I have one fitted, it's not a full on auto tensioner. It's more a slack remover.
So yes, on/off throttle is silky smooth and no jerk. It will make you chain last longer as there is no whip upon acceleration but for me it stops the chain drooping as I've jacked my rear end up which requires more slack at rest so it covers full travel.

 

I have one fitted …. So yes, on/off throttle is silky smooth

Oh, that sounds great. Thanks for the reply! 😄

 

A lot of the Buell Ulysses owners were using their spring loaded belt tensioner.
I think it's geared more for long travel rear suspensions.

 

Usually the preserve of motocrossers, where the slack needed for the extra long swingarm travel does not guarantee that the chain remains on the sprocket.
Not often seen or needed on road bikes.

 

Yes , completely right , I use one for years on my off road bikes,but never on my road bikes.

Plasma1

 

Adds weight! 😊

 

Save your money Mr. B for something a little more useful. These bikes do not have the suspension travel to require a tensioner. Might even be detrimental as you may not notice that the slack has reached a level where adjustment should be in order.

 

Looks like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

 

Yes! I thought it was right up my alley! I’m jumping on that puppy right away! 😁

 

 

10/10
Plasma1

 

Hey, no problem! Just be careful not to go blind.

 

Also , I'm not too convinced that it's all that well thought out . It would last considerably longer if it was used to take up slack on the bottom of the chain that's
not continuously loaded ! Peter

 

Ha! You worried me there for a minute. It IS on the bottom.

 

One of the issues with a chain tensioner is that very fact: they are on the bottom run of chain, so when you back off the bottom run of chain becomes tight and the top run then has all the looseness - and no tensioner!

As I habitually run my chains (and belts) a bit looser than spec - experience with a rubbermount Sportster will teach you that - I have designed a chain tensioner for my project Harley (many years in the gestation) that runs on the top run of chain as well as the bottom, transferring between the two of them as you get on and off the throttle.

I'm sure something like I just described already exists, though I personally have never seen one.

Cheers, Will

 

One of the issues with a chain tensioner is that very fact: they are on the bottom run of chain, so when you back off the bottom run of chain becomes tight and the top run then has all the looseness - and no tensioner!

You do realise the sprockets at each end turn & when the chain is loaded up driving the bike then the top goes tight as the engine sprocket pulls on it?

You might see what you describe when parked, but it won't be happening when running.

 

The other thing one might consider when using a chain tension adjuster is how long the bearings are going to last . They spin Many times for each revolution of the chain .

 

I have thought about it & it doesn't matter. The side of the chain under tension will always be tight, be that the top under power or the bottom under engine braking.
Too much slack will be an issue of course, but that's regardless of if a tensioner is fitted or not.

 

You know that little jerk you keep feeling when you’re on and off the throttle/clutch when riding and maneuvering at very slow speed? I think that’s slack in the chain being taken up, then released. I’m hoping that the chain tensioner will reduce or smooth out that effect.

 

Well anything that stops you feeling a little jerk has to be a good thing. Right?😘

 

Chain tensioners, we don't need no stinking chain tensioners..... 😈

 

I had also thought about this when I first saw it. New Bonneville is not the only one to offer this or something similar.
I do have two concerns,though:
How noisy are they?
Bearing life on tensioner (imagine that locking up mid way through a curve at speed)
I have seen a belt drive conversion kit available for some Bonneville models. A lot more pricey but if you are looking for longevity and very low maintenance they are hard to beat.
The added advantage is no more chain goo on the bike.

 

If they're half as dependable as the ones on Harley's' they should last forever , BUT , rather pricey ! Peter

 

Well, I got the item, but it dosen’t fit Badonka. At least, after spending several minutes fiddling around with it, I can’t see any way to attach it to the 2022 Bonneville T120 frame. There just aren’t any bolt holes for it. I watched a youtube video of it being installed on a scrambler, but the frames are different. I’m sending it back unless one of you guys can tell me how it fits on my bike. It’s a bummer, because the newbonneville site says it fits.

 

@Badonka Daddy

It appears you bought the wrong tensioner. You bought the model for the Bonneville "classic" not the model for the Bonneville " NEW classic".

New Bonneville only shows the air cooled "classic" tensioner.

Check the Free Spirits web site...

Dynamic chain tensioner for Triumph New Classic (Black)Code 307552KTransmission TRIUMPH - Free Spirits

Here are the instructions for the correct tensioner for the NEW classic...

https://www.freespiritsparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/307552_multi_sp_2.pdf

Looking at the instructions the tensioner uses a hole that is occupied by the center stand cross tube if you have a center stand. I can see a way around that but as is it will shift the alignment of the tensioner to the outside.

If a choice has to be made I would rather have the center stand.

Be sure to note the WARNING in the first paragraph of the instructions...

"SUITABLE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO RAISE THE REAR OF THE BIKE AND WANT TO MAINTAIN CORRECT CHAIN TENSION"

The Free Spirits chain tensioner is ONLY intended to be used when using longer than stock length rear shocks to achieve correct chain tension when the bike is modified for longer than stock rear suspension travel NOT on a bike with stock suspension travel.

T120s are famous for poor low speed throttle control especially at higher altitudes.
Ride by wire ain't all it's cracked up to be.
IIRC there was a firmware upgrade that addressed that.
Are you using the Triumph maps or are you using an aftermarket map?
Is your T120 up to date with the current Triumph map?