New Bike break in
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 0
From: Gonzales, Texas
Well I got past my 50 mile break in period today. Now the manual says for the next 500 miles keep it under 3500 rpm and vary the speed. Whats everyone's thoughts on this? 500 miles seems pretty excessive. I'm thinking by now its pretty much ready to ride the way I want to. What do ya think?
I have read every thing from Haul azz from day one.... to... follow the manual to the letter ...on this forum. Thing is, do the guys who haul azz from day one post if they have a problem from that syle of break-in.??
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 3
From: N. Alabama
I have been told that the motors are run hard for one hour at the factory. I agree that the "break in" is for seating of the piston rings. To seat the rings the motor needs to be under a load to exert enough pressure on the rings to force them against the cylinder walls, and it needs to be done early on before the cylinders glaze over and the cross hatching is smoothed out. I run my new motors up trough the gears about ten times, coasting down between each. On air cooled aircraft engines the break in consists of starting and checking for leaks, button everthing up and go to full power and climb to altitude. After about an hour the oil temperature will start to drop and the breakin will be complete. To each his own. I broke my latest build in with full synthetic oil. Compression is great and it uses no oil between 5000 mile changes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
I've done so much research on this subject talking to numerous engine builders and an old buddy who use to own a magnaflux shop and who was also an amateur drag racer. Fact is "break-in" really just comes down to properly seating the piston rings. Only way to seat the piston rings is upward and downward force on the rings in the first couple miles of a newly built engine (i.e. 20-50miles). Easiest way to ensure upward and downward force is warming the bike up at the dealer, locate the nearest long road or parking lot take that baby up to 40-50mph in first gear (i.e., downward force on the rings) and let the engine brake the bike (i.e. upward force on the rings) till you absolutely need to pull the clutch do that 3-4 times you're set, then follow the owners manual for typical break in. It is amazing how much power is lost if the piston rings aren't properly seated, not to mention oil loss between normal oil change intervals.
Some people I have talked with recommend changing the oil after approx 50miles but I always change at 100miles then again at 500miles. I do this break in for all my vehicles, hasn't failed me yet.
Some people I have talked with recommend changing the oil after approx 50miles but I always change at 100miles then again at 500miles. I do this break in for all my vehicles, hasn't failed me yet.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
It's been around for a while now and has sparked quite a bit of controversy but does make sense to me from a certain point of view. I followed this procedure on my 09 Ultra and can't say anything bad about it. My bike is still box stock as far as the engine is concerned and, I think, runs very well. I've also not burned one drop of oil that I can tell from the dip stick. It's a personal decision one way or the other but I suspect that I'll do something similar with my next bike, whenever that'll be!
FWIW!
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 3
From: N. Alabama
That is in line with this web site:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
It's been around for a while now and has sparked quite a bit of controversy but does make sense to me from a certain point of view. I followed this procedure on my 09 Ultra and can't say anything bad about it. My bike is still box stock as far as the engine is concerned and, I think, runs very well. I've also not burned one drop of oil that I can tell from the dip stick. It's a personal decision one way or the other but I suspect that I'll do something similar with my next bike, whenever that'll be!
FWIW!
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
It's been around for a while now and has sparked quite a bit of controversy but does make sense to me from a certain point of view. I followed this procedure on my 09 Ultra and can't say anything bad about it. My bike is still box stock as far as the engine is concerned and, I think, runs very well. I've also not burned one drop of oil that I can tell from the dip stick. It's a personal decision one way or the other but I suspect that I'll do something similar with my next bike, whenever that'll be!
FWIW!
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
My cars are the same way. I just traded off a 2000 Mustang with 185000 miles that I broke in about the same way. It never burned oil and runs great. The only car I ever had that burns a little oil is my wifes car that she broke in, if you want to call it that.
I payed my way through college as a aircraft mechanic and I agree with the other poster that we broke in those engines with full throttle settings for the first hour or until the temperature started to come down.
As for the next five hundred miles, what really matters is verying the RPMs, so I got on the highway and rode the bike starting at 2250 RPM for 5 minutes then go up another 250 RPMs for 5 minutes until I got to the max RPM I wanted to ride. I stayed around the same speed and just shifted into the gear that got me the RPM I was incrementing to. Then I would go back down incrementing the same way. The 500 miles went by pretty fast that way. I also agree there needs to be a bunch of in-town riding to cycle through the pulling RPMs.
I don't think you will go wrong at Harleys break in proceedure and I think you have to do what you are the most comfortable doing because its your bike for the next few years. You have to be happy with how you broke it in.
Beary
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Seriously, I do believe there is truth in the guys who say when you build a motor, run them hard almost immediately to seat the rings. Fact is that when you buy a new bike the motor has already been run.
The newer gear ratios are much better for not lugging the motor. During break in I varied my speed by choosing the right roads to ride on. 2 lane highways and blacktops without much traffic are perfect. I did push the the 3500 RPM limit a bit (maybe up to 4000) momentarily a few times. 500 miles is just a few rides.
The newer gear ratios are much better for not lugging the motor. During break in I varied my speed by choosing the right roads to ride on. 2 lane highways and blacktops without much traffic are perfect. I did push the the 3500 RPM limit a bit (maybe up to 4000) momentarily a few times. 500 miles is just a few rides.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Also try and avoid long periods of idling especially in hot weather.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 2
From: Ellenwood, GA - The Ghetto Part
I broke the last 3 I've owned in like I normally ride. I'd take some side roads where I could vary the speed. And then I'd hit th expressway for 20 - 30 miles and back on side roads. I've had no problems.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 745
Likes: 5
From: Colorado City, Tx.
I got my Ultra, rode it regularly from day one
without as much as a hitch yet and I am now
at 6k. I got on it from the stealer, rode it around
town for 10 miles and then I jumped up on
the super slab and rode that baby home at
cruise in 6th gear all the way to my house
which is 70 miles from where I bought the beast.
I have always broke anything in by treating it as
I will while I own it. Bikes,Cars,Trucks,my old
Drag cars whatever, ride like you are going to
I say.
without as much as a hitch yet and I am now
at 6k. I got on it from the stealer, rode it around
town for 10 miles and then I jumped up on
the super slab and rode that baby home at
cruise in 6th gear all the way to my house
which is 70 miles from where I bought the beast.
I have always broke anything in by treating it as
I will while I own it. Bikes,Cars,Trucks,my old
Drag cars whatever, ride like you are going to
I say.