'Breaking in' a new bike

[Nurse Ratched]

Have got a 2013 Suzuki GW 250. Done 250+ k's so far.
The manual says don't go above 5500rpm for the first 800k, but 5500 rpm only takes me to 73kph. Not much good for the open roads.
The retailer says "just go for it".

What's the opinions of the experienced riders here?

[Ender EnZed]

Just go for it.

Don't hold the revs at any speed for any period of time. But otherwise go for it.

[The Baron]

I don't think you will hurt the bike. ride it.

Enjoy it.

Be safe out there.

[smmudd83_1999]

Just go for it.

Don't hold the revs at any speed for any period of time. But otherwise go for it.

Yes. There is a science to break-in periods. The reason they tell you not to thrash it as it is the safest thing to tell you from a manufacturer's point of view.
But when bedding an engine in, there is a school of thought that it's OK to use high revs. The consensus is you have to vary engine speed as quoted above (avoid constant 100km/hr motorway work) and work up to higher revs.
Also during break in period, having the bike with the oil warmed up before opening it up is even more critical than after the break in period.

[EJK]

Jesus it's only a low performance 250. Just go for it.

[nodrog]

Jesus it's only a low performance 250. Just go for it.

not all of us are rich Asian's with flash motorbikes.

[pritch]

It's running in, not breaking in. That's different.:whistle:

[skippa1]

You should immediately dump the factory or shop oil, make up a mix of 50%diesel oil, 48% kerosene and 2% 180grit lapping compound. Give it a good stir to mix, make enough to fill to the top of the oil filler bung.

Start the bike, warm up by fanging up and down the road just below the rev limiter being as consistent on the throttle as possible. Once warm, drop the mix.

then run on canola or coconut oil if you want it to run really lean (which is best for the motor)

it can help to take out the plugs and drop a magnet down the hole, put the plug back in and run the bike for 20min, then take tha magnets out. They just pick up any loose swarf or metal filings.

[EJK]

You should immediately dump the factory or shop oil, make up a mix of 50%diesel oil, 48% kerosene and 2% 180grit lapping compound. Give it a good stir to mix, make enough to fill to the top of the oil filler bung.

Start the bike, warm up by fanging up and down the road just below the rev limiter being as consistent on the throttle as possible. Once warm, drop the mix.

then run on canola or coconut oil if you want it to run really lean (which is best for the motor)

it can help to take out the plugs and drop a magnet down the hole, put the plug back in and run the bike for 20min, then take tha magnets out. They just pick up any loose swarf or metal filings.

Why don't you also tell him to clean brake rotors and pads with WD40?

[skippa1]

Why don't you also tell him to clean brake rotors and pads with WD40?
Because animal fat or silicon grease is better.....sheesh dont you know that shit?

[Oakie]

Why don't you also tell him to clean brake rotors and pads with WD40?

Oooh, and to prep the seat with spray on 'Lemon Pledge' or 'Armor All'.

[Swivel]

Oooh, and to prep the seat with spray on 'Lemon Pledge' or 'Armor All'.

bwahahahahaha

[AllanB]

Oooh, and to prep the seat with spray on 'Lemon Pledge' or 'Armor All'.

Don't forget the hand grips too (bloody amateurs aye).

[varminter]

I put supa glue on my grips, works good but the wife complains in bed at night. Just about the bike being there, nothing else you understand.

[rastuscat]

It's the risk of glazing the new bore that is the problem.

If you maintain the revs at any given level for too long, you'll glaze the bore.

Just make sure you keep the revs moving up and down.

[Erelyes]

If you maintain the revs at any given level for too long, you'll glaze the bore.

Nothing wrong with glazing. I'm a honey mustard fan personally.

316827

[Nurse Ratched]

Jesus it's only a low performance 250. Just go for it.

Low performance it might be but it's what suits me for now. Have been told, by those who do know - and those who don't - that I should have got all sorts of bikes, most of them bigger, but as I'm the one doing the riding, I get to choose.


And I shall be sure to add the canola & coconut oils to the shopping list:done:

[Daffyd]

Don't labour it at low revs. That does more harm than over revving it.

[AllanB]

Should be run in by now - how did it go?

[OddDuck]

Low performance it might be but it's what suits me for now. Have been told, by those who do know - and those who don't - that I should have got all sorts of bikes, most of them bigger, but as I'm the one doing the riding, I get to choose.:

Good call!!

[Nurse Ratched]

Should be run in by now - how did it go?

Not quite...but very close. limited time on it 'cause of stuff ( work, weather...) that gets in the way. Did an 80km
run a couple of days ago...good for me and the bike. Next ride I'm looking at is just short of 150km, another one of those "challenges" I set myself.

