checking play

[N0tac0p]

Is it viable to put the beast in 1st gear and with the bike on a lift shuck the rear wheel back and forth to "feel" how much play is in the gear train?  As a quick check, no to replace the semi annual recheck and relube when you replace tires.

[Robert]

Yes you can do it I really dont know how much help its going to be. It will give you a indication of the amount of slop but how much is bad and from where is it coming. I think its better if you put the bike down and roll it back and forth in gear. This stresses the bushings and the whole system and you can tell if there is any play in a more real world scenario. Once you do this then the diagnosis begins like what component is causing the slop. If you put the wheel up and turn it with this idea in mind you should be able to feel the splines on the wheel and maybe some rear play but even then the best is to visually see the problem. The big culprit in drive line slop is the bushings talked many times about here. If you replace these and all the other components in the system are good then you should be good to go. The u joint will only reveal a problem when you take it out and try moving it, the splines are the only thing that will reveal the play without 

[Ricky-D]

With the bike elevated, wheel off the ground you will not experience the true picture. 

Reason: The u-joint is at it's most flexing position(relative to the swingarm&frame) which will magnify any slop in the accompanying splines and joint.

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