New Engine Break In Procedure

[storm 64]

Hello folks, I'm coming to GS Resource for your advice and wisdom. I'm wondering what your thoughts, opinions and experiences are on breaking in a motorcycle engine. The owners manual says to keep the RPM's under 4,000 for the first 1,000 miles. Change the oils at 600 miles and then again at 1,000 miles. So, here is my problem. The guys on the FJR forum say NOT to keep the rpm's under 4,000 and to race the engine, going between high and low rpm's, and avoid highways. They say to change the oils after the first engine run (25 miles) then again at 600 miles. So fellows what are your thoughts or experience on breaking in a new motorcycle?

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Could not following the manuf. posted breaking procedure void any implied or explicitly written warranty on this new bike or it’s engine?

[Rob S.]

Follow the manufacturer's guidelines. They will tell you to vary the rpms, but don't over rev. Patience!

[bccap]

This discussion has been going on since 1983 when I bought my bike brand new. I followed the manufacturers instructions and it is still going strong. But I know many who didn't and so is theirs .........

[Nessism]

The manufacturers instructions are geared to assure the rider doesn't crash out from using too much throttle before they get used to the bike. Most knowledgeable gearhead types will tell you to use the throttle to load the rings and seat them early in the engines life. Go to youtube and watch some engine build videos and you will see tons of high dollar engines getting broken in on a dyno using LOTS of throttle. I subscribe to an assertive urban riding pattern where you accelerate using a fair bit of throttle and vary the engine speed a lot. Keeping below redline is a good idea for a couple hundred miles but running the rpm's up into to 7000 rpm or so is no problem. And I'd follow the manufacturers recommended oil change interval. Engines don't come loaded with casting trash and so forth like they did from detroit decades ago so changing the oil right away is needless. There are oil filters for a reason.

[storm 64]

Thanks for your thoughts Ed. I was hoping you'd chime in. 👍

[alke46]

I agree with Ed. A lot of various revving will be good for seating the rings. If you could run it like a moonshiner would run it you would end up with a good running engine.
A lot of mixing with the throttle. Just so you don't lock it in on cruising speeds.

Bottom line Norm, ride it like you stole it.

[Steve]

Yeah, the old-school method was to baby it, and it seemed to work, but the newer-school method says that it's already broken-in by the time you get to 25 miles.

The reasoning behind it is that combustion pressures get behind the rings, helping to push them out, against the cylinder walls. If you baby it, there's not much pressure. Applying more throttle enhances that pressure and helps break it in. Using the engine for braking also helps load the other side of the rings.

Basic idea is to warm the engine by riding, then doing about 10-15 mph in second gear, apply about half throttle until you get up to about 2/3 of redline, then roll off the throttle. Do that a few times, then do it in third gear, so it lasts a bit longer each time. Let the bike cool (overnight is good), repeat the next day, it's broken-in.

I agree with the principle, just have not tried it for myself.

.

[Rob S.]

The manufacturers instructions are geared to assure the rider doesn't crash out from using too much throttle before they get used to it.

Never heard that one before.

If you could run it like a moonshiner would run it you would end up with a good running engine...ride it like you stole it.

I must sound like an old bible-thumper..Cycle World, that is.

They addressed this very issue for the umpteenth time a few years ago, even including a cartoon with a rider explaining to the police that he was advised to "ride it like it was stolen."

Who has the most to lose if large numbers of new, waranteed engines fail? The manufacturer. So there must be a higher rate of failure if you red line it out the showroom door. So why don't you make the only logical claim you can - that if it doesn't fail, the bike will be faster than those which were broken in according to the manufacturer's recommendations?

And on the secondary issue: every owner's manual I've ever seen specifically advises to vary the rpms.

And the last justification: "High-performance this and top fuel that!"

They don't have time to break in their engines. And besides that, they are typically completely rebuilt every quarter mile.

Bottom line: I trust Cycle World, not some guy or "they."

Don't mean to come off preachy or rude, but I'm firmly middle class. If I've plunked down my hard earned dollars for a brand new machine, I'm afraid to red line it before the manufacturer recommends.

[chuck hahn]

Here..read this

http://ntnoa.org/enginebreakin.htm

[Rob S.]

Here..read this

http://ntnoa.org/enginebreakin.htm

"We asked four top engine builders..."

Unarmed engine builders. Probably not Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha. Those are my four top engine builders.

And in any case, the article mentions brief high rpm runs. Not "ride it like you stole it."

[greg78gs750]

lol, as you can see, it probably doesn't matter much.....

[Rob S.]

lol, as you can see, it probably doesn't matter much.....

Hey! My Sportster was properly broken in. Until it got broken in two.

[Nessism]

Car manufacturers don't typically specify a break-in procedure and most auto engines manage to run just fine regardless of how the customer drives the car from new. No doubt they have learned that it does not matter much what type of break-in is performed.

And for what it's worth, at the auto plant that I worked at the cars went from first start straight to a set of rollers where the test tech mashed the throttle down to the floor and accelerated the vehicle up to high speed. Even earlier in the process, when the engine was assembled and sent to a dyno, again, the engines were tested at high throttle loads almost immediately.

[chuck hahn]

Take it for what its worth...as with everything else in life.