Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Owners Manual: Drive chain adjustment

Inspect the drive chain slack before each use of the motorcycle.

Place the motorcycle on the side stand. The drive chain should be adjusted for 20 - 30 mm (0.8 - 1.2 In) of slack, as shown.

Warning Too much chain slack can cause the chain to come off the sprockets, resulting in an accident or serious damage to the motorcycle. Inspect and adjust the drive chain slack before each use.

To adjust the drive chain, follow the procedure below:

1. Place the motorcycle on the side stand.
2.  Remove the cotter pin 1.
3.  Loosen the axle nut 2.
4.  Loosen the lock nut 3 (right and left).

Warning A hot muffler can burn you. The muffler will be hot enough to burn you for some time after stopping the engine. Wait until the muffler cools to avoid burns.

5. Turn the right and left adjuster bolts 4 until the chain has 20 - 30 mm (0.8 - 1.2 In) of slack halfway between the engine sprocket and rear sprocket.
6. At the same time that the chain is being adjusted, the rear sprocket must be kept in perfect alignment with the front sprocket. To assist you in performing this procedure, there are reference marks 5 on the swingarm and each chain adjuster which are to be aligned with each other and to be used as a reference from one side to the other.
7.  Tighten the lock nut 3 (right and left).
8.  Tighten the axle nut ~ securely.
9.  Replace the cotter pin with a new one.
10.  Recheck the chain slack after tightening and readjust if necessary.

Rear axle nut tightening torque: 100 n·m (1 0.0 Kgf-m, 72.5 Lb-ft)

Note

: do not adjust the drive chain beyond the adjustable range 5. Replace the drive chain before drive chain exceeds the limit.