Is this acceptable????

I had the dealership install a 48 tooth sprocket and a new chain, and when I looked at the bike the next day I noticed that the rear axle is set really far forward in the swing arm to the point that the block is slammed all of the way forward in the adjustment area.  Should I be pissed?.....or is this normal.  This is my first chain driven bike so I'm not sure if this is acceptable.  It seems to me that I am being robbed of an inch or two of wheel base, and the tire is like an inch from the mud flap.

Also, the new chain that I provided was a 120 link chain so it's not like they didn't have enough chain to work with.

Here is a picture

Don't know about others, but I wouldn't be happy. In the future I'd recommend doing such a simple install yourself. I use a dirt cheap harbor freight breaker to break my chains. Easy peasy.

How is the chain slack?
Is there enough of it?

If theres enough chain slack its fine.

I try to get my wheel that far forward when I install a new chain but cant im closer to the middle adjustment wise with 13 48 sprockets and I think 112 links of chain, I didn't count em, I shorten a 120 link chain as well.

I prefer having the wheel as far forward as possible as it makes it a little bit easier to wheelie.

13/48 on 112 links would be quite a bit further back. I'm guessing that would have been a 110-link chain, Biglake.

Yup if I have 112 links he must have 110.

I couldn't get 110 links to fit on my bike but it was some close to fitting, I have zeta axle blocks which may not allow the wheel to go as far forward so it may fit with the stock axle blocks.

Either way if he has enough chain slack its fine.

greenboy wrote:

13/48 on 112 links would be quite a bit further back. I'm guessing that would have been a 110-link chain, Biglake.

I supplied them with a 120 link chain. That's the main reason I was shocked when I noticed the axle so far forward.

Do you think I will have a clearance issue if I throw on a D606?

Also I was wondering how much I could expect the chain to stretch. It is a DID non-o'ring mx style chain.

BobbyCheese wrote:

Do you think I will have a clearance issue if I throw on a D606?

The D606 is a big tire for these bikes so depending on what tire you have on there right now and how close it is to the mud flap, you may have a problem. I like everything about the D606 for this bike except for the height of that sucker. Wish they made it in a 120/80.

N8 wrote:

BobbyCheese wrote:

Do you think I will have a clearance issue if I throw on a D606?

The D606 is a big tire for these bikes so depending on what tire you have on there right now and how close it is to the mud flap, you may have a problem. I like everything about the D606 for this bike except for the height of that sucker.  Wish they made it in a 120/80.

I have the stock tire on there now, and it is pretty close to the flap.

as above. i would be very happy with that situation. in fact i would consider giving him a tip. i try to get it like that but cant.

For immediate riding you'll probably be fine as long as there's sufficient slack in the chain and the tire clears the mud flap. Sufficient chain slack is required to prevent chain stretch and/or premature chain or sprocket failure. (See your owner's manual or the many forum threads discussing chain adjustment for details.)

But in general I think they screwed you with this installation, because:
a) If the chain is too snug at all, there's no way to loosen it.
b) There's no way to loosen the chain prior to removing the wheel for tire repair or other maintenance. You'll probably have to break the chain apart to get the wheel off.
c) Since it's a dealer installation, they should have used a riveted master link, rather than clip-style. If so, you'll need a chain breaker or return to the dealer any time you need to break the chain to remove the wheel.
d) Every aftermarket tire that I'm aware of is larger diameter than the stock Bridgestone Trailwing tires that most WRR riders despise. As it is now it sounds likely that you'll have clearance issues with the mud flap if your want to install aftermarket tires.
e) If you gave them 120 link chain they had plenty to work with. I run 13/51 sprockets with 112 links and have way more available adjustment range than you.

It sounds to me like they made a guess at chain length and came up short (pun intended.) I'd give them hell for it.

yep, you got screwed. they are dumbasses.

I went out this morning and counted...sure enough they cut it to 110. I took the bike back down to the shop, and the service manager agreed that it was BS. They are replacing the chain.

Great servide.... I'd buy a O/X-ring chain for sure...

I also forgot to add that when I spoke to the tech when picking up the bike he said that he originally set it up with a 110 so that I would have the ability to go back and forth between a 43 and a 48 tooth sprocket. So in the end it was just miscommunication. I guess I understand his reasoning, but for my particular situation it just wasn't going to work. Plus I'm not so sure a 110 would even work with a 43 tooth sprocket.

don't know why anybody who's ridden both would want to go back to 13/43 anyway -- regardless of inflated tire diameter. a lot easier to go to 14/48 if one wants lower revs (and even that is a bit of a letdown)

I went back to the original 13/42 on my WRX because of highway riding.
The 13/48 topped out at 130 km/h and even at 110 km/h it was screaming. With the 13/42 I can cruise at 140 km/h and the engine isn't yelling at me.
I enjoyed the 13/48, but the lack of any top end killed it for me.

Yes, people drive fast here....

43/13 == 3.31
48/14 == 3.43 ... this will actually do better at pulling hills or headwinds, but if you factor in a larger tire than the stock Trailwing, it's pretty much the same thing -- save for still having better swingarm slider clearance and chain relief in the front

greenboy wrote:

don't know why anybody who's ridden both would want to go back to 13/43 anyway -- regardless of inflated tire diameter. a lot easier to go to 14/48 if one wants lower revs (and even that is a bit of a letdown)

I am loving the gearing so far, but I don't ride on the freeway. I get the impression that the Yamaha dealership in my town doesn't have a whole lot of experience working on or modifying these WR250Rs. When I went in with my 48 tooth sproket they looked at me like I was absolutely crazy. Now I know that's why they set it up the way they did, because he was just positive I would want to switch it back.

I tried 47/12 (3.92:1) for ahwile but it just didn't ring my chimes for all-around riding. But back to what seemed pretty versatile... I got better top speed out of my 47/13 than i did out of 43/13 when making the fast and hilly 50-mile highway run back from one of my favorite riding areas, carrying a bit of weight -- and my own "spare tire" of course ; }

47-13 did everything else better too, but now I'm bound for 50/14 and 50/13 in the next couple of hours. my new Vortex just showed up yesterday afternoon.