Motorcycle Question

Shiroelex

There's nothing worse than aut
Founding Member
Aug 23, 2001
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Westland, MI
A guy I work with just bought his first sportbike; a 1990 Kawasaki Ex500 Ninja. Last night, some ass cut across the parking lot after work, and almost t-boned my buddy on his bike. My friend was about to take off, and had started rolling forward, as the car knicks his exhaust, knocking him over. The car took off, and my buddy was left there with his chain hanging off. I took a look at it today, and had to untangle the chain out of the trans part. Once I got the chain all straight and back on the wheel, the chain would get real tight every other revolution, and the chain would pop up on the rear gear. My assumption is that the chain got stretched out a little, and isn't meshing in the gear right anymore. He's going to be picking up a new chain tomorrow, so my question is this, for anyone who might know.

How do I get the old chain off? I don't see one of those removable links on the chain that's on, and I don't know if the new chain will come with that link either. Am I going to have to take half of this bike apart to get this chain off, or is there something simple? Also, if anyone knows of any helpful websites or forums, that would be greatly appreciated. Sorry about the little novel.
 
Yipes!! That sucks!! It sounds like the chain was twisted, binding a link or two so make sure the rear sprocket wasn't damaged as well. It's often recommended to change the sprockets anyway when you put on a new chain b/c if they are worn they will quickly wear out the new chain aswell. Sportbikes use a continuous chain with no masterlink, the reason behind this is to insure that there is no chance the clip on the master link can come off. Unless you have a chain breaker, you will need to remove the back wheel and the side engine cover to remove the chain. You could grind off the rivets and then rivet the new chain back on but I really wouldn't recommend it.