The first step is to lift the rear of the motorcycle with a stand. This keeps the suspension loaded as it would be on the ground, while allowing you to rotate the rear wheel freely. It is helpful to have a second person stabilize the bike while the stand is pushed under the spools attached to the swing arm.

WD-40 is a lubricant that also contains detergents. It can remove light surface rust and most road grime. Coat the entire chain with WD-40 and let it soak in. This is a messy step but works well as a deep clean. Be sure to thoroughly clean anything that got WD-40 on it. Even a little on the tire can cause a severe loss of traction.

Scrub between the links with an old toothbrush. An extra coat of WD-40 before this step helps loosen the more stubborn debris. Be sure to get the front, profile, and wheel side of the chain.

Workshirt material works well to "floss" between the links.

Once the chain is cleaned, it's time to check its adjustment. Half way between the front and rear sprocket, push up on the chain and then down, noting the distance traveled. Most bikes call for about 1 inch of slack, refer to your manual for exact specifications.

 

If the chain slack is out of spec, you will need to adjust it. First loosen the axle nut. The required tool usually comes in the bikes trunk tool kit. Once the axle nut is loose, crack the inner nut (furthest from the axle) loose and back to allow the adjustment. Do this on both sides of the swing arm. Then, back out or screw in the bolt head until the desired chain slack is acquired. Tighten the two nuts against the swing arm and the axle nut.

 

The last task is lubing the chain. With the bike still on the rear stand, turn it on in first gear with the clutch in. With the clutch just out enough to allow the wheel to spin. Spray the chain lube onto the chain just before it enters the front sprocket housing. This keeps the overspray down. Make sure to get the lube on all of the chain's surfaces.

Wipe off excess lube from the faces of the chain, this will help keep your wheels clean longer.