[wallycycle]

Have 8k km on my Z. Since new, the chain has become real noisy at the counter shaft sprocket. Soon as I lube the chain, noise goes away. Problem is, it comes back in about 200km of riding. Tried different chain lubes, no help.

As the front CS is relatively small, thinking that maybe the chain has to "go around a sharper corner". Thinking of going up one tooth so see if that helps.

Anyone else have this issue?

BTW, also had the lock issue. Got so bad, could not unlock the bike. Dealer had to pick it up. Lubed the crap out of it and so far so good.

 

[notabiker]

Sit on the bike and check the slack in the chain in about 4 places as you roll the bike. It should have about 3/4-1 inch of up and down play in it at the center of the chain. Too tight of a chain is very bad for your bike. My 04 z 1000 has 14,000 miles on the chain and it is still in good shape.

 

[qeldroma]

I'm having similar problems too... It sounds like the chain or sprocket has got sand in it... Slack looks good to me... Will try installing an oiler in see if problem still there...

 

[wallycycle]

My tension is adjusted fine. That's the best way to describe it, sounds like sand in the chain. Anyway, as soon as I lube the chain, the sound goes away only to come back in a few 100 km.

I'm installing a 16T (one up) sprocket up front next week to lower the revs at highway speeds. Maybe that will indirectly help.

 

[f1rocco]

Having sorta same issue myself...

Had my buddy ride it....He cant hear or feel anything.....I can though....

I think mine is clutch related mostly...Like right after some shifts It seems like the clutch is catching and not instantly releasing....Cable tension is set right in both places but 3/4z out...

Mine is also chain....Havent really looked into it but coasting with clutch in I can hear and feel either stretched chain and or where chain hits swingarm....Took the cover out and the cs looks good and tight with proper winged washer..But thats where I also barely seen where it appears chain rides on swingarm...Just a tad and had old grease and junk..

So Im going with a clutch kit first with springs and clutch cable.....

 

[habeba86]

Add me to this list, bikes got 1300 miles on it. The plastic chain guide it wearing down and the chain is making like a high pitched noise from that I can tell and its just really loud anyways. Its at the dealer getting first service done today, ill see how it is then.

 

[habeba86]

I know this is an old post but jst wanted to update. The chain needed lubed the dealer said. If I dont lube the chain every 300-400 miles I get the high pitched noise and the chain is loud. I know youre supposed to lube the chain often, but not this often and even on almost any bike ive ever seen noone lubes their chain ever really and it still isnt this noisy. Jst annoying

 

[greenweenie]

Just put the 16 tooth sprocket on and took her for a ride, unlike my girlfriend i can ride her anytime and she doesn't complain:lol::lol:!! At normal take off it is a little different but not enough to matter. I checked how the chain was riding on the sprocket and noticed it was riding on the left side so after changing the cs sprocket I adjusted the right adjuster a little to change the track of the rear sprocket. Seems smoother and quieter. Now to work on my helmet latch that kaw forgot to put on.:thumbsup:

 

[BennyV]

I've had the same issue as you guys. I found when my bike had around 6000km's on it, the chain needed re tensioning every 200-300km's as it was getting loose and clean/lube every 100km's.

It seems to have calmed down a little now at 8000km's, but it still needs an excessive amount cleaning/lubing to keep it quiet. I suspect it's because the swing arm on the Gen3's has a lot of travel it sees a lot of different tensions and gets quite hot and melts the lube off.

I'm yet to find a real fix for it.

 

[jhintz01]

My chain makes an awful sound mostly at the cs as well. Tension is perfect, but it has about 20k on it and is probably stretched a little. Think a new one will clear this up? Especially as it is relatively a new sound...

 

[zephyrboy738]

It is the chain squeaking because of rust mine did the same-thing, that's why i went with a gold chain no more squeaking.

 

[jhintz01]

mine is gold...i think. its a 520 gxw

also, it looks like the cs cover comes off without undoing the bolts? yes or no?

 

[htech71]

It is the chain squeaking because of rust mine did the same-thing, that's why i went with a gold chain no more squeaking.

good to know. i usually am pretty good about keeping mine adjusted & lubed.

 

[Armiger]

mine is gold...i think. its a 520 gxw

also, it looks like the cs cover comes off without undoing the bolts? yes or no?

There are 4 8mm bolts, fairly evenly spaced, holding the cover on.

I have been getting around 20,000 miles out of a chain and sprockets on mine. Except the Aluminum Vortex rear sprocket I tried. It had no teeth left after 1 month of riding lol.

 

[jhintz01]

I'm hoping mine is a chain and not the clutch but now I suspect it might be the clutch. It sounds like a box of rocks when taking off in 1st and 2nd, but then its fine. The tension is fine, rear sprocket is new, chain and front sprocket have around 20k on them.

any ideas?

 

[dr.nick]

My tension is adjusted fine. That's the best way to describe it, sounds like sand in the chain. Anyway, as soon as I lube the chain, the sound goes away only to come back in a few 100 km.

I'm installing a 16T (one up) sprocket up front next week to lower the revs at highway speeds. Maybe that will indirectly help.

When you install the 16t,and it has no rubber noise isolator,your gonna get chain whine....when you oil chain,you should clean it first,then re-lube....also,you may have so much crud built up inside the countershaft cover,that re-lubing chain is counter-productive ccasion:

 

[jhintz01]

i figured out my issue; the previous owner did a 525 - 520 conversion and put a 43t sprocket on the rear. I hated it, so i replaced it with a stock 42, but it was a standard 520 and not a 525-520 sprocket, so the chain is probably ever so slightly angled and makes noise at the front. so i ordered all new sprockets and chains - 525-520 cuz i like the 520 chain. If you think of the pins as sticks, the shorter the stick, the harder it is to break. so while these are on order, ill keep it lubed to hell and back and it should be fine!