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[OBB]

Ride it like you stole it, varying the RPM's (my opinion). 

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Bringing an old thread back to life..

Ok gurus, I just read the article listed here. With the arrival of the new bike coming in the next month, let's hear your thoughts. I've never bought a brand new bike so I'm doing as much reading as I can.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I have been told by a very reputable tuner do not baby the bike or lug it during break in.  Ride it like you will ride it, do not beat on it, but run it hard.

HD says stay under 3K rpm until 500 miles.  I did that for 50 miles, then I ride it like I will always ride it.  So it went over 3K rpm many times in the first 500 miles, heck of 4K rpm a few times.

[OBB]

I have been told by a very reputable tuner do not baby the bike or lug it during break in.  Ride it like you will ride it, do not beat on it, but run it hard.

HD says stay under 3K rpm until 500 miles.  I did that for 50 miles, then I ride it like I will always ride it.  So it went over 3K rpm many times in the first 500 miles, heck of 4K rpm a few times.

You put a lot of miles on your bikes. I don't remember reading where any of yours have given you problems. This reaffirms the article.


More thoughts anyone? Keep'em coming.

[Dr.D]

I ride a new bike with an easy loafing attitude easy on and off for a hundred or so then just avoid revving the piss out of it till 500. As to lugging---never I don't care how well broken it it is. Honestly I would hate to run a new bike for  300 miles on a 100 degree summer day.

[casbar]

Don't lug it in any gear. Ride it normally without red lining it until after 1000 miles. Also try to vary revs ie don't sit for hundreds of miles at the same speed. Worked for me.

[HUBBARD]

Don't ever let it lug under 2000RPM in the last hole, and let it pull itself up out of that a bunch of times.  Best way to seat the rings, IMO.  Change oil first time at 500 miles.  After that, change every 1500 miles.  Use petroleum-based oil.  (Bet that will get some chit stirred up!)  Other than that, WFO, and chip it out in 5th gear every chance you get  That was 127MPH on Ol' Maudie.  Don't know what Maybelle will chip out in 5th gear yet, but I'm gonna find out the next time I straddle the Ol' girl.  She'll get to a 100MPH in short order, but takes her a while to reach 120MPH, in 6th.  Later--HUBBARD 

[wachuko]

Don't ever let it lug under 2000RPM during break-in nor ever...

Ride from dealer to my house was around 100 miles so it gave me the time to ride it at various load levels while keeping it under 3K... did the same until it hit the 500 miles... then went up to 4-4.5K... a couple of sprints to higher speeds... just to make sure nothing blew up... and close to the 1K miles I did a couple of hard runs on my way to Daytona (Biketoberfest)... doing the 1K service this Sunday    And not dyno oil for my baby... Syn3 for all three holes. 

Dealer is doing the first service (part of the purchase deal)... from that point on I will do the service at home.

[gstrickland]

I have been somewhat fortunate with usually exchanging bikes during the winter months [Christmas presents for myself ], I have always rode them pretty substantially for the first few miles (50 or so), stop, let them cool all the way down. These engines love the cold, this also gives me time to admire them and repeat the process. I have always been told by engine builders that this heating up and cooling process will do substantially more for break in, all the metals will be going through the expansion/contraction mode. It hasn't failed me yet. "I then ride it, like I stole it." Worked great for my new Anniversary SERG, It hauls!

[TXGator]

I took it easy for the first 250 and then rode it like it was mine the rest.  Just to cover my bases..  LOL

[Harley Guy]

I will have about 750 miles on the bike when I put it under cover for the winter.

Is it best to do the 1000 mile service now at 750 miles or wait until I reach 1,000 miles in late March.
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It is a freebie at the dealership -
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Comments / opinions!

[OBB]

I will have about 750 miles on the bike when I put it under cover for the winter.

Is it best to do the 1000 mile service now at 750 miles or wait until I reach 1,000 miles in late March.
.
It is a freebie at the dealership -
.
Comments / opinions!

C'mon, one more quick run down to the river and back and we'll have you at your 1k mark. 

[Harley Guy]

C'mon, one more quick run down to the river and back and we'll have you at your 1k mark. 

Flying to China next week for work - gone two weeks - the 750 is estimated based on a half day vacation Friday and an afternoon ride Saturday after FCC golf.

Can't ride Sunday due to other commitments -

I have only had the bike 2 and 1/2 weeks - not bad for October NEast Ohio riding

[FLSTFI Dave]

You put a lot of miles on your bikes. I don't remember reading where any of yours have given you problems. This reaffirms the article.


More thoughts anyone? Keep'em coming.

None of my bikes or my wife's bikes have ever burned oil, or had any issue.  My 09 did have lifters fail at 43K miles, but that sure was not break-in related.  They have all pulled pretty good numbers too when being tuned.  I have been told a bike that is broke in very gently and ridden very easy for the first 500 miles will not pull as good a numbers.  I have not seen proof of it but have had two tuners tell me this.

[ChopperPilot]

Procedure - Add Gas, Throttle and Repeat.