[Nurse Ratched]

Done my first 1000km :wings:
In for a service next week then ... nothin' but :ride:

[WristTwister]

Done my first 1000km :wings:
In for a service next week then ... nothin' but :ride:

The magic happens when they change the filter and replace the oil, now the bike can go to 8000rpm :Punk:

I was looking at the gearing commander website and I saw that your Inazuma would do 100km/h at about 7500rpm - well past the 5500rpms suggested by the manual (you read the manual?). I'd say running in the engine at low revs first is a good idea, but every few hundred kms you can rev it higher and higher.

Enjoy the 'Zoomer!

[Nurse Ratched]

The magic happens when they change the filter and replace the oil, now the bike can go to 8000rpm :Punk:

I was looking at the gearing commander website and I saw that your Inazuma would do 100km/h at about 7500rpm - well past the 5500rpms suggested by the manual (you read the manual?). I'd say running in the engine at low revs first is a good idea, but every few hundred kms you can rev it higher and higher.

Enjoy the 'Zoomer!

Thanks for your interest & input.:niceone:
Yep...read the manual. In bed, on the loo, while eating at the table...
During this first running in period, have had the bike up to 104kph (for short periods only!) and the revs were sitting at 7+something - cant remember the exact figure.
The next running in period - 1600km - have to keep the revs below 8250.

Just hope the first service doesn't show up anything to give the mechanic a reason to say "what have you been doing to this bike"?:shit:

[WristTwister]

Thanks for your interest & input.:niceone:
Yep...read the manual. In bed, on the loo, while eating at the table...
During this first running in period, have had the bike up to 104kph (for short periods only!) and the revs were sitting at 7+something - cant remember the exact figure.
The next running in period - 1600km - have to keep the revs below 8250.

Just hope the first service doesn't show up anything to give the mechanic a reason to say "what have you been doing to this bike"?:shit:

The service won't be that in depth to be honest. They will change your filter, give it an oil change, check your brake fluid levels, take it for a test spin and hand it back.

Anyway, give GearingCommander (http://www.gearingcommander.com) a look. You can pick your bike from the list and it will show you a good indication of what kind of speed range you have in each gear without under/over revving.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Get it nice and warm, then beat the living fuck out of it. If there's any cunt here that's sold more new motorcycles than I have, I'd like to meet them. I've never once had a customer have issues when following these instructions. Just the opposite.

[nodrog]

Get it nice and warm, then beat the living fuck out of it. If there's any cunt here that's sold more new motorcycles than I have, I'd like to meet them. I've never once had a customer have issues when following these instructions. Just the opposite.

but its not what my manual says.

[J.A.W.]

but its not what my manual says.

Wow, you have one that features a new-fangled 'smart-manual' that actually speaks?

Well tell it to STFU, & read it the bloody warranty.. I am with CFWB on this.. jest give 'er heaps.. they are designed to take it..

[nodrog]

Wow, you have one that features a new-fangled 'smart-manual' that actually speaks?

Well tell it to STFU, & read it the bloody warranty.. I am with CFWB on this.. jest give 'er heaps.. they are designed to take it..

Well all Superleggera’s come with a dvd presentation and instructional video, so yes my manual does speak.

Not that I give a shit, I'm not even gunna start it.

[EJK]

Well all Superleggera’s come with a dvd presentation and instructional video, so yes my manual does speak.

Not that I give a shit, I'm not even gunna start it.

Where did you steal it?

[nodrog]

Where did you steal it?

My rich Asian Boyfriend brought it for me.







Thanx Hun :love:

[J.A.W.]

Well all Superleggera’s come with a dvd presentation and instructional video, so yes my manual does speak.

Not that I give a shit, I'm not even gunna start it.


Nooo.. say it aint so..

Once you've got the special light (wallet) edition, you've simply got to cane the crap out of it before the scheduled
service, & they can replace the whole rooted shitter, that you've just reamed the fuck out of, under warranty..

[Crasherfromwayback]

but its not what my manual says.

Penthouse don't come with manuals. Pull start.

[nodrog]

Penthouse don't come with manuals. Pull start.

na its in the cellar.

[WristTwister]

Get it nice and warm, then beat the living fuck out of it. If there's any cunt here that's sold more new motorcycles than I have, I'd like to meet them. I've never once had a customer have issues when following these instructions. Just the opposite.

:Police: engine components must be properly "worn-in" to ensure good performance, reliability, and longevity. If these parts are not worn-in correctly there will be a loss of power, poor fuel efficiency, increased oil consumption (burning oil), among other problems.

It seems possible that customers may not be aware of any of the above issues with a new bike, but they may have problems years down the track. Perhaps that's why you haven't heard of any new customers having issues?

[Crasherfromwayback]

:Police: engine components must be properly "worn-in" to ensure good performance, reliability, and longevity. If these parts are not worn-in correctly there will be a loss of power, poor fuel efficiency, increased oil consumption (burning oil), among other problems.

It seems possible that customers may not be aware of any of the above issues with a new bike, but they may have problems years down the track. Perhaps that's why you haven't heard of any new customers having issues?

