isutty5 Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Hi Guys,I am getting a lot of mixed info about break-ins. Mainly between manufacturers recommendations and those with years of experience with bikes. So I'm resorting to this forum to get a clearer view on which is best.Basically I'm looking to buy a Ninja 300 this summer, and people are saying its actually better for the engine if you hard break-in. Not pinning the throttle all the time, but making sure the bike goes through the full rpm range rather than keeping it below 7000rpm for example. Apparently this increases the life of the engine and ensures that the maximum power can be achieved from the engine in the long run, something to do with seals between the cylinder and the piston becoming a tighter seal with the hard break-in.So who's right here, the manufacturer or the experienced bikers?Thanks Guys. Quote
Stu Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 All this came about because of a BSB team a few years ago I cant remember what happened but they needed another bike and got a brand new one delivered to the track and with not a lot of time they did a few dyno runs to get the map right then raced it!! after a rounds racing they stuck it on back on the dyno and it was producing more power than before it was raced!! a mate of mine got a brand new zx6 and thought he would stick to the book and do it right which was all good and well for the first 100 miles then someone overtook him.......he doesnt like been overtaken so ended up caning his bike and didnt take it steady at all.........roll on 15k later he dynoed it along with an identical bike my mates was running spot on with loads of power the identical bike yet with less miles and this was run in according to the book smoked like hell and gave out less power!! read in to it what you like really what they do say is for longevity run it in according to the book but are you going to have it long enough to find any problems!! oh my mates zx6 has about 40k on it and is still running strong thats more miles then most bikes will ever see Quote
Joeman Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 I reckon with modern manufacturing methods, there is little need for breaking in an engine gently.And i reckon the the main reason we're still told to break them in gently is because the manufactures want us to get past the warranty period before the engine blows up!However, from the consumer point of view, its better if it goes bang whilst still under warranty..Also, if you're not planning to keep the bike forever, do you really care how long it will last? maybe a selfish attitude, but by buying brand new, you're paying for the privilege to ride it how you like. why should you have to ride it gently just so it will last a long time and be good for the person who gets it next?? they wont have to ride it gently for first 500miles will they, so why should you??So i say thrash it from day one, and if it goes bang you get a new engine under warranty Quote
Tango Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Running in is a bit of a Bike thing........I've not had to run-in the last god-knows-how-many cars........and the cars don't have a 500 mile service to change the oil either......just the normal service interval (12000 miles on current car & 20000 miles on the previous 2 or 3 cars)...... Quote
Joeman Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Running in is a bit of a Bike thing........ Wonder if there is an element of health and safety involved? so the manufacturers meet some H&S obligation by instructing new bike owners to take it easy for the first 100miles... Quote
Mr Fro Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 When I bought my last one, the sales guy told me the ECU logged the max RPM and that if I caned it during the break in period and it went pop then it might invalidate the warranty... Quote
eastanglianbiker Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 there is a difference between thrashing the revs to the red line in every gear and gently reving up to the same point just not making it work so fast to get to that point.but i have to agree i know folk who have ridden fairly easy for 100 or so miles then got bored bike never seemed to suffer from being used a bit harder than maybe it was meant to be but i think its more for any problems to show up will do hopefully at a lower speed Quote
bex Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 the running in thing is an old issue when machining was not as finite as it is now, manufacturers dont actually expect you to run it in and therefore you dont have to. what i would suggest though is take it easy for a few mile before you cane it to get used to the bike, know what it feels like and just encase there is an issue. new bikes can go wrong. better to be safe than sorry Quote
Chrissb6 Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 It all been said about engines, but never forget that the rest of the bike needs to be bedded in also. Tyres need to be scrubbed, brake pads, suspension and shocks linkages all need time to bed themselves in and loosen up. Agree engineering processes have come on leaps and bounds over the years, so has oil and lub technology. l've was told that if you run a motor in on fully synthetic oil it will never fully loosen up. I can remember that Kawasaki engines used to be notorious years ago for glazing there bores due to being used to lightly whilst running in. Me l've always just ridden the bike normally shifting up early and keep the revs way below the red line until after the first service. And never lost an engine in almost 40 yrs of riding Quote
Guest Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 I agree with joeman...Manufacturers put the "recommended break in", IE: riding gently for a set amount of miles to basically cover their own ass...Less chance of things going wrong, so the less it cost's them, while your warranty is in place...Also, its to preserve their reputation..If they never specified a "gentle ride procedure, and things went bang from you thrashing the nuts off it within its first 1000 miles.. it gives the manufacture a bad name, which means they lose customers..Who would want to spend their money buying one if they thought that's the case...With me.. I dont care... Ride it like its begging to be... Who cares if it blows up.. I will just fix it Quote
Joeman Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 A mate of mine used to work at southampton docks unloading all the news cars off the cargo ships.He reckoned that some of the high end cars had special software that limited the revs, and in the case of an automatic it limited them to 2nd gear.Only when they arrived at the dealers was the restriction lifted. Makes sense, but no idea if it was true or just something they were all told to stop them thrashing new cars about. Quote
Fozzie Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 My Dad's HP4 had a rev limiter set at 9000rpm for the first 600 miles or so, this from a bike trying to earn the reputation as the best sports bike on the market.I'd ignore those who say it's to do with the piston rings, as go to America and they preach the use of mineral oil for the first 1500 miles to bed the cams in properly and so on, although the oil that comes in the engine is usually semi-synth as the fully synthetic stuff is thinner. It's a bit of a grey area as no one knows what is actually true, I've heard bikes performance be better and worse from hard break in. As if you miss an air filter change that can make a few BHP difference and corrupt a comparison test. Or one was loaded up too much when cold.You break the engine in due to the fact bike engines are more highly strung, even with the engineering leaps you still get soft spots that essentially need work hardening. It's unlikely they would even cause trouble.My only tip would be don't hold RPM's. Ride it casually, little load of the engine and take it easy for the first few hundred miles to let everything bed in. Then as long as you're not stupid carry on from there Quote
fullscreenaging Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 A mate of mine used to work at southampton docks unloading all the news cars off the cargo ships.He reckoned that some of the high end cars had special software that limited the revs, and in the case of an automatic it limited them to 2nd gear.Only when they arrived at the dealers was the restriction lifted. Makes sense, but no idea if it was true or just something they were all told to stop them thrashing new cars about. It's true. I used to take the cars off the ships many moons ago too Quote
tommo Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 Ride the bike normally but don't allow the engine to labour in higher gears,better to let the engine rev freely,don't ride for long periods on one throttle opening. Quote
Grumpy Old Git Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 My only tip would be don't hold RPM's. Ride it casually, little load of the engine and take it easy for the first few hundred miles to let everything bed in. Then as long as you're not stupid carry on from there The instruction that came with my bike was 'Don't exceed the red line in the first 100 miles' and allow time for the tyres and brakes to 'scrub in'. Quote
Stu Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 maybe this will make you think "> watch all the end Quote
cyberwolf Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 thats wrong stu they grow them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEuzxC4eGc Quote
DreamytimeEscorts Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 maybe this will make you think watch all the end 17KG crank! Bloody hell, that's heavy! Quote
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