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What IS the appropriate break-in method?

R

richiro

New member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Location
Danville
Moto(s)
'03 Ducati Monster 620 (sold), '07 Kawasaki Ninja 650r
Hey All...

Just put down on my first new bike (3rd bike overall, total riding time about 2 years). I am primarily a commuter with the occasional "fun" ride as I live out in Dublin so lots of nice riding roads for fun.

My question is.. what is the appropriate way to break-in a new motorcycle engine. There seems to be some controversy over it and both sides make compelling arguments (albeit the "aggresive break-in" school seems to be trying to convince people harder).

So what is the truth and your experiences? This will be my first time breaking-in a motorcycle. (I've had terrific experiences breaking in cars "by the book" with the occasional "to red line" acceleration... but only a handful of times).

Thank you for your help. Excited about my "first me bike" that i've chosen for me (and not because i was a "beginner").

Richiro
 
my best friend bought his bike with 80 miles on it "used"

changed the oil

went ot the track, and redlined the shit out of it for 2 days.
changed the oil again

never an issue.
redline from day one with frequent oil changes.
 
Burnout in dealer parking lot, then wheelie the whole way home. Profit! :twofinger

Nah just kidding, those smart guys that know a lot more about motors than I do, put some handy notes in a booklet detailing how to break in the motor. I'd listen to those guys till you got bored.
 
This question is similar to asking about someone's religious beliefs.

I predict 8 pages of responses... equally split between "follow the manual" and "ride it like you stole it" and "SEARCH!"

Personally, I just bought a brand new FZ-09 and I didn't follow any special break-in procedure, I just rode it how I'm going to ride it... and I don't care to divulge my riding shenanigans online, but it wasn't exactly according to the manual :teeth
 
Oh boy...

Popcorn-02-Stephen-Colbert.gif
 
The gentle break-in method was legit back in the days of pressed-in iron liners. These days, with plated aluminum bores, as long as you don't lug the engine or drone at one speed too long, just vary the revs, change the oil before the suggested 1st service interval (in order to get the manufacturing swarf out), and ride the crap out of it. :thumbup
 
With most modern bikes, you can just hop on and ride it and you'll be fine.
 
Rev the fuck out of it. Change the oil every 300 miles for the first 900. Then again at 1500. Then just ride. The entire process should take 10 days.
 
Actually you should change the oil every 100 miles for the first 3000.
 
Heat cycling is the way I do it. Beat the crap out of it, let it cool. You'll feel it reaching higher and higher revs after every cycle.
 
Reach the upper limit's of the rev range in increments. Do this in a specific gear of your choice. Decelerate, keeping the bike in your chosen gear. Do this a few time's working your way higher up in the rev range. Change oil. Run it.
 
The engine will let you know how hard to rev it. You an feel it if it doesn't want to rev freely.
Vary the revs and don't bog it down.
 
The method written in the owners manual is BS, and is only there to avoid lawsuits by parents after their son crashes the same day he bought it.

Avoiding lugging is much more important than avoiding high rpm's, IMO. So do NOT accelerate from low RPM in a high gear, especially going uphill. This is basic common sense that applies to all vehicles, but especially during break-in.

Do not make short trips. Ride at least 30 minutes, THEN COOL DOWN ALL THE WAY (OVERNIGHT) before the next one. This provides proper heat cycling of the metals.

Vary RPM's constantly, and use tons of engine braking.

Change oil after first 100 miles.
 
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Never, and I mean never, follow the method described in the manual.

The manufacturers don't know shit about bikes. :laughing
 
Go up and down a montain road, I suggest up and down Mt. Diablo's 3000ft., it's about 100miles. It's the best combo of engine braking and load. Just don't go crazy on revs. That's the advice I got, and followed.
 
GAJ said:
Never, and I mean never, follow the method described in the manual.

The manufacturers don't know shit about bikes. :laughing
Click to expand...

They know how to build them, but they don't give a fuck how well they perform after they're sold. Most of them are totaled way before the engine would ever need rebuilding. But those of us who put high mileage on our bikes do care how they're broken in.
 
Reli said:
They know how to build them, but they don't give a fuck how well they perform after they're sold. Most of them are totaled way before the engine would ever need rebuilding.
Click to expand...

We can agree to disagree but word of mouth is the best form of sales building, (the number one goal of any manufacturer), and if a manufacturer's product sucks in actual use that is usually its death knell.

My MX5 has almost 200k miles on it, no smoke out of the tailpipe, runs like a champ.

I stupidly followed the manual's recommendation on break in.
 
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