Chain Fu Magazine, Issue #897

/9 Comments/in , /by

Lee,

First of all, great site. Secondly, on my Enduro SL I often have a problem with my chain bouncing off the middle ring to the small ring when riding rough terrain. Also, sometimes when I shift from the middle ring to the small ring, the lower part of the chain bounces back up and gets stuck between the frame and big ring. Any suggestions and have you experienced this on your SL.

Thanks

Mike

The more you click, the more I can post. Lee Likes Groceries dot com!

Hey Mike,

These aren’t Enduro SL issues. They’re bike issues. No, I don’t have these problems on my SL.

1. When you descend, put your chain on the big ring and a middle cog. This tightens your chain so it’s less likely to take a vacation.

2. That’s called chain suck. Make sure your chain is clean and well lubed, so it won’t cling to the rings’ teeth. Make sure your rings are in good shape; severe wear or nicks can make the chain extra grabby.

3. If you’re riding the way your Enduro SL was designed to be ridden (BRAAAP!!!), you need some kind of chain guide.

Added after the first post:

4. Wrap your stays. Use an inner tube, some neoprene padding, anything to keep your chain from battering bare stay.




Enduro SL. Dual ring guide with the chain wedged onto the 36. Somewhere in the middle of a 11-34t cassette. Kestle Run Trail, Fruita, CO.

Go forth and braaap,

— Lee

9 replies
  1. Jonathan Gennick says:

    Lee, I do not have chain suck, but I do share the original poster’s experience of having a loose-feeling chain. I’ve never had a chain feel so loose and floppy as on my SL. I frequently hear it slapping and bouncing around back there. Is the loose chain because of the full suspension? The Enduro SL happens to be my first full-suspension ride. Or is the looseness a side-effect of the Enduro SL’s design?

  2. leelikesbikes says:

    See the addition above.

    Specialized FSR suspension has almost no effect on chain length/taughtness.

    Pad your stays, and that’ll quiet things down.

  3. Jonathan Gennick says:

    Thanks guys. I do, in fact, already have a chainstay protector. I can still hear the chain flopping around a lot. One problem might be that the chain is sized for the big ring, which it has to be as I have a big ring on the bike, but I never actually use that ring. Fact is, I’m frequently in the granny-gear. I have it in mind to dump the big ring entirely in favor of a bash guard. And then I ought to be able to shorten up the chain considerably. And maybe the chain really is too long. I’ll try and remember to take a look at that after work tonight.

  4. scott says:

    There is a tension adjustment on your derailler that may help too. Check that and adjust it if your chain is too loose.

  5. Colin says:

    Which dual ring chain guide have you fitted ? I understand the bike has the old ISCG style mount. Will it take a 22/36t combo with good shifting ?

  6. Feldy says:

    Hey Lee,

    Nice pic, but that’s “Kessel Run” as in, Han Solo proclaiming, “this is the ship that made the Kessel run in under twelve parsecs,” when Luke thinks the Millenium Falcon is a “hunk of junk.” [I might be paraphrasing a bit there.] I thought you’d be nerd enough (I don’t mean that in a bad way) to get that one. Guess bike geek who likes physics equations doesn’t necessarily equal at least semi-Star Wars geek?

  7. leelikesbikes says:

    Oh, I know the reference.

    I’m a total Star Wars nerd, and a spelling nerd … but those nerdisms apparently don’t mesh.

    — — —

    Jump to light speed, Chewy!!!

  8. leelikesbikes says:

    Colin:

    My dual-ring guide is still top secret. And it works like a champ …

    Aluminum Enduros use ISCG mounts. My carbon Enduro SL uses a flange mount.

    I run a 22/36 just fine. It shifts a hare slower than the 22/34, but who cares?

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