i thought your chain should only move bout an inch to inch and a half when you press on it but mine makes a lot of noise and i can make it touch the swing arm when pressing up on bottom. i asked at the shop and they said its fine and doesn't need replacement and wasn't to loose. i can tell there is a little tight spot and they said they would tighten it but as soon as it hit that spot it would go back where it was and prob do damage to something cant remember in the front sprocket area. They said it was fine but the noise drives me nuts especially at cruising speed when you can hear it more than engine and my main worry is it coming off and the slap sound when you gun it. I should replace it right or listen to the shop and keep it for a while cuz I'm being paranoid

 

a brand new chain won't hurt anything. the chain slack is measured from the top not the bottom. btu there is also a chain stretch measurement detailed in the manual. but the shop most likely would have tried to sell you the work of replacing your chain if you needed it.

 

What kind of chain lube are you using?

 

When was the last time you cleaned it? You can get excessive noise from a dirty chain...Clean it [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

a tight link in the chain is not good. Means improper cleaning, lubing and adjustment. Get a complete setup.