I watched the rear fender go thru a violent oscillation, swinging so hard from side to side that I thot something was coming apart. I was following my girl on the Guzzi & when she was in 2nd ( I think) it flopped around so hard I figured bolts were out of it or something,, Nope,, it just hits a hard shake sometimes,, doesnt do it every time,,so, would the chain do it? Mmmmmmmm  could beeee,,

If you have not seen what a snatching chain looks like i can understand your position its scary A 3 or 4 inch violent side to side shake gets your attention.  Could be the reason dr chains dont last long....... Why do you care....if it breaks there is a very good chance the engine will be ruined and possible leg injury also. I sold them for this reason. Both oring and standard chains did the same thing, swing arm bearings, neck bearings etc were fine no bent arms or shocks.

I have owned 50 some motorcycles most were chain drive the only 2 times i have seen this problem on a correctly lubed adjusted, alligned chain was the dr and the sherpa both single 4 strokes.

A dry or tight chain will do this and cause more vibes, if you notice your bike vibrating more than normal...very good chance the chain needs lubed and or adjusted. This applies to most any chain drive bike.

You're talking about dirt-bikes here, there is a LOT more travel on a dirt-bike suspension and inherently more slack at the top and bottom of its travel. Plus, those are 520 chains. That's where that side-to-side crap is coming from. You can't compare them to road bikes and I'm sorry, I don't believe that someone with an LS400 had 3-4 inches of side-to-side slop.

Also no, I don't care about snatching and considering I don't ride dirt-bikes, I never will care. It will never happen to me because it doesn't apply to me.

Cigar, mentioned his 400 had snatch, i asked if anyone who actually has a 650 chain drive has experienced this problem. Any others on here actually have 650 chain drive experience?????  If you have not looked at the chain or had someone ride along beside you or felt a strange vibe you might not know what is going on.

The question was not about dr 650s or sherpas or opinions of dirt bikes but i will explain once again...

The chain is at its tightest point riding on the road not at either end of swingarm movement loose chain is not the problem!!! My KLR 650 does not have this problem!!!!!  My DR was tested with an adjuster from the factory and a spring loaded after market one....same problem.

During normal acceleration the chain vibrated bad. Once speed was attained and crusing it smoothed out, with the sherpa it was total opposite smooth on take off bad vibe at 55-65 mph. Once again i experimented with adjusters tight and loose chain new and old chain same problem.

There are many bikes out there with longer chains and swingarms than a Dr 650 that do not have this problem, i have owned several including a KLR650. A 400 savage is the same bike as the 650 if they have snatch good chance the 650 would maybe not THATS the point of the question.

BACK to the question about the savage 650, if the 400 savage has this problem with a chain there is the possibility the 650 savage would also, based on experience with another 650 single with a similar carb and sprocket sizes....DID not say exact.... that does oscillate at certain speeds and RPMs. so the 650 savage chain drive might do the same thing.  ACTUAL 650 chain drive owners lets here your experience with a 650 savage or 400 chain drive,