculously tight from new. Thanks for posting, great how to’s, suspension video was excellent!
My chain was also set like a guitar string from the dealer. I now have it at one inch. I noticed the chain has a lot of downwards slack too if you push down on it firmly, so I have it set to where it’s total range is one inch, so it roughly pushes down half an inch and pushes up half an inch
I got myself a tool that goes over the top of the chain for alignment. I highly advise anyone who doesn't have one to get one. It makes the alignment super easy!
Go with the manual specs, try the upper limit (15mm) if its does not seem right to you. Even Yamaha confirmed its correct, dont try to argue with the maker :). Also, running Yamaha specs slack makes the bike feels much better when on/off throttle, contribute better to the bike hooligan nature :)
@@shaundisch2020 my chain did go out a lot sooner. I had to replace the whole final drive when the bike was around 18k km when it started making very weird noise
@donkeizluv Mine is at 15k miles and the chain and sprockets look great. Have it at 20mm, measured without pushing the chain very hard so maybe more like 25mm. Local Yami shop mechanics told me 25-35mm.
Thanks for the very helpful video on the process! It's funny to read in the comments at the people that think manufacturers are omnipotent. Manufactures make machines for a purpose and not universally perfect ones at that. Its not wrong to want to change a machines purpose (mod/tune it) and manufactures are most definitely not right by default.
Everybody struggling to loosen the axle nut with a wrench: get a breaker bar. I had the struggle too, went and bought an 18" breaker bar, then the axle nut came loose very easily.
Given the owners manual for our bikes (I have the same one was you) states 0.20 to 0.59 inches for the slack, how is given it 1.0 inches of slack safe given manufactures specs.. I really respect your knowledge and video's and I'm seeking clarity.
Sometimes there are certain manufacturer specs that are simply a poor choice proven by actual use. This is one of them. The book spec for these models is smaller than the vast majority of all the other bike out there over decades.
If you know anything about how that front sprocket drive shaft ( that transfers power through the gearbox) you would realize that bearing the shaft runs on cannot take the tension a tight chain causes. When the rear wheel rises with the compression of the rear shock the chain tightens further. In 57 years of riding/maintaining motorbikes I have never heard of a chain that tight. Forget the manual and use your head.
Thanks for the video... My new TST block is at 7.2mm length (inside the nuts) and the right side is at 10.2mm so I really need to adjust the left block LOL chain is making a lot of noise
The nut is on the left side because of the left side mudguard? Is there any diffrecene where is the nut? I bought givi left side mudguard, but left the bolt on the right side, is that wrong?
so, apparently all these fz-09 chains come tight. I just bought a new one last week and mine was very tight as well. the specs are (0..20-0.59 in) as you probably know. I. agree that seems tight, but how do you decide an inch is better vs. the official specs from Yamaha?
Stick with the manual measurements Mike... they design it that way and I have several friends who own MT-09s and I myself have one also and have been using OEM specs since and no problems as one would expect. Also, no recalls have been made in 7 years...
Go with the manual, even Yamaha confirmed its correct, dont try to argue with the maker :). Also, running Yamaha specs slack (15mm) makes the bike feels much better when on/off throttle, contribute better to the bike hooligan nature :)
You said in this video or another that the factory spec for front tire pressure was too low at 36 psi. Why do you say that? Everything else I've read from other riders is that the factory pressure spec is too high, particularly for best traction. Good for tire life and economy, but not as good if you like to ride spirited in the twisties. You're the first I've ever heard say it wasn't high enough.
Yeah 108 ft lbs is too high. My R1 is 80 so that’s what i go with on my fz09. Many people including myself have stripped the factory axle blocks by going with the factory torque spec. I went with Gilles tooling chain adjusters and 80 ft lbs
My 18' my 09 is brand new got it last week. I'm hearing a rapid clicking noise coming from the chain. I know some noise is normal. Could this be from being to loose?
Hi Bryan, first of all thank you for all your videos. In your opinion, is it correct to adjust the slack only using the side stand? I usually do the same procedure that you do in this video, but when I'm out for a long journey, with a motorbike that has only the side stand, I am always in doubt between adjusting the slack on the side stand or leave it as is.
I replaced my chain with a brand new chain and sprocket kit and the tick marks are equal on both sides.BUT my chain is on the loose side and the reading is not marking on the “new chain” or blue mark. It’s reading near the “replace chain” mark. WHY? It’s a brand new kit. Please help.
Old comment but if it might help anybody else: I was struggling to undo it with a socket wrench. Bought an 18" breaker bar, came loose very easily. That's what you need
Hi, hope you can answer this question for me. I have a 2019 MT-09 with 8.4k miles on it. Just did the oil change (same oil as previous oil changes), and adjusted the chain. My chain has about 0.75in play, so not very tight. I aligned the wheel properly, matches measurements on both sides and even used a chain aligner tool, everything is as straight as can be. I took the bike for a test drive, and now on deceleration (no matter what gear, or neutral, or in gear with clutch pressed) the bike makes this strange sound.... It's hard to describe it but sounds something like "Wwwhhhrrr". And it only happens on deceleration between about 28mph to 20mph and then stops. Doesnt make this noise on acceleration... Only deceleration and doesnt matter if you are in gear or not. I'm super confused what it could be.. Any thought?
Also, the manual also shows to measure the chain slack from its highest position pushing it upwards to its lowest position pushing it downward? Can you clarify? Thank you
There is a discussion about chain slack in germany too. Yamaha officials in germany and yamaha engineers das that the tight slack Causes no damage ! Nevertheless i am operating mine with 25mm to30mm roughly 1 inch. It works fine. My opinion is that the nut of the rear axle is with 150nm tightened too much. I do around 120nm.
