I've read some threads that said I needed to "set my rings". Even the dealer said I should roll on the throttle once in a while to set the rings. I put a tach on my bike so I do know what rpm's my engine is putting out.

Here's what I do:
I'll cruise up to 3,000 rpm then hit it until I'm at 4,000 rpm when I shift to the next gear (usually 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th if I have the room). When I'm going fast enough, I'll ride at 4,000 for about 30 seconds and roll off of the throttle and down shift back to 2nd at 2,500 rpm. I'll ride between 2,500 and 3,000 until I find an open area, then do it again.

Is this what I should be doing? I want to do justice to my '09 FXD.

 

The best way you can break an engine in is to ride it normally. Forget all that RPM nonsense, don't lug it, don't ring it's neck constantly and you will have a good running tight engine.

 

You'll get all sorts of opinions on break-in procedures... I basically followed what it said in the owner's manual for the first 500 miles and haven't had any issues. I was just careful not to lug the engine.

 

She sounds good when I open the throttle at 2,500. Anything lower than that doesn't feel right but the manual says up shift at 2,500!

 

Yeah, everyone seems to have their own break-in philosophy. I've even heard a few guys talking about running their new bikes up to 70 in first gear to break a new bike in... probably just break it. LOL!
Since Harley is stingy with tachs, I just followed what the dealer told me:

Do not lug the engine
Vary your speeds and don't take it above 65 for the first 50 miles
Vary your speeds and don't take it above 75 until after your reach 500 miles

I think the key is to not lug the engine or cruise for long periods at the same speed for the first 500 miles.

 

I've never broken anything in. I just ride it like normal, never had any problems. 90% urban myth most likely, but I may be full of $hit.

 

Don't be too concerned about new bike "Breakin". Ride it the way your going to always be riding it. Never lug or "no-load" over rev. Warm-up time is good.
On a newly built engine........ it needs the rings set in the first 10 miles. 75 mile oil change then 500mile change again, all on Dino oil. There IS a difference in a properly broke in motor. There are many opinions on how to break in.........at minimum, the above is mandatory out of my shop, then I finish up with a routine program.
Kenny

 

Since I have 193 miles on it so far and it will be raining this weekend, I'll change the oils.

My problem is if you don't need to do anything, why does this idea exist that we need to "set the rings"?

 

alot of the talk of breaking the engine is a scare tactic they don't want you to go ripping away wide open because that will break something and cause a lot of premature wear on the many parts, especially the transmission the gears first have to wear together for lack of better words the teeth don't always fit just perfectly, so if you pound on it you may cause overwear on the teeth of the gears, take it easy and change the oils to keep it clean. that is why you need to change the oil within the first 50 -100 miles, alot of shavings can accumulate in the filter not necessarily in the oil. but if you just ran it 3k before changing the oil you would definately see shavings in the oil.

 

The idea of "setting the rings" comes from when the machining tolerances levels were much less than they are today. The rings needed to wear with the cylinder to eliminate gaps from cutting instruments.

Rings and cylinders are made to much tighter standards today. While they still needs to mate together, it is much faster and easier in todays engines.