My 1977 KZ750 Chain BROKE today while I was riding

yeah im not using him anymore. That mistake could have cost me my life.

650ed wrote: I don’t know if your mechanic is a motorcycle guru or if he is totally unfamiliar with bikes, but I see that you haven’t got the time to do the work yourself. However – you must certainly have the time to at least check the amount of slack in the drive chain when your mechanic is finished since this will take no more than 3 minutes.

For instructions on performing this extremely simple task look at page 17 at:

www.kzrider.com/modules/ServiceManuals/K...l%20KZ750%20Twin.pdf

If you are too busy to at least check the chain slack I would highly recommend not riding the bike until you can find time to do so. If you find the chain slack is not set properly I would urge you to find another mechanic or let the bike sit until you have time to perform your own maintenance. Keep in mind that when problems happen while you are riding a bike you can get very seriously injured. Ed

Thanks for this. I got the manual the day I got the bike. I will be looking over it and checking the bike thoroughly before I ride. This experience was enough to sober me up, and I will NOT be using that mechanic any more. At all. That chain snap could have cost me my life! He should have noticed that chain/half link. I got an OEM endless EK chain from bike bandit, and sprockets. Just waiting for them to arrive.

Glad to hear it.
Steve

BTW, half links are made for industrial use. They aren't made for the extreme speed changes and torque experienced on a motorcycle. A broken chain at speed can be Deadly.
Steve

Well seeing as I was only going 10-20mph and saw the effects of a broken chain at that speed, I can imagine that such a thing happening at high speed would be catastophic. While I am new to bike maintenance, i know lots about wrecks, chains snapping etc, Thats why I came away without a scratch and the bike unscratched too. I learned from my motorbike days how to compensate for a skid. Anyhow Ive learned a lot and am better for it. Im putting that incident behind me and focusing on diligent maintenance.

In my terrible twenties I ran chains way past their limits. Sage advice was available then too. I didn't listen. I'd take out a link and the sprockets were almost toothless. I did things I would never do today. Sometimes I wonder how I made it past 30. Almost didn't.
Sounds like you have the right idea.

Well I am a Dad although a young one. I have to be responsible if not for my sake, then the sake of my son.

I understand. Bossie sat under a tree for 15 years. Single parent two children. No money for a bike.
Steve

Thats my dream bike. Sell it to me! lol

Here is Bossie the Kaw today.
Steve

SWest wrote: Here is Bossie the Kaw today.
Steve

Nice. Here are my 4 bikes:

I like them all. Had one each in my bay from time to time. If my friends didn't have Z1's, I would have wound up with a 750 Four.
Steve