Bike's rocking after chain adjustment

[Barbarian]

Hey folks,

I just adjusted my chain for the second time this summer and it's right at the end of the line.

But that's not my problem.

While I had it up on the centrestand I oiled it and the rear tire was not spinning smoothly-- lots of points where it seemed to grab and slow.
For a lark I fired it up and let it run in first, and the whole bike started to shake, to rock back and forth. When in neutral this stopped.

What's going on?

[Red01]

Binding links in the chain?  If you're at the end of adjustments, that's an indicator the chain is near (or at) the end of its life, so binding links wouldn't be a surprise find.

[doublenaughtspy]

Yup....that chain is toast. Welcome to the world of monster torque!  Spend the coin on a good chain, keep it clean, well-adjusted, and lubed, and start saving for another one.   

[pmackie]

lots of points where it seemed to grab and slow.

I'm concerned that you may have adjusted it at a "loose" point in the chain and now it is too tight!!

Find the tightest spot in the chain's route, and adjust the chain there.

[pawnee]

If you run your bike on centerstand the chain will jerk with each cylinder firing.  I rev mine up a bit and hold pressure with the rear brake to take the jumping out.

[Barbarian]

Thanks for the responses indicating that it's somewhat normal behaviour for an end-of-life chain.
It could be -- as @pmackie points out -- that I adjusted it at a loose point instead of a tight point. That's something which never occurred to me before 

But unlike @pawnee's comment, it's never jerked on the centrestand before -- hence my post.

Thanks guys!

Now to check out chains and sprockets and decide if I'll have a shop do it at end-of-season or do it myself over winter.. Decisions decisions.