M8 Break In
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 191
Likes: 82
From: Napoleon ND
You don't believe everything the Moco says do you? They are trying to cover their own butt. Nothing more. Motors in general like to be loaded and run in hard to build up enough heat and help seat in the rings. You only have one shot at getting a good ring seat. Ever wonder why some motors seem to run better than others. Many times it is because of break-in procedure.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,679
Likes: 11,472
From: State of Confusion
You don't believe everything the Moco says do you? They are trying to cover their own butt. Nothing more. Motors in general like to be loaded and run in hard to build up enough heat and help seat in the rings. You only have one shot at getting a good ring seat. Ever wonder why some motors seem to run better than others. Many times it is because of break-in procedure.
Last edited by mjwebb; Sep 6, 2017 at 09:57 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,710
Likes: 13,996
From: Northern New Jersey
IMO, no.. Lugging them is what hurts em. If your bouncing the thing off the rev limiter, yeah, that's no good. But that's at 5 grand on a stock bike. Your fine.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 432
Likes: 63
From: Savage
Seat the rings after letting it warm up by accelerating/decelerating between 30-45-30. Half throttle in second or third (can't remember). Do that 8 times and you are good to go. I've done it on my TC 107 right after I built it and never burned a drop of oil.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 24
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Don't lug it (shouldn't do that anyway) and don't redline it... then change the oil at 500 miles and let 'er rip.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 220
From: Dallas
I don't believe in the babying version either. When I leave the dealer, which happens to be on a service road right before a hwy on ramp I hammer it out of there and run it up through the rpms in every gear. Do some good engine breaking and some wot runs and by the time I get home I'm comfortable its been broken in just fine.
The engine is ran at the manufacturer before it even leaves for the dealer so technically its already broken in. one or two heat cycles is all that's needed. Not much else is going to change in the next 500-1000 miles. I am big on initially changing the oil out after a 100 or so miles because there will be material in there that needs to be drained out.
The engine is ran at the manufacturer before it even leaves for the dealer so technically its already broken in. one or two heat cycles is all that's needed. Not much else is going to change in the next 500-1000 miles. I am big on initially changing the oil out after a 100 or so miles because there will be material in there that needs to be drained out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,710
Likes: 13,996
From: Northern New Jersey
IMO- In reality by the time we get the bikes the engine has seen many revolutions. At the factory I would imagine they at least spin test them. And I don't doubt the engines run at least enough to get up to temp. Either as a check or to move them around prior to shipping.My bike had 11 miles on it when I got it. In all the hundreds of engines I built, break in consisted of starting it, the usual leak check, make sure the vitals are good and drive it. They don't break in car engines at the factory and they get driven all over pre and post shipping, with no concern over break in. The trans I can see as having a need to let the parts "marry"to each other to operate smoothly. Engine , not so much.
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Joe Kucinski
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 98
Likes: 30
From: Burleson, Tx.
Hmmm. Broke in several bikes and my method would be to take it take it easy first 50 miles. After that pretty much ride it like you would normally with trips thru the rev range (usually freeway on ramps.) SHORT rips shouldn't hurt a thing and maybe be beneficial in everything seating properly