How should I break my bike in?

[ferrari_chris]

Hi guys.

I've recently purchased a new VL 250 and I'll be riding it home from the dealer - a distance of about 160km.

As it's brand new, is this open road ride on the way home going to be determental to the life of my engine? Is there anything I can do on the way home (not going over certain speeds, etc. - the VL doesn't have a tach.) to make sure everything runs in nicely and nothing gets hurt? Should I just get a trailer and drag it home on that?

Any and all help appreciated.

Thanks.

[bsasuper]

Just get on and ride it home, and dont be scared to twist that throttle.

[325rocket]

dont hold it at the same RPM for too long, i.e. vary the revs.

[p.dath]

Just get on and ride it home, and dont be scared to twist that throttle.

+1. Wouldn't tend to ring it out - just ride it.

[ferrari_chris]

dont hold it at the same RPM for too long, i.e. vary the revs.

Hmmm, this is what I've heard.

What's too long though? 1min? 5mins? 10mins?

There will be stretches of 100km/h cruising.

[ynot slow]

If in doubt ask dealer,usually vary the speed,making sure not to lug it in high gears,use gearbox,and enjoy the ride.

[86GSXR]

Yep, and the manual will state the recommended procedure. Enjoy the ride

[retro asian]

Don't go past 3/4 throttle if possible. More detailed instructions in your bike's manual.

[mossy1200]

Go up and down the revs instead of staying at the same rev.
Change gears to vary the rev if you need to sit in traffic flow.
Build those revs up higher every so often then let them drop again.
Dont let it labour low in the revs as this does more damage to a tight new motor than anything else.
If you dont get it reving alittle the cylinders glass up and the bike is never as good as a bike run in a little harder.I have run in 6 bikes and I halve the recommended run in time.Mechanic told me that the factory doesnt want you reving a bike hard from scratch simply because if it gunna fail(usually early if its a assy era)they would rather it happened at lower revs to avoid total motor death.As a consumer you would prefer total bike replacement YES...

[Maki]

Ride it like you stole it. You can damage a new engine by keeping the revs too low. The piston rings may not seat properly if you do that. Accelarate hard up to high revs and use engine braking to slow down.

It goes without saying that you should let the engine warm up before revving it high.

Good manufacturers run their engines at a dyno in the factory before you even get it. Max power, max revs, everything.

http://blogs.automobilemag.com/62787...ine/index.html

"As step 5 suggests, Nissan is also very particular about testing completed GT-R engine assemblies: Each unit is dyno’d and must be within less than 3 percent, plus or minus, of the car’s rated 480 hp (lesser Nissan engines are granted a window of up to 10 percent differentiation). All powerplants are thoroughly tested for 60 minutes, including break-in, which includes extensive testing under a full load (for instance, I saw one engine run up to 6400 rpm). Generally, one or two engines fail these tests each week."

If your engine is not assembled properly you want to know now, while it is under warranty. If you use your new engine too softly it may be underpowered for the rest of it's usable life because the piston rings never seat properly.

[CookMySock]

I'd trailer it home. The best run-in for a brand-new newbie bike, is to give it to a newbie who's scared of it. When they are finished with it, the motor will still feel nice and tight and new. Don't let experienced people cane it, and don't beat it to death on the open road for hours.

Steve

[F5 Dave]

nah that's the procedure for inexperienced girls

best is to put it into 2nd & take the gearlever off & just wide open throttle until it blows up & then back a touch.

It's all about heat cycles. First set it on fire & wait till it gets really really hot then leave it in Dunedin.



[pant pant] oh dear, I think i need a nice lie down under a bridge, . . . maybe wait for a billy goat to come by.

[325rocket]

Opinions are a bit like arseholes… every ones got one.

I pretty much agree 100% with this post.

Ride it like you stole it. You can damage a new engine by keeping the revs too low. The piston rings may not seat properly if you do that. Accelarate hard up to high revs and use engine braking to slow down.

It goes without saying that you should let the engine warm up before revving it high.

Good manufacturers run their engines at a dyno in the factory before you even get it. Max power, max revs, everything.


If your engine is not assembled properly you want to know now, while it is under warranty. If you use your new engine too softly it may be underpowered for the rest of it's usable life because the piston rings never seat properly.

I dont really agree with this however.

I'd trailer it home. The best run-in for a brand-new newbie bike, is to give it to a newbie who's scared of it. When they are finished with it, the motor will still feel nice and tight and new.

can you please explain the above. are you saying the best way to run in an engine is to baby it?

[CookMySock]

are you saying the best way to run in an engine is to baby it?

I'm saying if an experienced rider canes a brand new small engine hard for two hours on the open road, it takes the edge off its nice high compression and makes it saggy. A year later you get a smoky engine that doesn't idle nicely - no doubt said new owner not impressed.

Steve

[vifferman]

Don't thrash the living piss out of it, and don't baby it.