Chain loosens with load ?

[tosh23]

Ive just been on the chain gang and found a thread that states,
The chain loosens with more load..
IE the more weight on the bike and the suspension compresses the more the chain slackens
IS this true ? I was under the assumption that the chain got tighter the more weight there was ??...Tosh

 

[Robbynz]

chain loosens with load

The tightest position of the chain is when the rear axle lines up with the front pivot of the swingarm and the centre of the front sprocket.When rear axle rises or lowers from this line the chain loosens.So the chain loosening when the bike is loaded means the rear axle is above this line and you would probably need a higher rated spring on the shock to cope with the load.

 

[tosh23]

I would imagine that there needs to be one hell of allot of weight for the swing arm to travel above the pivot point...So therefore my assumptions were correct...It gets tighter the more weight ( reasonable weight )...Two up the chain will get tighter.....Cheers..