Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 service guide, Checking and adjusting your motorcycle chain. 

Recently purchased my RE INT650 and these videos are super helpful even after 4 yrs!!!

Here in India, at the Authorized service center located in Hyderabad, so-called specialist technicians do spray the cleaner followed by lube in just 2 minutes. Really surprised watching you doing this chain cleaning/lubrication in a carefully detailed way. Learned the process and from now onwards I will try doing this work myself. Thank you Conclusion: What they do at the Service center here is a True shitty cleaning/lubrication.

how many viewers like myself went out half way through to check their bikes chain tension ,as someone else said your never too old to learn ,the more i see of this bike the more i like it !

Excellent stuff! Bit disconcerting though to realise that, for donkey's years i have been wrongly adjusting my chain with the bike on the mainstand... they say you learn something every day.

Superb instruction from a very knowledgeable bloke with a proper accent and the correct trousers.

Well demonstrated & that white lube is a great visual indicator 👍🏻

As always, love your videos. Might be worth mentioning that many chains have tight spots. Theoretically that shouldn't be the case...but it is. Nothing more annoying than adjusting at one point, only to find it too tight when rotating the wheel. I always rotate the wheel to find the tight spot, adjust there, and then re-check.

I was making the mistake of not putting a piece of wood under my sidestand to adjust my chain. Thank you for correcting and because of your service videos, I was able to properly work on my interceptor.

I enjoy topics such as this, for something "as simple as" chain adjustment and lube is actually very important to vehicle safety and efficiency. Now Sir, you yourself very nearly got to an idea which your excellent video has itself sparked in my humble brain. It is this; if one is very careful to measure the difference in chain slack between centre-standed and pre-loaded, then one can simply add that difference to the manufacturer spec on every subsequent occasion, whilst doing it ON the centre stand. You found it was 5mm in your case, so on the centre stand, adjust to 25-35mm. Kind regards.

As always a perfect Staurt's style vlog.... I think silkolene must start sponsoring your vlogs, you have made the brand more famous in India than their own ads... If anybody from the company silkolene watching, here is your guy...

I have been doing it wrong for years always using the center stand when adjusting and spraying the lube on the outside, many thanks for the correct method, I will use this way from now on. Cheers

Chains should be checked for tight spots before making any adjustments. A good way to check the final tension is to have someone sit on the bike when it is off the stand. This will show the true play in the chain. Lubing a chain is the most basic job to be done by a dealer when having a service, it should not be missed.

You the man! This vid is a great resource to all of us Royal bike owners and I salute you sir.

The Interceptor is ny first bike with a chain. This video is immensely helpful. Your bike chain maintenance routine is pretty much what I used to do with assembly line drive chains. I'll check mine this weekend.

I keep re-watching this video every time I need to adjust the chain on my Classic 500. Thanks, Stuart!

Thank you Stuart for your time and detailed video.

Thanks Stuart, you’re a great help. I paint the outside of one link with oil based paint then I know when it’s been all the way around. Also use paraffin and brush to clean.

Getting some 'virtual' pre ownership experience and thoroughly enjoying it. Cheers Sir. Keep em coming!

Even though I have just got the T120 I love watching all your videos Stuart and always learn something new. I have had the T120 just over 2 years and never realised that the chain is adjusted with the weight through the back wheel (just been out to re-adjust it, and it was tight!!!). So many thanks for another informative film and saving my chain 😊👍

Great needed videos. A well maintained bike by owner reassures proper working order and is a satisfying accomplishment. An unhurried job is the better, more thorough job.

I know this is an old vid but you make great DIY Vids. Thanks

Excellent video. I’m not sure how many times I’ve maintained a motorcycle chain. However. It’s always good to refresh the procedure. Stay safe and keep up the good work. 👍🏍

I have a 225 Yamaha Scorpio that is used as the intro bike for people wanting to sit their basic Skill test and must admit that I have never checked or adjusted the chain, just left it to the dealer as I did not want to stuff it up...what a waste of money, thanks Stuart, will be doing my own from now on, great easy simple instructions for those non mechanical types out there...maybe thats why I have owned so many belt and shaft drive bikes in my later years, Harleys and Honda Valkyries...Thanks again

Many Thanks for explaining and very well, how to not only clean but adjusting the chain.

Excellent guide for motorcycle service, the gentlemen’s way.

Excellent vid again there Stuart. BTW I agree with you about having the weight on the back wheel for checking the tension. It was slightly worrying though when I asked RE before seeing this vid and the answer came back to do it on a flat surface and using the centre stand. I guess to settle it one way or t'other adjust it using a paddock stand, then stick it on the centre-stand and see what the difference is. I feel an experiment coming on...... Keep up the good work, I always learn something!

Yet another informative video. One that encapsulates your many years of experience....Keep them coming sir.

Learned something new. Check the chain tension with both wheels on the ground, makes perfect sense. What I understand from your video is that I need to have a paddock stand in order to properly adjust the chain. If I don't have one I'll have to put the bike on the center stand, make a quarter turn adjustment, tighten everything up, drop it off the center stand, check the tension, then repeat as many times as necessary. Am I missing something? Without a paddock stand this has become a very laborious procedure. Clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. I am halfway to the first service (150 miles) on my new Int650. Keep up the great work!

