Riding around for ~1000 miles with loose pinch bolts

[Rxmfn7]

So, past few times Ive been riding the bike, I heard what I had thought was an excess of chain/driveline noise. MY chain also appeared (just from looking) to be pretty loose to me. So today I head out to the garage just to check it out and see if I can find anything myself before taking it to the dealer. Upon looking at the rear 2 pinch bolts, I notice they are completely loose. Like, spin them easily with your finger loose. I took a picture from straight on, you can clearly see the bolts are not even close to seated. So from when I had my 600mile service done, to now (~1600miles), Ive been riding around with my rear wheel pretty much doing whatever it wants. My sprocket doesnt look noticeably chewed up, but would anything else possibly been damaged by this?

[avizpls]

the eccentric's surfaces. When you break it twists one way, on the gas torques it the other way. Back and forth it could have caused some issues.

  dealers.

[rockaduc]

YIKES!!!!!  You better pull it apart and inspect thoroughly.

[Punx Clever]

So, past few times Ive been riding the bike, I heard what I had thought was an excess of chain/driveline noise. MY chain also appeared (just from looking) to be pretty loose to me. So today I head out to the garage just to check it out and see if I can find anything myself before taking it to the dealer. Upon looking at the rear 2 pinch bolts, I notice they are completely loose. Like, spin them easily with your finger loose. I took a picture from straight on, you can clearly see the bolts are not even close to seated. So from when I had my 600mile service done, to now (~1600miles), Ive been riding around with my rear wheel pretty much doing whatever it wants. My sprocket doesnt look noticeably chewed up, but would anything else possibly been damaged by this?

So... you decided not to adjust the chain because...?  I mean, you must have at least lubed the chain (which would imply checking it's tension and a quick glance over the swingarm) in that 1000 mile interval... right?  Thats like saying, "My tire sure does look flat... oh well, I'll ride it anyways."

[xcaptainxbloodx]

I dont think you could go 1000 miles with pinch bolts that loose, i went on a test ride on a bike with pinch bolts that loose and got all of 30 feet before it became unridable.

maybe vibration loosend them, maybe someone tried to adjust the chain and forgot... no clue how but a SSS cannot ride very far with loose pinch bolts.

[Rxmfn7]

Because I bought a brand new bike and had it dealer serviced so I didnt have to worry. It has "appeared" that loose to me since I picked it up, but didnt question it because it was just serviced, and I didnt notice any problems until recently. I had assumed the dealer tech who gets paid to do this for a living, serviced my bike correctly.

So... you decided not to adjust the chain because...?  I mean, you must have at least lubed the chain (which would imply checking it's tension and a quick glance over the swingarm) in that 1000 mile interval... right?  Thats like saying, "My tire sure does look flat... oh well, I'll ride it anyways."

[rockaduc]

In 1000 miles i probably clean and lube my chain at least 2 x's.  that usually includes inspecting the entire driveline for any shenanigans.

Just trying to say you should establish regular maintenance schedule for your bike.  It will help to avoid issues like this.

[WhiteStripe]

I mean to lube my chain every 600 miles, I actually lube my chain much less.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

That slipped by me. but yeah, I clean and lube my chain every 300-500 miles. Regular maintenance saves you money and can save your life.

[JimmyTheDriver]

When I was adjusting my chain and forgot to tighten the pinch bolts, my chain came completely off within 10 feet of my garage.  I can't see how you would have been able to ride 1000 miles.  Granted I am no expert, but I would assume they started to come loose over the past few hundred miles which is why you felt the chain slack. 

-Jimmy

[Rxmfn7]

I was planning on chain lube every 1000 miles, being I dont ride in rain or very dirty conditions. Ive found too much lube just makes a mess. But thats not my point,.. the bolts should not have come loose from normal riding vibrations, so they were either not torqued properly or never tightened. Sure, maybe if I was a bit more anal I wouldnt caught it earlier, but I shouldnt have to double-check dealer maintenance.

[Punx Clever]

So, tips for a new bike owner:

Lube every 300-600 miles.  Chain wax leaves less mess than other types of lube.  It will keep your chain happy, which keeps you happy.  The chain that came on my s2r lasted 20k miles.

Before you ride (among other things): Check the chain's tension against the owners manual.  It will stretch and loosen.  Part of owning a chain.  Also catches other things that can come up before they are a problem...

Finally: If something is wrong, it's wrong. Never assume that it's right just because someone else was supposed to check it. 

[speedknot]

Finally: If something is wrong, it's wrong. Never assume that it's right just because someone else was supposed to check it. 

I can see what Rxmfn7 means about trusting the trained mechanic to "do the right thing".  I think we've all been guilty of it at one time or another.  However, when it comes to only two wheels on the road, i dont trust anyone but my self to make sure my bike is roadworthy.  Just for piece of mind, I have to check and double check any work that was done by myself or a mechanic.

[Punx Clever]

I can see what Rxmfn7 means about trusting the trained mechanic to "do the right thing".  I think we've all been guilty of it at one time or another.  However, when it comes to only two wheels on the road, i dont trust anyone but my self to make sure my bike is roadworthy.  Just for piece of mind, I have to check and double check any work that was done by myself or a mechanic.

I do too.  And in the case of a car... I'd agree.  I'm not trying to be an ass, just giving good advice.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

I was planning on chain lube every 1000 miles, being I dont ride in rain or very dirty conditions. Ive found too much lube just makes a mess. But thats not my point,.. the bolts should not have come loose from normal riding vibrations, so they were either not torqued properly or never tightened. Sure, maybe if I was a bit more anal I wouldnt caught it earlier, but I shouldnt have to double-check dealer maintenance.

alot of things can happen to a motorcycle in 1000 miles. servicing the chain about every 300 miles is not only the proper way to care for a chain, but a very easy way to check various things  (like pinch bolts).

  It is unfair to blame a mechanic for something like this happening 1000 miles after he touched it, and there is NO WAY (as in mechanically impossible) that the bike left the shop in that condition.  had you serviced your chain at a more reasonable interval you may have found the pinch bolts out of torque spec. (which is scary but not uncommon as a machine gets broken in.)