New R1200GSA running in question.

[Brads]

Oh PLEASE ! Not that old chestnut.

My GSA cost around £16,000 and I'm expected to rip the guts out of it in the first few minutes? Not in a million fecking years would I do that.

Read the response from the guy who was Warranty Manager of Volvo in the USA.

RTFM

Calm down dear !


Bottom line is you would have to be extremely harsh to do much damage running it in,
You have to make the engine work or else your not running it in properly.

 

[Martyn H]

Actually not quite. The dealers run in the demonstrators before letting the customers loose on them. The manual has you from sub 5,500 revs for 125 miles to brief bursts of full power within 600 miles. I have no intention of thrashing any vehicle I own mercilessly from day one.

I've lost count of the number of demo. BMW's I've ridden over the years. I've had as little as 12 ( yes 12 ) on the clock & several with only 2 - 300. I am not advocating thrashing them, but don't baby them either; revs OK, loading the engine not OK.

 

[Pukmeister]

There's nowt round, flat or square......

 

[Mad_Accountant]

I am referring to the Mototuneusa link on the previous page.

That kind if abuse is never going to happen to any engine that I own.

I am following the manual's instructions and that does involve riding harder than I would normally wish.

Your bike, your choice

 

[seisobs]

Good advice guy's, I'll not treat her like a baby for the first 600 miles, I won't thrash the arse out of her either, I like the comment of an oil change at 300 miles, I will do that.
Cheers
Jake.

 

[seisobs]

In the best colour, good choice sir
View attachment 219466

View attachment 219467

What a cracking bike

 

[jwpzx9r]

I am referring to the Mototuneusa link on the previous page.

That kind if abuse is never going to happen to any engine that I own.

I am following the manual's instructions and that does involve riding harder than I would normally wish.

Your bike, your choice

I know I could be puting two and two together and coming up with five but judging by your user name you are an accountant and know little or nothing about preparing high performance engines for maximum power and longevity, he on the other hand is a race engineer. And the emphisis is on longevity! When a race engineer puts and motor together he does so with engine life upper most in his mind not power. Just ask Honda, if they could make one engine last a season's racing competitvely they would no question, of course it's impossible but they build every one of their motors with that in mind and they get thrashed from the first turn of the motor. Also most motorcycle manufacturers put their bikes on a dyno to check engine power and characteristics before they leave the factory! If an engine let's go early in its life its nearly always a badly manufactured component to fault not the way the motor was run in, a modern motor has nothing to run in so good is the engineering of modern engines. A badly assembled engine could be a problem also but no amount of careful running in will prevent the enevitible failure of the motor.

 

[TLSgazza]

Most importantly , cover it in acf50 before you pick it up.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Yes I am an accountant and, no, I don't know how to build race engines but that does not mean I lack common sense.

For a start I do not believe everything I read on the Internet. Secondly I do know what makes an engine seize.

These are not race bikes and they are not race engines. That particular thread generated shedloads of debate and I favour the replies from Mr Volvo warranty, also the bike dealer who said when he wants a bike he saves up for it, runs it in carefully then keeps it for 7 years.

I don't care if my bike makes 108 bhp instead of 112bhp - what I cannot accept is the chance of ruining it in the first few minutes of its life.

I accept that the demonstrators seem to do ok but, as with what the trade call ride out bikes, they are not risking their own money so, to a point, they don't really care.

If a good thrashing from the word go is a good idea why is the press fleet run in so carefully before they let the journos loose on them?

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Yes I am an accountant and ........

nuff said

 

[Martyn H]

Yes I am an accountant and, no, I don't know how to build race engines but that does not mean I lack common sense.

For a start I do not believe everything I read on the Internet. Secondly I do know what makes an engine seize.

These are not race bikes and they are not race engines. That particular thread generated shedloads of debate and I favour the replies from Mr Volvo warranty, also the bike dealer who said when he wants a bike he saves up for it, runs it in carefully then keeps it for 7 years.

I don't care if my bike makes 108 bhp instead of 112bhp - what I cannot accept is the chance of ruining it in the first few minutes of its life.

I accept that the demonstrators seem to do ok but, as with what the trade call ride out bikes, they are not risking their own money so, to a point, they don't really care.

If a good thrashing from the word go is a good idea why is the press fleet run in so carefully before they let the journos loose on them?

The press bikes are taken to the 600 mile mark to ensure they are running at their best before they are handed to a journo. who is going to put his opinion about the bike into print; no more, no less.
And as I know a couple of ex-colleagues who perform this onerous task, I can assure you they are run-in as the majority on here have already said.
First, always get the engine thoroughly warm before extending it, no "babying", no slogging, lots of revs, lots of gear changing, & as a result they end up running sweetly.
The worst running bikes I have ever experienced have been run-in by people who mince about. A few hard days, an Italian tune-up as it is sometimes called, can often result in a really sweet engine.

