Topic: Advice on New Engine Breakin for 2011 CVO Street Glide FLHXSE2 (Read 2277 times)

dragonass81 · « **on:** August 31, 2011, 04:19:14 PM »

Fellow Riders - Picking up my 2011 CVO Street Glide this week getting a lot of advice on how to break in the new engine. I have never owned a new bike so any advice on the 110 would be appreciated. One guy told me 70MPH first 500. Another said only 50MPH for first 500. Yet, another said jump on it and ride it hard for the first 20miles to get the piston rings to set, run hard but down redline that will everything will seat.

Any advice is appreciated thanks.

michaelbmenaker · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:24:42 PM »

Silly as it sounds, follow the recommendations in your owner's manual.

darth davidson · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:40:00 PM »

When I bought mine , the sales guy told me : first 500 not to rev over 3,000 rpm. That was it. So far so good I got 4,000 miles on it no problema!!!!

mrmagloo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:57:11 PM »

Imho, ride it a bit cautiously - in line with the recommendation in the manual, but I think it's always not a bad idea to pull a few short bursts of throttle in 3rd or 4th from say 2,500 to 3,500 to help seat the rings. My .02 fwiw.

Fired00d · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2011, 05:00:39 PM »

Quote from: michaelbmenaker on August 31, 2011, 04:24:42 PM

Silly as it sounds, follow the recommendations in your owner's manual.

X2... that way if you have problems and are asked by Dealer/MoCo how you broke the bike in you can say "per owners manual recommendations".

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Wayne G · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2011, 05:09:02 PM »

X3 Owners Manual Its a pain but if something goes wrong you will be able to sleep at night and still fight tooth and nail!!!!!

North Georgia Hawg · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:36:57 PM »

Quote from: Wayne G on August 31, 2011, 05:09:02 PM

X3 Owners Manual Its a pain but if something goes wrong you will be able to sleep at night and still fight tooth and nail!!!!!

AGREED! Always follow the Owners' Manual instructions. If you do and anything goes wrong, you can at least hold the MoCo responsible for fixing it with a clear conscience.

When I bought my new FLHXSE3 last Friday evening in Macon, I had to ride it all the way back up north to get home - about 2 1/2 hours. Going slow on I-75 in the right lane after dark, with big rigs and sleepy and/or half-drunk people in cars zipping past me for the first 50 miles - and having to downshift and upshift and speed up and slow down so I didn't just run the engine at 3,000 RPM during the whole break-in after that - was NOT very fun! It was hard NOT to run this thing at 80+ MPH where it seems to LIKE to run... but I "suffered" through it, and then didn't go over 70 MPH for the rest of the ride... still slowing down and speeding up with other vehicles whizzing by me on I-285 and then I-85. It was a little unnerving knowing that I really shouldn't rev the engine up fast yet... but I pulled into my driveway literally at the stroke of midnight (good omen?) in one piece, and all is well. Almost past the 500 mile break-in period now... then it's Katie Bar The Door!

Wayne G · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:03:24 PM »

Once the thing is all "broke-in" get rid of the cat headpipe, get a tuner and a good tune then hold on it really comes alive at 75+

Aussie · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:22:36 PM »

I wouldn't recommend it but here is a good article.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

dragonass81 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2011, 08:22:35 AM »

All thanks for the adivce greatly appreciated. I will take your advice and follow the manual. I have a about a 1 1/2 ride back from the dealer but I'll take it slow in line with the manual. THANKS!!!!! I like a my kids before Christmas.

Keep the Rubber side down and I'll talk to you soon!

Mano · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2011, 03:12:04 PM »

The one thing remember being told was do not ride at one steady speed. You must speeding up and slowing down is much better. I too did not go over 3000 RPM and waited till i was at exactly 1000KM before i opened her up.

