Yeah, that is very contradictory. The pic is showing freeplay in the bottom section of chain. 35-45mm seems low. I would say more like 50 - 60 mm. As for measuring off the swingarm in your case, I really dont know what to tell ya because your swingarm is different than the pre 09' models.

 

Exactly, relic. That's why I'm not too hot on some owner's manual descriptions of things like this. Bikes like ours that have serious chainguide components more frequently take the measurement from the top of the swingarm, and of course that pic looks nothing like the situation you see with our bikes. A KLR650 takes the measurement from the bottom, but it has less travel and really doesn't have a full-box designed chainguide setup like ours. Go with what and how a shop manual instructs on chain slack on the exact bike...or...better yet, do the measurement like I suggested and you'll know exactly how much slack your bike should have.

 

My 2007 owners manual agrees with the original post on setting tension. I made a similar adjustment gauge by filing two marks on the screwdriver handle in the tool kit. Works the same and nothing extra to carry and no additional weight. The PO of my 2007 had the chain too tight and the rear wheel on crooked. The adjusters were off by a full digit from right to left. That was the first thing I fixed.