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I got my bike about 6 months ago and I just had the service done at about 1,200 miles. When I bought the bike the dealer told me that break-in for new bikes break-in is very short, like 50-100 miles, so I listened to him and took it easy for 100 miles, cycling gears and not reving it high. After 100 miles I have been riding it like I stole it and I havent had any engine trouble at all. I think this whole '1,000 mile break-in' is overrated and not necessary on modern bikes, they're broke in from the factory to an extent ie. when you first trun it on that isnt the first time its ever rolled over and ran.
Just my .02 - My opinion I wouldnt worry about break-in too much after 100-250 miles
Only time will tell, say out at 30 or 40 thousand miles. If you are right then I assume you were smart enough to change out the breakin oil at 250 miles and again at 1000.
Let me tell you a story, I help my buddy picked up his 883C 3 years ago, he didn't have license at that time so I rode the bike home for him. That was a long ride, I can't ride too slow on the hwy, the first 20miles I went easy, when I hit the hwy, I had no choice, 70mph! He was shocked going behind me. After 3 years 20,000miles, the bike still runs like a top, no oil leak, not burning oil at all. I guess he is the lucky one. Whenever he mentions how good his bike is running, I said it runs good because I did the break-in well lol. I didn't ride it like I stole it on my own 1200L until 1,000miles.
My opinion is that you really didn't listen to the dealer and your argument doesn't make much sense. The bikes are only run briefly in the factory, not enough to discount any break-in recommendations. Any new bike is a big investment, it should be treated according to the manufacturers recommendations so that you can have many thousands of miles of "ride it like you stole it".
I usually do about 12,000 miles a year so I need my bikes to last.
"I guess if you've got plenty of money or daddy's buying it for ya' all this is a mute point... " - Charlie D.
I bought it myself thank you, with my own hard earned money and it's moot point dumbass.
All I'm saying is I think the factory recommendation of 1,000 miles is too conservative, and the bike should be broke-in to fit each persons riding style, e.g. if you want to run it hard then run it hard from the beginning instead of babying and then when you get it on it something flys apart. Like I said above this just my way and to each their own, time will tell if it matters.
Good article! Thanks why_me If I remember right, I knew a local race bike shop ten years ago, they use to run every bike on dyno to do proper break-in on fresh rebuilt engines before race day, it is very important.
It is a very interesting article and one quoted frequently on many bike forums.
The thing is its main use seems to be for race motors where longevity really isn't an issue. Compare this to the methods recommended by every OEM. The latest bike I bought even had the recommended break-in procedure, max revs Vs miles traveled, on a sticker on the tank. If they didn't think it was important then they would not have made a big deal of it.
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