Breaking in new Moto?
 

Hi all,

Sorry tried the search function but no joy. When I looked on google some said I should run the engine in hard others soft. I am soon to buy a brand new Honda here in Chile (with bad Spanish) so was wondering how to do it. I mean does one just put some gas in it in the showroom and drive off? Maybe that's a daft question but this will be the first time ever I have bought a new vehicle. Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Rtw


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Don't lug it, use the gears. Don't worry too much about the revs- the old 'keep it under 4 1/2 thousand for 500 miles' doesn't apply these days, but don't thrash it. Modern bikes don't need much running in.

You are not just running in an engine, it's a whole bike and you are not aiming for race performance peak power. Ignore technical web site rubbish about piston ring patterns and other minutia. Ignore rubbish written for Urals, Enfields and other old technology, your bike has very little cast iron content. There are pages and pages of witch craft and my-brothers-mates-sisters-boyfrieds-aunt which are best ignored.

Just ride normally on a good mixture of roads and change the oil when the manual tells you. If it feels unhappy stop and check.

Andy

Breaking in new Moto?
 

Very helpful. Many thanks

Heat cycles
 

Heat cycles are the most important thing to observe on a brand new motor.
Easy to do and effective for break in.

The first couple hours of use, only run 15 to 20 minutes at a time ... ride normally, don't lug it but don't over rev it either. After 15 minutes, shut it down, have a coffee, let it cool for half hour. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Short runs, not letting it get TOO hot on first few runs. The heating/cooling scuffs in surfaces and mates everything together nicely.

After 2 hours of this, you are done. I would change oil at 600 miles or so.
Not a big deal, but the original oil may have some tiny metal particles as it breaks in.

Be sure to use the "overrun" as much as possible. That is when slowing, downshift ...shut throttle. Use compression braking. Great for break in as well.

I would use regular motorcycle specific mineral oil (not synthetic) for the first 3000 miles.

After that, you can go to FULL SYNTHETIC. (if available) But use caution NOT to use synthetic oil that contains "friction modifiers". Most synthetic oil for cars have the friction modifiers ... do not use as your clutch will SLIP!

But Motorcycle specific synthetic is very expensive. You could also go with Semi-Synthetic or Blend oil. All good. Use correct weight, change oil filter first few oil changes ... after that (at 10,000 miles or so) you could do a filter every other oil change.

Check valve clearance at around 3000 miles. Ride Ride Ride!

Be safe, good luck! bier

Hi mollydog and thanks again for another informative response!

This is aka engine breaking? I usually drive this this anyway and try to avoid the breaks. In fact I wondered if this could ever be bad for the engine?





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