break in
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 2
From: NE IOWA
break in
How do most break in your bikes. When talking with other riders get very different responses, Have been told have to follow the book they give you when you pick up you bike others say break it in the way you are going to ride it. what is different from a bike to a car when buying a car they don't say don't run cruise or don't ride hwy the whole car needs a 1k check up. When people get the upgrades done before delivery you see a lot of dyno sheets so this must not hurt them. I am thinking the ride it cant hurt anything
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
I'm on the fence with it.....I try not to overheat the engine,, run it thru gearing without staying in one particular gear too long till about 500-600 miles then do the first service and ride it like I do now.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 855
Likes: 6
From: Riverside, Ca.
I break in cars or bikes the way I'm going to drive them with the exception of continuous sustained highway speeds. Like to vary the rpm's when cruising. I also do a 1,000 mile oil and filter change unless the mfg. states to leave the break in oil for a specific number of miles. My daughters Honda says not to change the break in oil prior to 5,000 miles.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: canton ga
ride it like you already had 5k miles on it. break it in like you are probably going to ride the bike as long as it is yours. Not what the "DEALER" told me but then again, the dealer thought his bike was worth full price but when I wouldnt buy it at that, he changed his mind.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,656
Likes: 6,456
From: Honah Lee
These engines tolerance are so close it makes little difference. Why Harley still has that is so you take caution least something come loose from improper machine torqueing or a bad casting or forging cracks and locks the engine up and you get killed or blow the engine completely. Cheaper for them to fix and less law-suits.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Randolph, WI
Ride it like you normally would. True story, I bought a bike and a week later my buddy bought the exact same bike. He beat the crap out it right away while I somewhat babied mine. His was always faster..
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
There's nearly as many different perspectives on break-in procedures as there are riders (who care).
Here's how I did mine:
During the initial 500 miles or so I varied the rpm and loads as much as practical. Never did any steady speed/load cruising for more than a 1/2 mile or so. Did several 30-60-30 cycles (or similar). Did a few short runs and cool downs to heat-cycle the engine. Never lugged the engine. Initially I stayed away from full-throttle and/or redline runs but gradually incresed throttle and rpm as the miles progressed. By 500 miles it was anything goes.
Changed all oils and filter @ 584 miles w/conventional HD 20W-50 and Formula Plus (probably should have done the first change sooner but that's water under the bridge now). Adjusted the clutch @ 890 miles. Changed all oils again @ 1458 miles w/ Mobil 1 20W-50 V-Twin. I wasn't happy with the 20W-50 in the trans so a couple days later I changed the trans oil again with 75W-90 Mobil 1.
Then installed Stg 1 A/C and PCV w/AutoTune and did about 800 hard miles fine tuning the fuel map.
3rd oil change was done @ 4781 miles.
That's it! Break-in complete.
Here's how I did mine:
During the initial 500 miles or so I varied the rpm and loads as much as practical. Never did any steady speed/load cruising for more than a 1/2 mile or so. Did several 30-60-30 cycles (or similar). Did a few short runs and cool downs to heat-cycle the engine. Never lugged the engine. Initially I stayed away from full-throttle and/or redline runs but gradually incresed throttle and rpm as the miles progressed. By 500 miles it was anything goes.
Changed all oils and filter @ 584 miles w/conventional HD 20W-50 and Formula Plus (probably should have done the first change sooner but that's water under the bridge now). Adjusted the clutch @ 890 miles. Changed all oils again @ 1458 miles w/ Mobil 1 20W-50 V-Twin. I wasn't happy with the 20W-50 in the trans so a couple days later I changed the trans oil again with 75W-90 Mobil 1.
Then installed Stg 1 A/C and PCV w/AutoTune and did about 800 hard miles fine tuning the fuel map.
3rd oil change was done @ 4781 miles.
That's it! Break-in complete.
Last edited by 2black1s; Dec 1, 2011 at 09:26 PM.