Have You Hugged Your Motorcycle Chain Lately?

Tire maintenance and oil changes are key parts of basic motorcycle upkeep, but did you know you should ideally be checking your chain twice a month?

Chains are the unsung mechanical heroes of motorcycling, and I'll never forget the time my chain failed me. I was accelerating from a stop sign when--- BAM!-- I suddenly lost power. The violent snap left me coasting along at a couple miles an hour, and thankfully there weren't any cars around to plow me down. It turned out my chain had loosened up and freed itself from the rear sprocket, and frankly, I was lucky it didn't completely detach itself and become a flying blade of death. I was a motorcycling newbie, but I had nobody to blame but myself for my bike's lack of maintenance.

To find out how to inspect, clean, lubricate, and adjust your chain, check out our guide to chain maintenance. You'll be glad you did.

Photo © Anna Wyckoff