RantMachine Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Thinking ahead a little bit to when I collect my new bike. I've been reading up a bit on what is the best way to run in a new engine, and (as with most things) have seen just about every different argument possible The most popular version seems to be various versions of "ride it like you stole it", with the occasional addition of "...but don't keep the revs high for extended periods of time". The one I've probably seen the least is that I absolutely must keep it below 6000rpm and ideally below 4000rpm until the first service. In fact, I've only really seen that said once; Kawasaki themselves General consensus on most KLX forums seems to be that this is just Kawasaki covering their backsides, and that it can actually be detrimental to the engine to run it in too gently. Any truth to that?I think the version that makes most sense to me is this one:http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/technical/breakin/(Tl;Dr - keep revs in the midrange for the first ~100km, after that vary the revs as much as possible, overall riding slightly higher in the revs than you usually would, make active use of all of the gears, don't accelerate too hard or go up steep hills or ride on really cold days)Thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Is it too simple an answer to read and follow the guidelines in the owners manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 As noted above, popular opinion seems to be that Kawasaki play it overly safe in their recommendations, and besides lugging the engine, keeping it below 4000rpm all the time does a kinda crummy job of running it in and the engine never really performs to its best thereafter. Hence asking for opinions from people who know their stuff, but aren't going to "play it safe" to protect the interests of a company/employer. God only knows I see enough cases of "company playing it safe to avoid getting hassle from the customer but ultimately providing a lower quality service as a direct result" in my work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastanglianbiker Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 i would say ride it gently but certainly dont make it labour so make sure u use the gears properly roll the throttle on and not jam it open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fro Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Dude, I ran mine in as-per the destructions. It was agony pootling along at 60 but I stuck with it because *apparently* the max revs are logged in the ECU and I didn't want to knack the warranty.10 years on and it's still good as gold engine wise.In hindsight, and if I were to get another brand-spanker, I would ride it normally without stressing it too much - lugging, screaming it etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 who cares about the warranty... popular opinion will pay for any warranty issues. Personally I find it absolutely amazing that given all the problems you've had with bikes in the past.. you're buying a new one and then will promptly ignore the makers advice.run in as kwak suggests = underperformance. that has to be the daftest thing Ive read this year.I knew it was a mistake offering a bit of common sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 And I knew it was a mistake treating a reply from you as anything other than you just being a colossal bellend as per usual! Should've followed my instincts and told you to do one instead of taking a moment to assume that maybe you really are just utterly tactless rather than just a god awful w**ker and trying to be civil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 And I knew it was a mistake treating a reply from you as anything other than you just being a colossal bellend as per usual! Should've followed my instincts and told you to do one instead of taking a moment to assume that maybe you really are just utterly tactless rather than just a god awful w**ker and trying to be civil Nice response fella... after all your bad luck I just want the best for you and I get that.excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Now now chaps.....let's keep this civil please..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Sorry Bob, forgot my manners for a moment there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullscreenaging Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Sorry Ollie, I have to agree with shorty.Speak to the dealers when you buy your bike. They will guide you. Also read the user manual for run in revs.Surely it is the makers of the bikes that know exactly how engines must be run in, no? The oil that is in the engine from manufacturer is thinner so this is why you shouldn't exceed a certain amount of revs, until first service and the thicker stuff goes in.Iirc I last year when I ran mine in was up to 5000 for the first 100 miles then up to 6000 for the next 500. Then the book says after 1st service up to 8000 for the next 500 miles. After that job done.It killed me to do this, but I daren't do any other on a brand new bike. Over that running in period I may have gone over the recommended revs by mistake a few times while accelerating, but they weren't held overly long.As the miles went by I could actually feel the engine bedding in and getting stronger, especially after first service. shorty was only giving you straight up sensible advice. (That's hoe I read it) I don't know why you felt the need for that outburst. At the end of the day though, it's your bike. Ride it how you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arwen Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 When I got mine I rode it gently for the first 300 miles or so, not reving it high until it was really warmed up. Also didn't keep the revs high for more than a couple of min. Partly why I rode it so gently was that having a combination of new (rubbish) tyres and new breaks make stopping feel really odd for a while until they were bedded in and scrubbed in. Also, found the clutch to take some getting use to, as it worked a lot better than the training school bike! After 300miles or so I just rode it normally. What I got from investigating how to break an engine in was - the key is to not "suprise" the engine with sudden high revs. Keep it smooth, and cover the whole rev range gradually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 Hey Deso, cheers for sharing your experiences - thanks for explaining about the oil thing, too. I was aware that using full synthetic is a big no-no while breaking an engine in, but didn't know that the oil they stick in it is actually thinner than the stuff that goes in afterwards. I certainly would expect the manufacturer to know what is best, but then I've also had a whole lot of naff experiences with bikes so far and it has been advice from people on here who have "been there and done that" that has helped me through it, while the manufacturers has done me very few favours, so I figure there is never any harm in asking if people have something to add. By extension, it's not that I don't appreciate Shorty giving his thoughts on the topic - I know that he's among the more experienced riders on here, just doesn't seem able to convey that experience in a way that doesn't come across as if he's talking to something foul that he's trodden in, and I don't take that sort of thing sitting down.Arwen - thanks also for your experiences. Yeah, scrubbing in the new tyres will be at the forefront of my mind too! Seen very mixed reviews on the stock Dunlops, overall the consensus seems to be that they're miles better than the stock rubber on the CRF250L in every possible way, but still far from the best option for the bike Think I'll be ok with the clutch, but the gearbox might take some getting used to. Ratios are wildly different to any bike I've owned before, and I've never owned a 6th gear before Think I'll have a chat with their service staff while I'm there, and have a flick through the service manual before I set off (they MUST have somewhere I can get a coffee, right? surely all good dealers do ). Start off easy while I'm getting a feel for the bike (and getting horribly lost trying to find my way out of Colchester) then give it a bit more spirit once I hit Haverhill, but not push it too hard at any point. And reward myself for my patience with an aftermarket can once it's been broken in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'd be inclined to follow the running in instructions in the owners handbook Ollie...... That way, if the worst should happen, they'll have no excuse to not honour any warranty claim. It's only for a few hundred miles anyway mate.......and you'll soon rack those up..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeman Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Think I'll have a chat with their service staff while I'm there, and have a flick through the service manual before I set off (they MUST have somewhere I can get a coffee, right? surely all good dealers do ). Start off easy while I'm getting a feel for the bike (and getting horribly lost trying to find my way out of Colchester) then give it a bit more spirit once I hit Haverhill, but not push it too hard at any point. And reward myself for my patience with an aftermarket can once it's been broken in Haha really?? Brand spanking new bike sat there waiting for you to ride and you're going to sit with a coffee and read the manual???Just get on it and ride! It's a new bike so you're unlikely to thrash it whilst you're not used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I would just like to point out that my last brand new bike was my RD350 I bought in August 1976......so my input is probably out of date..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'm gonna be leaving the house at something like 5am so that I get there nice and early and can get a lot of riding in on day one, I think a coffee may be more necessity than luxury before I try riding anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastanglianbiker Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 you had better tell them to get it ready and pdi done the day before then ready for you to ride away otherwise it will be the longest agonising wait ever while they sort it out when your sat there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gin Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Well I don't have a lot of experience on this one however I bought the sprint in late 2014 and ran her in pretty much as per the recommendation sticker on the tank.. However I did watch her go through the rolling road after falling off the end of the line and there is no way in hell did he keep to the guideline revs I occasionally strayed over the guideline limits, gave her a little blast on the motorway (I mean like 500-1000rpm over) and she's running beautifully now, though not exactly old. Hope this helps.. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 Of course, all good to hear!Cheers Steve, will make sure they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullscreenaging Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'm looking forward to pics of new bike and grin of new bike day. Can't beat the feeling of owning a spanking new bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissb6 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Hi, just run it in as the hand book, remember it's not just the engine your running in, the gearbox, brakes, tyres, chassis and suspension also need to be considered. Also there's you, you may need to get acclimatised to the bike, everyone slightly different as they all have there own quirks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggs Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I've never owned a new motor vehicle.However I have owned new mobile phones... and doing it by the manual i.e. charging for however many hours before turning it on even though you're REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEW PHONE SQUEEEEEEE does seem to improve battery life in the long run compare to just turning them on and playing with all the new stuff. And bikes and phones are pretty much the same thing right? I feel I've helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gin Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 What's the day / date you pick it up again?For a friend who bought a new bike, we did a ride out to the shop then a ride to his after to escort the bike on its first ride Want an escort rant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tPIC Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I ran my G650GS in as per the manuals guidance. It's quickly done if you're dedicated! No trouble since, and you know how tricky these BMW single 650's can be.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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