Chain replacement

[Blind spot]

My bike 650 V Strom
Planning trip of 9 days around Sth island in October.
Bike has about 32000 K's on it.
How do i know if my chain is getting tired.
I here others talking about new chain and sprocket at similar Ks on other bikes.
i don't have flash scott oiler thing.
Cheers

[Coldrider]

Roll your bike backwards in neutral gear, if chain is worn it will make noises and jump around a little on the rear sprocket. Does the chain roller naturaly sit in the centre of the teeth of the sprocket, if the chain is worn it will be pulled towards the leading teeth of the sprocket. Does the sprocket have hooked teeth.
When the chain is tensioned, is the tension even through the length of the chain (measure freeplay below the swingarm).
Roller pins can also rust internally creating tight spots.

At 32K,s it is probably worn unless it is exceptionaly looked after.
X ring chains should only cost about $135 plus fitting.

[McJim]

Chains and sprockets will also wear into each other. If you only change the chain then the worn sprockets will prematurely wear the new chain.

Expensive in the short term I know but in the long term it's best to change chain and sprockets at the same time...although I have also heard of people going through 2 chains per sprocket (i.e. Chain lasts 10,000km and the sprockets last 20,000km).

Twins and Singles can tend to wear chains faster due to the nature of the power delivery. Not as smooth or linear as a 4 cyl. Tends to be lots of little tugs added up.

Coldrider has already given good descriptions of the wear indicators.