Your ‘deep’ clean chain cleaning video on the T120 is still my go-to reference for when I do mine. Quite a few more steps than this video. I use Titanium as well.

There is a chain cleaning tip passed on to me by my Dad who bought our first Jawa way back in the early 50s after he got married while posted at Pune, Maharashtra. He often cleaned his bike chain once a month but never applied any oil or lube to it. He would say that oil and lubes attract dust.I remember as a young lad his mobike chain especially the rollers used to be sparkling and the chain used to last at least two to three sprocket set changes.I am following that procedure and only clean my Interceptor DID chain with Liqui Moly Rust Solvent.Thereafter,the chain is wiped clean with a micro fibre cloth.I am a regular listener of your blogs and would like you to try out this out if you feel inclined.

Love this - no filler, just good info.

Thoroughly loving my RE Himalayan, brother is loving his and cousin is loving his too, and yes there are 3 of these bikes in the family 😃👍🏻

Thank you stuart. I have a himalayan and have been cranking up the k's commuting (based in NZ). Like other comments i have been adjusting the chain incorrectly. Onwards but in the right direction at last. Looking forward to the next installment.

impeccable service guide stuart. i have already bookmarked your service guide series for future reference when i maintain my interceptor 650.

Great tutorial Stuart, very informative on many levels and yes I definitely would and have done in the past checked and adjusted bike chains whilst on a centre stand, isn't education a wonderful thing 👌👍. I know this might sound daft but watching your 4 posts about this basic service they might have just swayed me into getting back on a bike after many years and as I don't want it to be all about getting my knee down, the simplicity of the RE and the attention to detail to making it easy for the rider to keep their bike in good shape and here's the daft bit, it was those two lugs to accommodate the fittings for a paddock stand that clinched it, I want a hands on fun experience to my bike ownership and for that reason RE is very appealing. Thanks again, keep the posts coming be safe and happy riding. Rgds Steve

Enjoyed that as it was exactly how I used to do my chains (I run belt drive now and wish more bikes would-but then prices would go up,and there isn't really much wrong with chains- easier to change gearing and easier to replace). Only extra thing I did was to check tension at a couple of points along the chain, but I gave up on that as you can do that as you clean and lube the chain, and I found if there is a difference it was usually on a well used chain and so probably time to change it.

Yet another excellent tutorial Stuart. Thank you.

I had been using a chain wax by wd-40 and the fling was driving me nuts! Time for a change. thanks Stuart great video

its fun when you have a sidecar on but when it comes to the chain 25/30mm free play after taking into account of tight spots

Ideally the bike should be off the centre stand with a person seated on the bike, you could say that it will not make much difference, but there will be a difference depending on the size of the rider.

Thank you so much for making this video. It helped me a lot.

A man after my own heart spot on well done

This is how a bike is to be looked after..👌👌 with trust we give to the dealer service centre.. however the experience is quite opposite.. it's high time one should learn to do the basics from the manual than fully relying on the dealer..

Cheers for that Stuart, living in Thailand i tend to use white spray grease , seems to do the trick, and a fraction of the price of motorcycle specific products for what it's worth.

Thanks for the great tutorials Stuart, I'm looking at getting myself one of these bikes and these videos have been a great help, look forward to more, Cheers .

Regarding the chain cleaning brush. I followed your link and was about to buy 6 when I noticed their post and packing charge was over £15. Notwithstanding this problem your video was very good.

Word of warning on checking chain. Go by the owner’s manual. On the Yamaha Divi 6, the book specifically says “on the centre stand” “45-55mm”. Get it wrong and it will be expensive/dangerous.

Thanks dear Stuart for your excellent video.

Excellent video👌👌......please kindly also try to make a video on clutch lever adjustment in your upcoming videos ....🥂

That's good news Stuart, I stopped watching because of too much Triumph content.. I've now resubscribed

Once again a great informative video Stuart. Thank you.

I like that white chain lube, that's on the shopping list, my usual dry lube is almost impossible to detect after application

Yep, drylube keeps your rear wheel tidy! :-)

Great video as usual Stuart. Thnaks

Ok that's next! I'll get at it.

Live and learn! Thanks! Potentially life saving information.

Thanks Stuart for all the effort!

Brilliant video Stuart. Really informative. Many thanks.

Thank you Stuart, I've orderd a can of chain lube

Very good video Sir... When are you going to install The Japanese Make GOLD CHAIN(which you installed in the TRIUMPH) for the INTERCEPTOR ??? ... Please install the Gold CHAIN Many of the Interceptor owners are waiting for it !!

Great video👌👌....request you to please also try and include clutch adjustment also in your next upcoming videos....eagerly waiting ....

Enjoying your videos, very well made.

Hello Stuart, so tightening/loosening the adjusters serve two very important purposes: > One is to adjust the chain tension. > Two, to keep the wheel straight (in proper alignment). Is my understanding correct?

very clever thanks

cuidas los detalles importantes,eres un buen profesional

Spot on. Great video, Stuart.

