[Closed] Is my chain too short ?

Looks on the short side.

Why not let all the air out your shock and check.

Yes. Also, your bike is upside down.

Depressurise your shock - at full travel things will look even worse.

What's the best way to measure and make sure I have the right length chain.

Big sproket to big sprocket, plus 2 chain links. ( and not through the rear mech whilst sizing up )

Plus you need to adjust for chain growth during rear suspension travel. Let the air out of your shock and move it completely through its travel to see whether you need to another link or two when the shock is bottomed out.

Chain growth is not always at its maximum when the travel is bottomed out. Sometimes it's at a certain point in the suspension travel. Best to check all of the way through the stroke.

For 1x systems it's not big-big plus 2 links. Because the OPs photo I'd say is more than that. It's what is the correct length.

And yes, that looks too short.

There are some guides out there for 1x and using the small sprocket threaded through the mech too but not sure about your shock.

Looks fine to me depending on chaingrowth as the sus moves. On a hardtail that would be fine

As TJ says, fine on a hardtail but would want to cycle the suspension to check.

So. For any system it’s big-big plus two links, not through derailleur while measuring.

For FS, you let the sit out of the shock or remove it, then while bike in stand stand next to the bike but at arms length and slowly lift the back end up and let it down. You are watching to see where on the arc the back axle looks furthest from the BB. It’s almost certainly not at full travel, probably somewhere in the upper middle. When you think you see it, you use a bit of string around your seatpost and tie it to the axle or chainstay bridge to keep the thing at that furthest point while you do the chain sizing. Then you do the big-big etc thing exactly as you would on a HT.

If you’re concerned it’s too short while the bike is sitting unloaded, you’re probably going to rip the derailleur off after a ride or two unless you sort it out.

“So. For any system it’s big-big plus two links, not through derailleur while measuring.”

SRAM recommend around largest rings not through mech plus ONE full link on full-sus (with the suspension positioned for max chain growth) but two full links for hardtail, on their 1x systems.

If you’re not sure when max chain growth happens, tie a piece of string around the BB and rear axle.

So much advice...

I would trust this guy:

I would have made a mistake on my 11x1!
Now using 4 rivets!

"So much advice…

I would trust this guy:"

Basically with 2x or 3x or with rear suspension you don't need to add as many links as with 1x and no rear suspension because you'll rarely use as much of the chain length.

For 1x systems it’s not big-big plus 2 links. Because the OPs photo I’d say is more than that. It’s what is the correct length.

I'd look at the tech manual to find the correct length for your drivetrain. It does vary these days. And consider the suspension - you absolutely don't want to have the chain going taut at any point in the travel. Anything except this isn't a disaster but things might not work as well as they could.

You are however unlikely to use full travel in the big cog so you may get away with it in general riding. But it will probably be a bit ratchetty as everything is pulled so tight.

As an aside, do you need a mech that long? Looks huge.