Weird Feeling
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2,457
Totally understand. Nothing wrong with that! Sometimes, I wish I could sit in my garage and just stare at my bike. But it's too damn cold, so I just look at pictures 
When I first got my bike (bought it used from private seller with 600 miles on it), I took it for 1k service to the dealer. They washed it and did their thing. $650 later and some reading, I no longer take my bike to the dealer and NOBODY is touching it, especially washing it. Not after I spent all day correcting the paint and ceramic coating it. It has no swirls on it and I want to keep it that way.
If you can, I highly recommend getting service manual. It has everything there. I did my own 5k service and in couple weeks, will do the 10k service to start the season. The dealer prices around here for even fluid changes are crazy.
When I first got my bike (bought it used from private seller with 600 miles on it), I took it for 1k service to the dealer. They washed it and did their thing. $650 later and some reading, I no longer take my bike to the dealer and NOBODY is touching it, especially washing it. Not after I spent all day correcting the paint and ceramic coating it. It has no swirls on it and I want to keep it that way.
If you can, I highly recommend getting service manual. It has everything there. I did my own 5k service and in couple weeks, will do the 10k service to start the season. The dealer prices around here for even fluid changes are crazy.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
I know what you mean. I went to the dealer yesterday to pick up a couple things and I asked the service dept. how much the 1,000 mile service would be, without the oil change. He said why without the oil change? I said because Ill change it at 500 or 750 myself. He goes Dont do that! Theres break in oil in there and you want to run that for 1,000 miles! Thats why I do my own service because I dont trust many of these techs. Its regular Syn 3 in all three holes from the factory on CVOs, not break in oil. Ahhhh! Thought I found a competent service department.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 959
Likes: 839
From: Hudson, CO
No, I've never had a bike in a shop before. This is a new bike and my first new bike. So it's the only one I have ever had a warranty on. This one also has a service plan as well so the normal services like this 1000 mile is free to me, so I wanted to give them a shot and see if they did well. I'm just not used to letting others work on my stuff. I normally do it myself. I have a service manual (pdf version) and when the service plan runs out, I will do my own work on this bike as well.
In the end they did well and it all worked out. I learned 2 lessons with this:
1. take the bike in early in the day and wait for it. Given the opportunity to let it sit, they will, even though I had an appointment.
2. They do good work and I shouldn't worry about it so much.
In the end they did well and it all worked out. I learned 2 lessons with this:
1. take the bike in early in the day and wait for it. Given the opportunity to let it sit, they will, even though I had an appointment.
2. They do good work and I shouldn't worry about it so much.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
The MoCo doesn't use break-in oil (as most engine manufacturers these days) and they certainly don't ship bikes with break-in oil......
But break-in oil actually does exist......!
Break-in oils are mineral oils with no friction modifiers to help the rings seat against the cylinder walls. It also has zinc and phosphorus additives to protect cams and other components during the break-in.
Many people will use it for the first 100 miles on a new top end break-in with new pistons, rings, and cylinders on a performance engine. When I redid my 2003 engine to a big bore 95". I spent good money to have the pistons, rings, and cylinders matched. With good cylinder wall machining, and with the ring gaps properly set, the rings will seat within 50 miles. The advice of my machine shop was to vary rpm, and don't exceed 3500 rpm within first 100 miles. Then drain/replace the break-in oil with whatever oil I intend to run.... the bike is ready to ride...
Many manufacturers recommend a 500 or 1000 mile first oil change. I'm not sure that's necessary, as the oil filters these days will remove any contaminates created during "break-in", but if it's recommended by the people who are providing the new engine warranty.... I'd certainly perform and document (receipts, etc) the required oil changes...
I remember my Ram Cummins truck required 7500 mile or 6 month oil changes during the warranty. Damn engine took 3 gallons of oil per change... The first two years I was only putting 5k miles a year... yeah, I bit the bullet and followed the warranty requirements.... I did 4 oil/filter changes in 10K miles... That hurt, but an out of pocket diesel repair would have hurt more...
But break-in oil actually does exist......!
Break-in oils are mineral oils with no friction modifiers to help the rings seat against the cylinder walls. It also has zinc and phosphorus additives to protect cams and other components during the break-in.
Many people will use it for the first 100 miles on a new top end break-in with new pistons, rings, and cylinders on a performance engine. When I redid my 2003 engine to a big bore 95". I spent good money to have the pistons, rings, and cylinders matched. With good cylinder wall machining, and with the ring gaps properly set, the rings will seat within 50 miles. The advice of my machine shop was to vary rpm, and don't exceed 3500 rpm within first 100 miles. Then drain/replace the break-in oil with whatever oil I intend to run.... the bike is ready to ride...
Many manufacturers recommend a 500 or 1000 mile first oil change. I'm not sure that's necessary, as the oil filters these days will remove any contaminates created during "break-in", but if it's recommended by the people who are providing the new engine warranty.... I'd certainly perform and document (receipts, etc) the required oil changes...