I now have over 19 000 KM and she is running great......as for the sound system thats another story. Refer to the 100 watt amp thread.

grc · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2011, 04:14:02 PM »

Break-in is not as critical as it was decades ago when machining was much less precise, so it's not necessary to actually baby the bike. And btw, break-in isn't just about the engine, it also involves things like brakes, transmissions, belts and sprockets, and pretty much anything else that moves.

The single biggest thing to avoid in my learned opinion is overheating of the engine. Don't sit idling for any length of time, and try to avoid getting hung up in heavy stop and go traffic.

Don't worry, just enjoy the new ride. Congrats!

Jerry

Midnight Rider · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2011, 04:55:05 PM »

IMO, the "gentle" break in the manual suggests is more to keep the new bike owner from killing him/herself before getting used to the bike than it is about the engine.

"Seating" of the rings takes place very quickly...like the first 50 miles or so, perhaps less. Personally, I think it's a good idea to do a dozen or so 3rd gear runs up to about 60mph (after the motor is thoroughly warmed up to operating temp), then abruptly close the throttle and let the engine brake the bike down to no lower than 2K RPM, then repeat. Of course, you need to do this on a country road, or at least one without a lot of traffic. Beyond that, just don't run at a constant RPM for any length of time for the first 500 miles or so, and avoid prolonged stops in traffic. I also dumped the Syn 3 that was in the crankcase, and changed the filter after about 50-75 mile on the bike, put Mobil 1 back in the crankcase, and rode it 'till the 1K service. I then let the dealer do the 1K service with no fluid changes...Did that myself with all Redline products... 20w50 oil, shockproof in the tranny, and their primary oil in the primary. The Redline Shockproof in the tranny makes a HUGE difference in shifting and finding neutral easily, not to mention that it protects the gears better, IMO.

When they run them at the factory before crating them up, they don't baby them...that 8 or 9 miles on the odometer when you pick the bike up was likely put on running the piss out of it.

Grizzly · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2011, 05:19:27 PM »

"Touch wood" I've never had any problems with any bike I've owned and I believe this is due to following what I consider very good advise I received from my dealer when I purchased my first Harley many years ago...

For the 1st 100 miles, ride it like you borrowed it from your favourite dealer.

For the 2nd 100 miles, ride it like you own it.

And from then on, ride it like you stole it!

This formula as never let me down.

Dryer · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2011, 05:57:26 PM »

MIne was on the dyno with 85 miles on it, getting tuned

lammgrel · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2011, 08:35:07 PM »

My FLHXSE3 was the 4th new HD engine I've broken in, for the previous 3 I followed the owners manual and the Salespersons instructions as best as I could. However, as I rode the brand new FLHXSE3 home from the dealership I did find myself occasionally exceeding the 3000 rpm limit, and the 3500 rpm limit for very brief instances due to having to pass slower traffic. However, I never got on it hard, and rolled into and out of the throttle gradually. I'm at ~260 miles now, and not hearing any loud knocks, pings, or grinding.

Fast FLHX · « **Reply #16 on:** September 04, 2011, 04:47:53 PM »

Break in is overrated. Don't lug it. That is about it.

Also, consider changing the oil after your first ride.

Wayne G · « **Reply #17 on:** September 04, 2011, 07:01:24 PM »

Fast FLHX Great point Lugging an engine is very bad to the whole drivetrain

lammgrel · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2011, 07:28:00 PM »

I am comforted by all the posts disdaining factory break in procedures, they are quite reassuring as I strayed a bit from factory break in this time.

dragonass81 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 04, 2011, 08:15:07 PM »

Thanks again for the advice on break appreciate it!

Fast FLHX · « **Reply #20 on:** September 05, 2011, 03:34:12 AM »

If you have mechanical issues get it fixed under warranty. I assure you that you won't have them because of riding it normal during break in, but if you do that is why you have a warranty.

Also, I think the manual says it is 'RECOMMENDED BREAK IN PROCEDURE', not mandatory?

Author Topic: Advice on New Engine Breakin for 2011 CVO Street Glide FLHXSE2 (Read 2277 times)