Is there an easy way to tell if your engine is running lean on a new Harley without hooking it up to a machine?

 

New bike = it's lean...that's a factory tune.

 

Thanks, I realize it is air cooled, but it seems to be running hot like 270F and I don't know if that's a bad thing for breaking it in. I'm keeping the rpm are under 3500.

 

No need to baby the motor...best to set those rings tight. See MotoTune's new engine break-in routine: http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

If you need to get more than a guess pull a plug and if it is all white then it's too hot. My bike runs at least 270 all the time. in traffic it goes way past 300 even up to 330. Jamie at fuelmoto set my parade mode ( sort of a cooling tactic for heavy traffic and temperature periods) to start at 400 F*. You don't need to worry. ride it like you stole it. keeping the revs down won't really help. You have to keep them up = the more speed the more wind the more cooling ability.

 

I always thought breaking in a new engine requires running it rich, not lean.

 

Can you elaborate more on this "parade mode"?

 

Look, don't be concerned with your mixture in regards to break-in. You're gonna be running factory lean until you decide to get a tuner or xieds to richen your mix. Usually you don't change your tune til you modify your intake and exhaust. But as far as break-in goes, don't baby it too much. Get the engine warm and then get on the throttle. The rings set better under hard throttle, but don't go crazy...do some hard throttle accelerations, then cruise for a bit...always keep speed changing for the first 500. But as far as temp goes...during the first 500 don't sit in traffic and let it get too hot. After 500 and when you switch to synthetic, then don't worry too much about the temps.