Chain Stretch

[dsly1]

I think its time for a new chain.. is there any indicator of my TLR ?

Its now got 19K K on her with plenty of wheelie time. my rear wheelie alignment bars only have 2.5 ticks left to adjust.. I'm going to get one pretty much anyway next week but what is a good indicator ?

[Zero]

If you can pull the chain off of the rear sprocket in a direction parallel with the ground. If that makes any sense. An old chain will be very sloppy if you try this.

[Steve TLS]

Tight spots too, as you turn the rear wheel the chain will be slacker in some areas compared to others, not always the case but an indication of a stretched and rooted chain.

[TLSBill]

Aren't you "supposed" to measure it for some # of links, and if it's too long it's dead?

[mattbl]

Steve is on the money. By spinning the rear wheel and looking at how the chain tightens and slackens is an excellent indication of a worn chain. When the chain tightens the links are not running true with the sprocket so the links are not falling into the sprocket so to speak. Most common with the join link as this is weakest point.
EDIT - Forgot to add - This tightening and slackening of the chain will appear as a surge type feeling when riding at a constant speed

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by TLSBill
Aren't you "supposed" to measure it for some # of links, and if it's too long it's dead?

Yep , but you need to be pretty precise and do it on several runs of the chain.