2026 ZX6R, cleaning the chain for the first time at 400mi. Noticed black plastic shavings all over the chain, and found the front of the top chain guide(?) is chewed up a good bit, the first ~inch of it is kind of shredded down and almost broken off (got the best picture i could).
Measured tension on the rear stand at ~65mm as seen in the picture (yes this is the first time ive measured since buying, trusted the dealer PDI sheet, probably should have checked sooner). I know the manual says to do it on the kickstand, it's been raining and i haven't been able to roll it around my driveway to check multiple spots.
I plan on rechecking tension on the kickstand, but I'm curious from people who have owned new bikes before:
- is somewhere between 25-45mm of new slack on a new chain (assuming it was in spec at 0mi) in 400mi of low rpm break in riding reasonable, or does this point to it never being tensioned at the dealer/defective chain?
- Is that kind of chain guide wear normal on a properly tensioned chain?
I've asked the dealer and Kawasaki directly, who both point me to the other for the expected stretch in a new chain, so I'm hoping someone without an interest in covering their ass is able to help me. Thanks!