Finally Hit 500!
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 202
Likes: 5
From: Branchburg, NJ
Finally Hit 500!
After several VERY long weeks, I finally reached my 500 mile break-in threshold. So now what? Do I now "ride it like I stole it" like some people say to do, or do I continue to "baby" it for the next 500 miles like some others recommend?
Believe me this entire process has been uncomfortable, humiliating, and sometimes downright dangerous. I live in a very congested area of New Jersey where everyone is rushing to get to/from work as if their life depended upon it. Right now schools are out and the highways have less volume on them, so everyone is doing 80+ MPH. While I am in the right-lane doing 65, tractor-trailers have come up behind me doing 75/80 and then swerved past at the very last minute within 5 feet of me, buffeting me all over the place. Other motorcycles have passed me by in the left lane, giving me a pitiful look as they fly by. And, the exit to my house from the highway is a left-lane exit, so I have had some harrowing moments trying to thread my way through traffic while everyone else it going 15 to 20 miles faster than I am.
I must admit, there were times when I had to temporarily spurt up to 75/80 MPH, just for my own safety. So now, can I begin riding the way I want and need to, or do I still have to play the loser in the right-hand lane for a while longer?
(please ignore the Heritage avatar as it was recently traded-in for the SGS)
Believe me this entire process has been uncomfortable, humiliating, and sometimes downright dangerous. I live in a very congested area of New Jersey where everyone is rushing to get to/from work as if their life depended upon it. Right now schools are out and the highways have less volume on them, so everyone is doing 80+ MPH. While I am in the right-lane doing 65, tractor-trailers have come up behind me doing 75/80 and then swerved past at the very last minute within 5 feet of me, buffeting me all over the place. Other motorcycles have passed me by in the left lane, giving me a pitiful look as they fly by. And, the exit to my house from the highway is a left-lane exit, so I have had some harrowing moments trying to thread my way through traffic while everyone else it going 15 to 20 miles faster than I am.
I must admit, there were times when I had to temporarily spurt up to 75/80 MPH, just for my own safety. So now, can I begin riding the way I want and need to, or do I still have to play the loser in the right-hand lane for a while longer?
(please ignore the Heritage avatar as it was recently traded-in for the SGS)
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Middle TN
Just ride it like your going to ride it. Most of the break in is done. I wouldn't run it up to 6000 RPM's, but don't fret over it too much if you need to get on it when merging into traffic and such. I didn't baby mine and it runs great. I also didn't rev the crap out of it. Unless you are one to go up to as high of RPM as possible for each shift, you'll be fine.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 4
From: Bradenton,Florida
The "break-in" period is really a thing of the past. The close tolerance, exact machining which is done today on these (and all) motors makes this not as critical as before. Just ride it like you normally would. If that includes you revving the thing to the limiter every time, it's not going to matter how you break it in. I've twice bought bikes, put on 500 miles, changed the fluids, and rode to Sturgis.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
Just keep it under 4,000 rpm's for the next 500 miles and you'll be fine. Your speed is not the issue, it's the moving parts in the engine and metal shavings in the fluids. Make sure and get all fluids changed at 1,000 miles and ride it any way you want after.
Proper break in and babying the bike is not nearly as important as your safety!
Proper break in and babying the bike is not nearly as important as your safety!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
From: Columbus
I've always gone by the "break it in how you're gonna ride it all the time". On my softail, i changed it up a bit. I baby'd it for the first hundred and stepped it up a little more and more until 500 miles. At 500 I just cut loose and rode it how i would normally ride it, including WOT runs with friends stop light to stop light. Anymore, the break-in period is more for the driver/rider than the machine. They don't want you jumping on it, getting 1/2 mile down the road, ripping full throttle and losing control because you weren't used to the new to you vehicle. Just to be safe i was fairly gentle on mine for the first 500, but after that, no worries. So now ride it how you wanna ride it!
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Branchburg, NJ
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Joined: Nov 2013
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From: SW Washington State
I rode my new bike home keeping the RPM between 2500 - 3000. thats 80mph in sixth. bounced the RPM between that range for 500 miles, after that I just ride it. To answer the OP question, ride your bike like you want.