Do you coddle your bike......

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May 17, 2011 | 05:51 PM

#11

klap

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 964

Likes: 243

From: right outside of town

..soon as you pull off the lot..do 30-60-30 in third gear..rings are now seated..then vary the throttle for the next couple hundred miles..change the oil soon as ya get home, then again at 500..it will have a little more power than if ya don't and it will help keep it from burning oil..roll it like ya stole it..

May 17, 2011 | 08:17 PM

#12

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

Rode ours moderatly for the first 20 miles then ran it up and down the rpm's in 3rd bout 10 times then rode it like I would normally after that.

May 17, 2011 | 11:27 PM

#13

arcticharleyman

Thread Starter

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 2,145

Likes: 2

From: Ontario East

Quote:

Originally Posted by QehQeh

And if it doesn't break under warranty, just think of all the work your service rep will be bringing in to his dealership from all of his customers' beat up motors... out of warranty!

The theory supporting "running it hard" during break-in comes from the idea that if you baby the motor, it won't develop enough compression to fully seat the piston rings into the cylinder walls. There has to be enough compression to break the oil film (between the piston ring face and cylinder) so that the hone pattern on the cylinder wall can wear away enough of the piston ring face to seat well. If this isn’t done within the first few miles, the sharp edges of the crosshatch pattern will round off and the rings will never seat to their potential.
I’m no expert but I don’t know if this is all that critical with modern HD engines. Experts please chime in!

Personally, I think this "Run it hard. Try to make it break." attitude is ridiculous. Even if someone else is paying for YOUR abuse, it’s just a waste of resources.

First off...I don't agree with your statement on the rep bringing in more work...our beat up motors. If you read all of my post, you will see that I mentioned to make sure you get the inpections and service work done. This should catch anything that is going wrong before it is off warranty.
And secondly....Who will be paying for my "abuse"? I bought the bike which includes the cost of the warranty. The manufacturer does not 'give' you the warranty free. If you think that, then you might want to buy a bridge I have for sale in the Sahara.

May 17, 2011 | 11:36 PM

#14

lh4x4

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 13,402

Likes: 941

From: Illinois

Yes, I follow the owners manual method. The other way I coddle the bikes is they are parked in A/C during the summer and heated in the winter.

Trying to break a bike is called abuse in the warranty language. Does not seem like a winner to me.

May 17, 2011 | 11:46 PM

#15

mmcbeat

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 4,229

Likes: 10

From: Oklahoma

I'm thinking a Harley is a cruiser with a tractor motor that is almost bullet proof. No need to coddle it, but it's not a crotch rocket. Enjoy your scooter for what it is.

May 17, 2011 | 11:55 PM

#16

Hog Heaven

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 329

Likes: 0

From: Inland Northwest

Have "broke in" two new bikes over the last 7 years. Both of them were broke in as per the manual. Neither bike has burned a drop of oil, neither bike has given me an ounce of mechanical problems, neither bike has failed me in any way. Not saying this is the only way, just the way that's worked for me.