 

[littleredrooster]

Yes I am an accountant and, no, I don't know how to build race engines but that does not mean I lack common sense.

For a start I do not believe everything I read on the Internet. Secondly I do know what makes an engine seize.

These are not race bikes and they are not race engines. That particular thread generated shedloads of debate and I favour the replies from Mr Volvo warranty, also the bike dealer who said when he wants a bike he saves up for it, runs it in carefully then keeps it for 7 years.

I don't care if my bike makes 108 bhp instead of 112bhp - what I cannot accept is the chance of ruining it in the first few minutes of its life.

I accept that the demonstrators seem to do ok but, as with what the trade call ride out bikes, they are not risking their own money so, to a point, they don't really care.

If a good thrashing from the word go is a good idea why is the press fleet run in so carefully before they let the journos loose on them?

Tell ya what - you don't pretend to be an engineer, and I'll not pretend to be an accountant.

All through my career I've had to listen to accountants who think they know everything outside of their own sphere of activity.

 

[Smug]

Good advice guy's, I'll not treat her like a baby for the first 600 miles, I won't thrash the arse out of her either, I like the comment of an oil change at 300 miles, I will do that.
Cheers
Jake.

Make sure that you refill with running in oil. Do not use semi or full synthetic. Better to leave the oil in for at least 600 miles.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Tell ya what - you don't pretend to be an engineer, and I'll not pretend to be an accountant.

All through my career I've had to listen to accountants who think they know everything outside of their own sphere of activity.

Now you're being Accountantist. So anyone wanting to post in this Forum has to be an engineer? I can only apologise, I didn't realise that.

Anyway we're agreed then, it's not a good idea to do what it says in the owner's manual?

We all know how often these engines sweeten up at around 20k miles, which is rather untypical of Honda engines (race or otherwise).

But if you feel it's right to buy a £16k bike and treat it like that don't let me stop you.

 

[autogs]

Now you're being Accountantist. So anyone wanting to post in this Forum has to be an engineer? I can only apologise, I didn't realise that.

Anyway we're agreed then, it's not a good idea to do what it says in the owner's manual?

We all know how often these engines sweeten up at around 20k miles, which is rather untypical of Honda engines (race or otherwise).

But if you feel it's right to buy a £16k bike and treat it like that don't let me stop you.

slightly off topic but did you sell your bike?

 

[jwpzx9r]

Now you're being Accountantist. So anyone wanting to post in this Forum has to be an engineer? I can only apologise, I didn't realise that.

Anyway we're agreed then, it's not a good idea to do what it says in the owner's manual?

We all know how often these engines sweeten up at around 20k miles, which is rather untypical of Honda engines (race or otherwise).

But if you feel it's right to buy a £16k bike and treat it like that don't let me stop you.

You are blow'n out of your hole bud. I own a Fireblade with more than 37k miles on it and the motor is as sweet as any BMW motor you can show me. You point out somebody who says Honda motors are shoite and I'll tell you he knows now't about bike motors. In general most Japanese motors are good but Kawasaki and Honda motors are exceptional. BMW motors are good but don't under estimate just how good Japanese motors are.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Owners manuals are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Actually I have not. I'm very reluctant to sell because (I don't know if you remember) my reason for selling is that my right knee often won't take the weight.

I am always able to use my c1 and my r100r does not trigger the injury. So I have stored the GSA and will continue with my gym regime and try and strengthen the knee joint. The other thing to try is a standard GS seat, this gives an extra inch of reach, that could make all the difference.

I love GS Adventures but I know if I sell this one I'll never get another.

I'm happy keep this one safely tucked up, at least I'm keeping it away from the salt. I'll probably try again in March after 2 months in the gym!

 

[littleredrooster]

Now you're being Accountantist. So anyone wanting to post in this Forum has to be an engineer?

No, but to respond on a technical forum to an engineering conundrum - and to be so dismissive of an engineering solution - sometimes requires more than just the 'common sense' you claim to have. Guesswork is wonderful in its right place...

Anyway we're agreed then, it's not a good idea to do what it says in the owner's manual?

Yes. The owner's manual says not to carry more than 5kg in the top-box too. Know anyone who pays any attention to that? The owner's manual is designed to protect them from legal claims primarily, I suspect.

But if you feel it's right to buy a £16k bike and treat it like that don't let me stop you.

You won't. You didn't.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

You are blow'n out of your hole bud. I own a Fireblade with more than 37k miles on it and the motor is as sweet as any BMW motor you can show me. You point out somebody who says Honda motors are shoite and I'll tell you he knows now't about bike motors. In general most Japanese motors are good but Kawasaki and Honda motors are exceptional. BMW motors are good but don't under estimate just how good Japanese motors are.

May I assume you also own BMWs?

My point was that it takes these Boxer engines quite a while to sweeten up. Realistically they take a long time to run in and even longer to wear out, I don't believe that is typical Honda.

Enjoy your blade, great bikes !