Break In Procedure for new 103?
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Its also reccommended by some to pull over and turn motor off every hour for 10 min or so.
You don't want to stay at same engine speed and no full throttle. Do this for first 500 miles.
After that consider it pretty much broken in.
I would still take it easy until the 1ooo mile oil change.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
They will tell him how to break it in...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
I can't find the link, but I put mine in 3rd gear and WOT to 4000 RPM, then let off back down to under 1000 rpm. Did this about a dozen times on the ride home. Wish I had changed the oil earlier than the first 1000 miles, but I didn't. So far so good.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
When I got mine I dumped the syn3 immediately, put in dino oil, then rode it pretty normal for 350 miles changed oil again (Dino), opened up the filter road it to the 1000 mile service. Red line ever since. 35,000 mi
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 114
From: Jackson, Ohio
Never had an issue using this procedure for the last 25 years.
On my Harley's, I change oil at 200, 500, 1,000 then every 2,000 after that.
I normally use dino at the 200 and 500 changes but my 120r specially noted that synthetic was to be used.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,310
Likes: 2,446
From: Eastern NE
Your going to get the "go by the manual" and the "ride it like you stole it" opinions. I ride my bikes hard ride out of the box. Vary the throttle is the most important thing. I grew up racing and build bikes so I'm comfortable doing that. It has always worked well for me. Bikes have always run strong and long. Here is a good how to. Many will not agree but many will. Good luck.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,906
From: Western South Dakota
I did the mototune thing too, 30-60 mph in 3rd gear down a flat stretch and let it coast back down to 30 on it's own and then run it back to 60 again for 10 times in a row.
I also changed my oil @100 miles, 500, and 1000, and @2000 went to synthetic.
I also changed my oil @100 miles, 500, and 1000, and @2000 went to synthetic.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
I'm another that agrees with the mototune method. Done it like this for many bikes and never had a problem. The only part of my owners manual I followed on my 103 was to vary RPM and speed first 150 miles. Outside of that I ran her hard out of the box. That doesn't mean I went wide open throttle to redline. It does mean in the first 20-50 miles I went wide open to 3-3.5k rpms in 2nd,3rd and 4th doing lots of rapid slow downs and accelerations. If you read the mototune links others have posted it will explain why this works best.
I've had other people tell me to break it in like you'll ride it. Wouldn't work for me anymore. I'm an old man and I ride like one. That being said, I have a buddy with an 11 SG just like mine. Only thing different is the color and our weight. I outweigh him by a good 50lbs. He broke his in by the book. His runs hot as hell in the summer and in stop and go actually gets hot enough to go into limp mode (and burn his legs)where it shuts down one cylinder. On the open road and in the mountains, even though I outweigh him I can walk away from him at will. Maybe he got a lemon, maybe it was break in, who knows....
I've had other people tell me to break it in like you'll ride it. Wouldn't work for me anymore. I'm an old man and I ride like one. That being said, I have a buddy with an 11 SG just like mine. Only thing different is the color and our weight. I outweigh him by a good 50lbs. He broke his in by the book. His runs hot as hell in the summer and in stop and go actually gets hot enough to go into limp mode (and burn his legs)where it shuts down one cylinder. On the open road and in the mountains, even though I outweigh him I can walk away from him at will. Maybe he got a lemon, maybe it was break in, who knows....
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
The break in procedures in the HD manual, like all automotive manuals is written by a lawyer not a mechanic. They are trying to avoid bad publicity from new buyers wrecking products they are driving hard before they have had time to get used to them. The slow break-in procedure is for the operator not the engine.
Drive it the first day as you would any other day.
Drive it the first day as you would any other day.