SPOT ON AGAIN STUART.

Hi Stuart. The stamped index marks on each adjuster don’t align with the vertical lines on the adjuster! In other words they are slightly different on each side! Is it the lines that need to align with the mark on the swinging arm or the stamped index marks? Thanks

Very interesting. Thanks for the video

Very informative and well presented. 👍🏻 Some titanium lube on your exhaust silencer 😱

Just a thought buy the brake cleaner in bulk 5ltrs and use a pump spray bottle cheaper than aerosols.

Question Stuart in the manual that comes with the bike says 20-30 mm of chain slack is the required amount but in the downloaded service manual says 30-40mm of slack??? I think the shop manual is too much but I don't know.

As ALWAYS an excellent video on chain maintenance. Of course it's excellent because it's precisely how I do it! That said I'm good with metrics and now Newton meter torques but somehow the chain slack MUST be in inches. Commenting from San Diego California God bless the Queen.

Great video as always!

Thank you. VERY helpful.

At what spot exactly to I check the measurements for the Freeplay? My chain touches that top plastic part. Must be loose.

another great video Stuart you know your stuff. Do you mind if i ask you a question on motorcycle lifts ? i have a tiger 800 and have an interceptor on route should be here next week. i came across a video you had done on your stand. i am fortunate to have a double timber garage which is insulated and heated. ( built my self with a joiner friend) And its my intention after watching your videos to try and maintain both bikes as good as i can. dodgie knees from a time in the Infantry means i'm in pain kneeling. But if i can get bike up and sit on my stool on wheels. i sense i have a real chance of good motorcycle cleaning and maintenance practice.thanks for your time on this my friend and theres a brew on any time your passing the Scottish borders. Cheers and safe riding Tony

Feels soo good while watching your videos. 😍 Which camera are you using to record videos?

The slack in my chain is fine, but when I sit on the motorcycle it is very stretched, what should I do?

You do not have to change the oil filter every time you change the oil.

Stuart your videos are informative. Thanks for the coverage of the interceptor DIY . I have a question regarding interceptor. There is a metal grinding sound in the engine. It there in almost all bikes. They engineer says it is a tappet sound. Please clarify about this. Thanks in advance 😊

What's the indented "dot" between the axle index markings? I have got 2 of those and unlike yours, mine are not exactly at the middle of 2 markings and I have 2 such "dots" on each side. Should I ignore the "dots" and just make sure that both sides are at the same index marking?

Great video sir!

Great video Stuart , I. Tend to use wurth dry chain lube as it’s clear and drying time is very quick, just a note I didn’t notice you looking for a tight spot on the chain, may be I missed it , incidentally now you have a few miles on the bike I didn’t see a make just the 525 size , how is the chain performance, thanks again for the detailed videos

Okay. Where did you get the brass swingarm spools? Thanks

Shouldn't the adjustment be done after cleaning and lubing and a short ride?

Why Oh why oh why do they insist on fitting them scratch pins on footpegs? More danger than they are worth, I always get mine stuck in my turn ups :) I have a tool for measuring accurately the alignment of the sprockets or the distances between swingarm pivot and rear axle for peace of mind. I always hated that ugly white grease but if I'm lubing a chain I tend to concentrate on getting the lube between the inner link plate and outer, no harm in giving it all a light coverage as it does protect the chain from rusting too much. Anyway I hope you're enjoying your new steed, take care :)

Aahh the Paull Road, niiccceeee 😃👍🏻

Sir, I really like your content its very help full. Can u help me out with a query, is your bikes disk break making and sound every time you catch the front breaks. sound like 2 metal rubbing against each other

Very helpful - thanks for posting :) How does the interceptor compare to the triumph bobber?

Sorry for the off-topic comment, but how is the windscreen? Are you able to tell a difference on the ride? Have you tried the touring seat?

Great video.What torque wrench do you use for tightening the rear axle nut?

Do you still recommend the muc off dry lube,chain cleaner and MO-94 Iam not able to find silkolene products in India and I’ve sent them mail regarding this But muc off seems to be available with a few retailers And the only other alternative to the MO-94 that’s abundantly available here is WD-40

Can we use diesel/kerosene to clean the chain? I have been using diesel on my old bike and the results were good

Stuart why don't you use the muc-off products any more

Great vid, however you didn't mention the tight spot, as we all know that's where you should check your chain tension. You might have missed that bit because you may have thought everybody knew( just thought it worth mentioning) Keep up the good work.

Some interceptor owners are facing deep noice from engine specially from head.Some ones say it's volwe/tappet/rocker noice what is it actually and what is the cause of this sharp noice ? Is it natural or depend on each model ?

hmm,been riding since 81,never cleaned my chain.

Non bike related question, but very British I have a chance too see Last Night of the Proms Have every to a performance and is it worth while going? Yourself or anyone who has on her chat, please pipe in. 😀

Stuart, when are you going to junk them horrible cheap and nasty indicator's?