Confessions of a Motorcycle Newbie

Are you ready to make your pointy hat just a little bit taller (and your tool chest a little bit fuller)? Good, because we’re about to do one of the more labor-intensive bits of routine bike maintenance: changing out a worn chain and sprockets.  First, a bit of advice I’ve collected from several places: if you have a chain-driven bike, your final drive consists of two sprockets and a chain – change them all at the same time. Even if one piece looks like it has some life left in it, a slightly-worn sprocket will accelerate the wear on a new chain or vice versa. You’ll get the longest life out of your investment (and get to spend the longest time riding your bike before you have to do this again) if you follow this advice. Okay, /soapbox.  Now, where to begin?  Step 1: You’ve got to get the front sprocket cover off the damn bike. On my bike, it’s a silly little piece of plastic that I suppose is necessary to keep one from getting their toes mangled by the whirling front sprocket. There a