HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
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HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So today I just baught a brand new Street Bob. I am in the breaking in stages of it. I have been told so many different things on how to break it in. Well I just decided to get on and ride. The one thing I did decide to stay away from was down shifting (But I did once by mistake), and keeping it out of over drive ( but by mistake had it in over drive for about 8 miles). I hope this has not hurt it at all. The bike seems to kind of jerk back and forth when I ride at about 30mph. Is this the result of downshifting or overdrive? Does anyone know what this is? Or is it just all in my head?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay cool, just go easy for the first 800-1000 miles, get used the clutch this will help smooth out the ride, no heavy breaking and watch out on those new tyres/tires. She'll start to feel like she should before you know it .
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 426
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RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're gonna have to downshift.........Just don't do it too early.
The bike is jerking around because you are in too high of a gear. You are "lugging" the engine, which is just as harmful as anything else.
Ride the bike normally during the break-in period. Don't baby it.......But don't "hot-rod" it either. Just take it smooth and easy..
The manual states not to rev past 5,000 RPM during break-in. 5,000 is much higher than you may think. In fact, the rev-limiter will kick in at 5,500 RPM. If you hit the limiter, then you'll know not to rev it that high.
The bike is jerking around because you are in too high of a gear. You are "lugging" the engine, which is just as harmful as anything else.
Ride the bike normally during the break-in period. Don't baby it.......But don't "hot-rod" it either. Just take it smooth and easy..
The manual states not to rev past 5,000 RPM during break-in. 5,000 is much higher than you may think. In fact, the rev-limiter will kick in at 5,500 RPM. If you hit the limiter, then you'll know not to rev it that high.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 1
From: Backwoods of NH
RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overdrive? Do you mean 6th gear? Don't need that unless you're going 70+mph. Downshifting is OK, especially important to downshift to keep the engine from lugging (too low rpms for the the speed you're going). Read your owner's manual - it tells you what you need to know. Good Luck!
Chip
Chip
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure you're doing fine, my Street Bob was my first Brand new bike purchase, and I was paranoid as hell during my break-in, but I just tried not to put too much stress on the engine. I tried not to over, or under power it, and I tried not to do any long distance constant speed driving. A couple long weekend rides on some backroads, and the break-in will be over before you know it!! What color did you get? And welcome, these guys know their SH#T on here and wouldn't lead you astray...
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
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RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good morning psmith007. I traded my 883 sporty for a 2007 Bob this spring &had the dealer do a high performance 103" set-up out of the box. Cams, ported & polished heads, race pistons, hi-flo intake & V&H big rads exhaust.....+ SERT tomap it. This is whatthe chief mech at my dealer told me to do to break it in. For the first 250 miles do this many times: Strong acceleration in the first 3 gears up to about 3500 RPM & strong engine braking back down (down-shift& deceleration). Vary the riding speeds in 4th, 5th, & 6th gear. Don't lug the engine in any gear for the first 1,000 miles. After the first 250 miles just ride normally but DON'T go over 5000 RPM until about 3,000 miles. Then you can wring it out. So said the mechanic & that's what I did. Seemed to work good too. Goes like a bat out of hell. But keep in mind....there's a school of thought that says you should baby the thing like heck for 5,000 miles too....so you have to choose what you're comfortable with. My guess is, unless we broke the darn thing outright, most of us couldn't tell a perfectly broken in bike from a badly broken in one. At least I probably couldn't. Anyhow....I'm sure you'll love the Bobber. JBD
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
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RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey thanks man, I got black, and love it. I guess I am being really paranoiad, but I suppose that is to be exspected. How would the mechanic be able to tell if somthing were wrong?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
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RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ride it like you stole it. It will be a much better bike if you ride it hard during break in. Many different schools of thought. Just my .02
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,530
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From: Diamond Bar, California
RE: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ORIGINAL: psmith007
Hey thanks man, I got black, and love it. I guess I am being really paranoiad, but I suppose that is to be exspected. How would the mechanic be able to tell if somthing were wrong?
Hey thanks man, I got black, and love it. I guess I am being really paranoiad, but I suppose that is to be exspected. How would the mechanic be able to tell if somthing were wrong?
youll be fine! just ride!