Fucking bullshit. How bout this then. I've been in the industry for nearly 30 years now, so I kinda figure, lots of my customers have had plenty of time to come and grizzle to me. Then there's the fact that I've owned prob over 40 brand new bike myself, and every single one...has had its neck wrung from day one, and my bikes have always...been as fast as fuck. Only *issues* we've (us in the industry) have ever seen, is glazed bores from people that don't listen to our advice, *running* bikes in, and totally fucking a perfectly good engine. You do what you want by all means. But don't say you weren't told. Me...I'll have a fast one thanks.

[6ft5]

Fucking bullshit. How bout this then. I've been in the industry for nearly 30 years now, so I kinda figure, lots of my customers have had plenty of time to come and grizzle to me. Then there's the fact that I've owned prob over 40 brand new bike myself, and every single one...has had its neck wrung from day one, and my bikes have always...been as fast as fuck. Only *issues* we've (us in the industry) have ever seen, is glazed bores from people that don't listen to our advice, *running* bikes in, and totally fucking a perfectly good engine. You do what you want by all means. But don't say you weren't told. Me...I'll have a fast one thanks.

what he said!:mad::mad::mad:

[Duncan74]

My thinking is that whilst we are a tiny minority of motor buyers. The engines are fundamentally the same as sold in every car around the world. So given that nowadays none of them go around with signs on saying 'running in' then I decided life was too short, and whilst I didn't go out of my way to redline it in the first 1000km, I still rode it naturally.

I got the same Suzuki manual advice. Thinking about it, then I suspect this is less about long term engine conditioning and more about minimising risk of further damage to bike or to rider if there is a manufacturing fault that becomes evident in the early stages.

[Nurse Ratched]

I was having some instruction recently on up/down hill stuff - revs, gear changes, lines, stopping/starting on hills etc.
We were going downhill through an S bend when my instructor warned me there was a 'people mover' behind him that looked like it was going to overtake. And sure enough it did.
Over double yellow lines, at speed.
The windows were tinted but not so much that I couldn't see that there were at least three kids in this vehicle plus the fuckwit behind the wheel.:angry2:

One of the thoughts that flashed through my mind was..."yep and it's people like you who I end up helping to put back together while you're grieving for your kids that YOU killed".

Had to do some pretty bloody quick decision making about MY position on the road too...got through the bend ok but must admit it did shake me a bit. Have been out on the same road again on my own but it makes me a shitload more wary now.

[OddDuck]

I've learned to treat people-movers and minivans with extreme caution. My low point in seeing moron kiwi driving was watching a people-mover (empty apart from driver) on a four-lane road approaching a roundabout. He was in the left lane. Indicates right, at same moment, he pops a U-turn, across four lanes, right in front of the roundabout. Going around the roundabout would have taken all of an extra five seconds.

Early evening, very light traffic. If I'd been a shade faster I would have been in the right hand lane beside him, overtaking before entering the roundabout.

[Moi]

... The windows were tinted ...

Excuse me while I have a wee rant...

Tinted windows! If I had my way they would be banned! Once you could look through a vehicle to see beyond it, now with all these tinted windows it's like looking at a brick wall...

Wee rant over... and sorry for hijacking the thread...

As a nurse you might enjoy this story...

Years ago a friend of my sister's was driving to work - at that time my sister and her friend were flatting in London - in her Triumph Spitfire [she had taste that young lady!] when some yob put his hand on the driver's door top and said things she wasn't happy with. Her father was a senior police officer in one of the counties and had given her a truncheon to carry in the car "just in case". This was one of those "just in case" situations... she couldn't drive off due to traffic and the yob refused to go away so she whacked his knuckles with the truncheon, just hard enough to make him let go of the door.

A little later in the A&E of the local hospital a bloke turned up with knuckles that had "hit something" causing the skin to split. As the senior sister stitched the bloke's knuckles she asked how it had happened. "Some b*tch hit me with a truncheon!" She asked why? He replied that she was just some hard bitten old tart who didn't fancy his advances...

As she dug the needle in a little harder than usual she looked at him and said, "I am that hard bitten old tart"...

[WristTwister]

I was having some instruction recently on up/down hill stuff - revs, gear changes, lines, stopping/starting on hills etc.
We were going downhill through an S bend when my instructor warned me there was a 'people mover' behind him that looked like it was going to overtake. And sure enough it did.
Over double yellow lines, at speed.
The windows were tinted but not so much that I couldn't see that there were at least three kids in this vehicle plus the fuckwit behind the wheel.:angry2:

One of the thoughts that flashed through my mind was..."yep and it's people like you who I end up helping to put back together while you're grieving for your kids that YOU killed".

Had to do some pretty bloody quick decision making about MY position on the road too...got through the bend ok but must admit it did shake me a bit. Have been out on the same road again on my own but it makes me a shitload more wary now.

Blimmin' Honda Odyssey I'll bet. I had a light metallic blue one (with tinted windows) right behind me, I just pulled over, he was obviously in a hurry to get to his funeral.