Originally Posted by KCFLHRC

This subject seems to be brought up quite often. Why I don't know. The break in procedure is in your owners manual.

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

Because most know that "break in procedure in your owners manual" was written by lawyers, not mechanics.

Originally Posted by sporacer

The critical part of heat cycling has already past. I would just ride it normal for the next 500 miles. Don't baby it or beat the crap out of and you will have a good running engine.

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

Because most know that "break in procedure in your owners manual" was written by lawyers, not mechanics.

Originally Posted by KCFLHRC

Hmmm, OK.

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

Because most know that "break in procedure in your owners manual" was written by lawyers, not mechanics.

Originally Posted by grbrown

I've been buying new bikes since the 1960s, long before the internet was invented and we got to read that sort of 'wisdom'! As an engineer I appreciate the significance of new builds needing time to bed in. Even a new pair of shocks do and get better after a few hundred miles!

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

I get that.

So what about the "wisdom" from the engineers that build the rings?

http://www.hastingsmfg.com/ServiceTi..._procedure.htm

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

You are more likely to have blow by issues down the road by following the "break in rules" that were written by lawyers, not mechanics.

Ride it like you are going to ride it.

I run mine in hard, and have no excessive blow by. Babying it can cause the rings to not seat properly.

If you want to see what the manufacturer really thinks of their "break in rules", go to York and watch what they do to them right off the line.

I bought my last one 2 states away, broke it in hard on the throttle, and hard off for the first 10 miles, then jumped in the interstate and run it home with the cruise set at 75.

Never had a lick of trouble out of that 2011 103", and had it for 30k miles.

Here's an informative link...

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

And another from Hastings, who makes most of the piston rings out there.

http://www.hastingsmfg.com/ServiceTi..._procedure.htm

More reading.

http://hqperformance.blogspot.com/20...n-and-afr.html


At the end of the day, it's your decision.

But there is a reason I won't buy a used bike as my primary ride....

Originally Posted by grbrown

They relate to rebuilding a used engine with new rings, not an entirely new vehicle. Having mentioned shocks above, every moving part of a new vehicle needs running time to bed in and give of it's best. My first Harley was a new shovel, which took the best part of 10k miles for the engine to at last run decent, darned thing!