I remember my Ram Cummins truck required 7500 mile or 6 month oil changes during the warranty. Damn engine took 3 gallons of oil per change... The first two years I was only putting 5k miles a year... yeah, I bit the bullet and followed the warranty requirements.... I did 4 oil/filter changes in 10K miles... That hurt, but an out of pocket diesel repair would have hurt more...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
You're like obsessed man. It's just a bike. There are other things out that more important than leaving your bike at the dealer. If you're so attached to it, you should have done the maintenance yourself.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 320
From: Vancouver, WA
The MoCo doesn't use break-in oil (as most engine manufacturers these days) and they certainly don't ship bikes with break-in oil......
But break-in oil actually does exist......!
Break-in oils are mineral oils with no friction modifiers to help the rings seat against the cylinder walls. It also has zinc and phosphorus additives to protect cams and other components during the break-in.
Many people will use it for the first 100 miles on a new top end break-in with new pistons, rings, and cylinders on a performance engine. When I redid my 2003 engine to a big bore 95". I spent good money to have the pistons, rings, and cylinders matched. With good cylinder wall machining, and with the ring gaps properly set, the rings will seat within 50 miles. The advice of my machine shop was to vary rpm, and don't exceed 3500 rpm within first 100 miles. Then drain/replace the break-in oil with whatever oil I intend to run.... the bike is ready to ride...
Many manufacturers recommend a 500 or 1000 mile first oil change. I'm not sure that's necessary, as the oil filters these days will remove any contaminates created during "break-in", but if it's recommended by the people who are providing the new engine warranty.... I'd certainly perform and document (receipts, etc) the required oil changes...
I remember my Ram Cummins truck required 7500 mile or 6 month oil changes during the warranty. Damn engine took 3 gallons of oil per change... The first two years I was only putting 5k miles a year... yeah, I bit the bullet and followed the warranty requirements.... I did 4 oil/filter changes in 10K miles... That hurt, but an out of pocket diesel repair would have hurt more...
But break-in oil actually does exist......!
Break-in oils are mineral oils with no friction modifiers to help the rings seat against the cylinder walls. It also has zinc and phosphorus additives to protect cams and other components during the break-in.
Many people will use it for the first 100 miles on a new top end break-in with new pistons, rings, and cylinders on a performance engine. When I redid my 2003 engine to a big bore 95". I spent good money to have the pistons, rings, and cylinders matched. With good cylinder wall machining, and with the ring gaps properly set, the rings will seat within 50 miles. The advice of my machine shop was to vary rpm, and don't exceed 3500 rpm within first 100 miles. Then drain/replace the break-in oil with whatever oil I intend to run.... the bike is ready to ride...
Many manufacturers recommend a 500 or 1000 mile first oil change. I'm not sure that's necessary, as the oil filters these days will remove any contaminates created during "break-in", but if it's recommended by the people who are providing the new engine warranty.... I'd certainly perform and document (receipts, etc) the required oil changes...
I remember my Ram Cummins truck required 7500 mile or 6 month oil changes during the warranty. Damn engine took 3 gallons of oil per change... The first two years I was only putting 5k miles a year... yeah, I bit the bullet and followed the warranty requirements.... I did 4 oil/filter changes in 10K miles... That hurt, but an out of pocket diesel repair would have hurt more...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,272
Likes: 3,684
From: backwoods
Maybe just saying you shouldn't leave the oil the broke the engine in that long. Its a common pracitce for many to change the first oil sooner.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
My local dealer is a pretty good store. They have classes once or twice a month on various things about Harleys. They have been very friendly and welcoming to me. They have never pressured me or pestered me. The dealer seems to have a good customer presence. I did have them do my 1000 mile service. It was part of my new bike package. I fully trust them to do maintenance on my bike. That said, being an old ex-mechanic, I do my own service and maintenance work.
To the OP, Black Ultra, I recommend you buy the service manual and the parts manual. Then take these to an office supply store and have them cut the back binding off and install spiral binder. This way it will lay flat on your bench while you use it. The parts manual has exploded views of all the sub-systems on your bike, which will help with dis-assembly and assembly. And I would not fret quite so much if you have to take your bike in for some reason. Just understand that sometimes the quoted times may run a bit longer. I was a licensed master mechanic back in the 70's-80's and worked at auto dealerships. Sometime there are things that slow down repair processes....which could end up the mechanic getting a later start on your project.
Just make sure you have good tools and patience if you are not experienced at mechanic work!
To the OP, Black Ultra, I recommend you buy the service manual and the parts manual. Then take these to an office supply store and have them cut the back binding off and install spiral binder. This way it will lay flat on your bench while you use it. The parts manual has exploded views of all the sub-systems on your bike, which will help with dis-assembly and assembly. And I would not fret quite so much if you have to take your bike in for some reason. Just understand that sometimes the quoted times may run a bit longer. I was a licensed master mechanic back in the 70's-80's and worked at auto dealerships. Sometime there are things that slow down repair processes....which could end up the mechanic getting a later start on your project.
Just make sure you have good tools and patience if you are not experienced at mechanic work!
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,736
Likes: 22,855
From: North Carolina
I dropped my 6 week old bike off at the dealer for the 1000 mile service this afternoon. I didn't want to leave it. And now, I feel a bit anxious knowing it's not in the garage. I had to take it in after work and I will have to wait until after work tomorrow to pick it up. If I could have taken it in the morning, I could have waited for it. I think maybe I have grown a bit attached to it.
The best solution is to have two!