break in period

[borto1990]

Trying to narrow down my search for my 08 nomad I see I might have to do a bit of traveling to find her.. which is OK.. however for a break in period, is it wise to stay within the mentioned speeds on one long trip? I can't remember without looking it up again what it is, but say top speed of 60 MPH during breakin. by the end of my trip, my "break in" period would be done milage wise , with majority of it at 60 mph.. is that OK or would it be better to trailer it back and break it in around town?

[cactusjack]

The key to breaking in an engine is to NOT drive it for long distances at a steady speed. That's why they tell you to shift frequently and vary the RPMS during the first 600 miles. And If I rmember correctly, not to exceed 65 MPH during that period.

[dank]

There are many theories on break-in regimes. Push it hard or go easy. I figure I'll trust the engineers who designed the bike and follow their guidance. But you are supposed to vary the speed, so I wouldn't just hop on the freeway and go 500 miles at 60 or 65 mph. Take some two lane roads, go through towns, ride the freeway some. Work the gears up and down. It's a new bike: enjoy the process.

[dandolfn]

The sticker and the manual say not to exceed 20 mph in first, 30 mph in second, 40 mph in third, 50 mph in fourth and 60 mph in fifth gear. And not to stay at one speed too long.

If I remember right, after 500 miles and up to 1000 miles, you can go up to 80 mph.

I bought mine last week. I'm up to 350 miles and the Nomad just feels like it's loafing at 60.

[waterman]

Talking with some of the people who overhaul engines, they really say that the first 25 to 50 miles are the most critical. If you are more worried about it do what dank said as far as taking two-laners. If you don't have traffic following you - you could speed up and slow down and shift the gears every so often.

Me - I took it for a nice 15 mile drive in town and then rode it like I stole it. Never had an issue with oil consumption.

[blowndodge]

Ride it like you stole it...

[lonewolf]

+1

[Cajunrider]

I did the 60 - 70 mph break in as the manual stated for the first 500 miles. Most of the first 500 were local 2 lane highways at varied speeds. I have since read 2 or 3 articles from experts who say "ride it like you stole it, don't cut it any slack". If I were to do it all over again I would more than likely do the same as I did the first time or somewhere in between there and riding it like I stole it.

[VulcanE]

When an engine is first built, the cylinders are "honed". The reason for the "hone" is so it will "wear" the piston rings to the shape of the cylinder (nothing is truly round). Thus giving you a good compression and oil seal with the rings. The "scores" of the honing doesn't last long, so it is good to vary the operating RPM on the engine for the first few hundred miles to get a good "seating" of the rings. This IMHO is the reason to use Dino oil for the first oil change after the 600 mile break-in before switching to synthetics (synthetics are slicker causing less wear)

Either way you do it, the key is to vary the RPMs, and don't go at a steady clip too long.

[roseman]

Two primary theories -


follow the owner's manual and vary speed keep it within the suggested speeds per gear, and for 500 miles. There is actually a sticker on the speedometer when you pick it up. Take a fun ride, mix up your road types, taking some highway, 2 lanes, through town. Enjoy it the ride back and don't rush it.[/*:m:z4dxnhka]

Ride it like you stole it. push the engine and get a quick seat on the rings.[/*:m:z4dxnhka]


Myself, I trust the engineers who built it and went with option 1.

[caddman11]

I rode mine anyway I wanted too trying to vary the speed as much as possible, but since it was new and was 200 lbs heavier than my old bike, it was easy to be sensible until I got use to it. It took lots of miles for me to get use to the new weight because I do highways to work and once you're rolling the weight isn't noticeable. My first 600 miles went pretty fast.

[NRiderUSA]

No 80 till after 500???? Uh Oh..... Every bike I ever rode through break in all I tried to do was not drive steady speeds for extended times....all else was as stated... ride like you stole it.

[kenb]

Ride it like you stole it...

I think Gadget has a drive it like you stole it break in suggestion on his site as well.

[jonsamson]

If you baby your bike you will always have a baby bike! Ride it like you stole it, wind it up, vary the speed, hit the rev limiter, let of the throtle and let it cost down, than hit it hard do this through all the gears.

Do a google search on motorcycle break in and read what is said. Check out this link it has some useful information. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
-Jon

[rlfaubion]

I stole mine, I mean I rode it freely, but did vary the speed. After about 100 miles it opened up more, but continued to vary the speed. Before 600 miles she was at 105 MPH for a varying amount of time. Mileage 30K now, and she still loves me a long time, and I love her :)

Dandolfn - Congratulations with the new bike. Man, they're great machines! Have fun......

[Netnorske]

Two primary theories -


follow the owner's manual and vary speed keep it within the suggested speeds per gear, and for 500 miles. There is actually a sticker on the speedometer when you pick it up. Take a fun ride, mix up your road types, taking some highway, 2 lanes, through town. Enjoy it the ride back and don't rush it.[/*:m:pmev000z]

Ride it like you stole it. push the engine and get a quick seat on the rings.[/*:m:pmev000z]


Myself, I trust the engineers who built it and went with option 1.

I chose option 2....varied the speed, but ran it up and down the RPM spectrum hard and heavy to set the rings quickly. Was at 90mph indicated well before 600 miles. My bike had 0.9 miles on it when I drove it out of the lot. It has 4200 now and runs like a top!

I'm with BD.....ride it like ya stole it..... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[pagemastr]

Mine is now a month old and never been ridden.

Been wondering about the break in a little when I pick it up. After reading MOM and the posts, I am opting for the" ride it like you stole it manner of break-in" Sounds like fun http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[desertdog]

Last fall when I picked up my new 08 I did the recommended break in for about the first 100 miles. Then gradually started riding and running it harder and running up and down the gears and varying the speed and rpms.

I think its as much about what you are comfortable doing as it is about what different people's opinions are. I don't think any one of them are wrong. Kind of like what type of oil to run.

[waterman]

My biggest question is what is the difference between the engineering of a car engine and a motorcyle engine? Not much in my opinion. The rings still have to be seated and auto mfg don't give a break-in instructions.

[pooker]

The way you ride is the way to break it in. If you ride like an old man then break it in by the book. If you ride like a hooligan than give it all ya got!
I have never babied a bike in my life so new or used, I break it in the way I want to ride.

[dandolfn]

Mine is now a month old and never been ridden

That would be tough on me.

Bought mine ten days ago and I have 350 miles on it.

I'm a more cautious type and I'm trying to break it in according to instructions.

At least in another 150 miles, I'll be able to take it up to 80 mph.
From there, the next 500 miles should be a breeze.

This Nomad is definitely not breaking a sweat at 60. Just feels like it's loafing along.

[jussmatt]

Well...I kinda followed the "guidelines" and to be honest, I kind of wish I hadn't. Sometimes, I feel like I'm a little under powered, where others on here are talking about all kinds of power....and those being the ones that opted for the "ride it like you stole it" method. If I had it to do over again... I would opt for the "stole it" method! IMHO!