Motorcycle chain adjusters

If you are looking for motorcycle chain adjusters, it is worth making sure we mean the same part. These are the swingarm adjusters: the blocks the rear axle sits against, which set the slack of the drive chain when you move them. They are made by Puig, machined from anodised aluminium, for a specific list of Aprilia, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha models.

Three parts called a tensioner

• Swingarm chain adjuster: the one in this section. It sits on each side of the rear axle at the end of a double-sided swingarm and is set with a bolt and locknut.
• Chain roller or slider: a wheel or block that guides the chain from outside, common on off-road bikes with long suspension travel. Not sold in this section.
• Cam chain tensioner: an internal engine part that keeps the camshaft chain taut. It is an engine spare and has nothing to do with these.

Bikes that can take them

You need a double-sided swingarm with bolt-type adjustment. Bikes with a single-sided swingarm, such as several Ducatis, MV Agustas or the Honda VFR, adjust the chain by turning an eccentric hub, and those with eccentric snail cams on the axle do not use this part either. That is why each part number is made for specific models and years: the 2007-2016 CBR600RR and the 2024-2026 one, for instance, take different adjusters. Sports and naked bikes dominate the list, such as the RS 660, S 1000 RR, ZX-10R, GSX-R or MT-09, but there are other styles too, like the X-ADV, Transalp or Africa Twin, and even the TMAX, which has belt final drive: on it, the adjuster sets the belt.

What changes compared with the stock parts

• Finish: machined, anodised aluminium in nine colours, to match other coloured parts on the bike.
• Replacement: if the originals are bent, corroded or have damaged threads, these are a way to replace them with a more eye-catching part.
• What stays the same: the correct slack is still the one your bike's manufacturer specifies, and adjustment works the same way.

If the adjuster has already run out of travel, no new one will fix it: the chain has stretched and needs a new chain and sprocket kit. Step-by-step adjustment and the colours of each part number are under Puig chain adjusters; to work with the wheel off the ground, swingarm spools and a paddock stand make life easier. The rest of the drivetrain is in motorcycle drivetrain.