Running/ breaking in a new one

[Deleted account 191119001]

i use 15/50 300v never had a problem.. and never uses oil

Think snelly has a valid point, everything new needs to be broken in and the thinner oil allows this, hence sometimes the odd metal shavings found on magnetic drain plugs, but I imagine once everything is worn in nicely, you could move oil up a little, obviously depending where you live and ride, but even if you live in a hot climate the temp inside the engine will be at least 5 or 6 times hotter, the below reading is not from me, but gives me a personal understanding of our LC engines.

I think much of this has to do with the hardware. Watercooled and many oil-cooled engines should have a functioning cooling system (radiators, thermostats etc) which tries to keep the engine in it's operating range.

If it's 5C or 50C ambient temp, the cooling system should maintain the operating temp at about 95C or so. The operating temp oil viscosity is determined by the engineers to maintain adequate oil pressure and bearing film thickness. It also has something to do with how fast the oil can be recirculated and affects cooling, i.e. thicker isn't always better.

The startup-viscosity is probably the least relevant in warm climates. Up here in the cold north it is crucial to avoiding initial engine wear.

I would think in engines which tend to run hot (i.e. inadequate cooling systems for the climate/use) full synth oil would be beneficial to avoid the smaller molecule chains from breaking down and creating sludge.

 

[Phil-H]

Just ride it.

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[Warlord]

As per the manual.

Thrash it, revving it hard and making it work

OP you're fucked if you do, fucked if you don't.

Just don't come back on here looking for sympathy whichever way you do it

 

[Wapping]

Just ride it.

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Given the popularity of secondhand motorcycles (let the original owner take the depreciation hit, the wanker) and the significant difference in advice on the ‘best method’ to run in a bike, it’s pretty much a racing bet that the vast majority of new owner can have no idea as to how their bike was run in. Yet, the new owners always seem very very happy with their bike. This suggests that it makes absolutely feck all difference as to how it’s done or even if it is done at all.

 

[Warlord]

Buy a BMW Off Road School bike. They're brand new, fully serviced and well maintained.

I threw mine down a rocky hill 3 times. Thrashed the shit out of it through a river crossing and up steep hills, Feckin thing would not die.

I cringed one time, pulling out the grass cobs and bending levers back, all the fairing plastics smashed in.... I thought I'd broken my hip I was thrown that far down the hill. But nope, it fired up, steering and wheels were straight and you just carry on !

That'll be in a showroom near you at the end of this season with some happy owner bragging how cheap it was, spit & polish and a full BMW Service History.....

Now that's how you run in a new bike. They're pretty much indestructible, it's a tough bike (if you put aside, spokes, forks, paint, final drive, electrics)

 

[Phil-H]

Given the popularity of secondhand motorcycles (let the original owner take the depreciation hit, the wanker) and the significant difference in advice on the ‘best method’ to run in a bike, it’s pretty much a racing bet that the vast majority of new owner can have no idea as to how their bike was run in. Yet, the new owners always seem very very happy with their bike. This suggests that it makes absolutely feck all difference as to how it’s done or even if it is done at all.

Yep!

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[Deleted account 191119001]

Buy a BMW Off Road School bike. They're brand new, fully serviced and well maintained.

I threw mine down a rocky hill 3 times. Thrashed the shit out of it through a river crossing and up steep hills, Feckin thing would not die.

I cringed one time, pulling out the grass cobs and bending levers back, all the fairing plastics smashed in.... I thought I'd broken my hip I was thrown that far down the hill.

That'll be in a showroom near you at the end of this season with some happy owner bragging how cheap it was, spit & polish and a full BMW Service History.....

Now that's how you run in a new bike. They're pretty much indestructible, it's a tough bike (if you put aside, spokes, forks, paint, final drive, electrics)

Valid point cars and bikes are like the lottery, sometimes you pick a winner.

 

[thebuyer]

That could be interesting, given your line of work, and employer!

Luckily not connected to Motorad ... I’m just a customer

 

[CPJS]

I have had 6 new bike over the years, all of them were given a 'Sunday morning thash' from the showroom, none of them ever burnt a drop of oil including the ones that went on track
In 2001 I bought a second hand R6 that had been run in on a trackday and done a further 6 trackdays in its 2000 miles, I put another 19000 miles on it and loads more track days, it never burnt any oil until 20,000mls, very rare for an R series engine and it produced 104bhp at the back wheel. I have heard that it is still doing trackdays somewhere, poor little thing.
I have been to the Ducati factory and seen them put every new bike on the dyno and rip it up and down the gearbox a few times testing it out.
I have yet to hear or read of anyone having their engine life shortened as a reult of not following the 'take it easy' for the first 500mls approach. I have heard of plenty of people having glazed bores and burning oil through not working the engine enough, how do the mechanics try and rectify it ? take it out for a sound thrashing.
Save them the trouble, do it yourself.
The most important thing for an engine is clean oil, keep an eye on that and it won't be thrashing that shortens its life.

 

[Nutty]

I have had 6 new bike over the years, all of them were given a 'Sunday morning thash' from the showroom, none of them ever burnt a drop of oil including the ones that went on track
In 2001 I bought a second hand R6 that had been run in on a trackday and done a further 6 trackdays in its 2000 miles, I put another 19000 miles on it and loads more track days, it never burnt any oil until 20,000mls, very rare for an R series engine and it produced 104bhp at the back wheel. I have heard that it is still doing trackdays somewhere, poor little thing.
I have been to the Ducati factory and seen them put every new bike on the dyno and rip it up and down the gearbox a few times testing it out.
I have yet to hear or read of anyone having their engine life shortened as a reult of not following the 'take it easy' for the first 500mls approach. I have heard of plenty of people having glazed bores and burning oil through not working the engine enough, how do the mechanics try and rectify it ? take it out for a sound thrashing.
Save them the trouble, do it yourself.
The most important thing for an engine is clean oil, keep an eye on that and it won't be thrashing that shortens its life.

Well said, and that’s how I run mine in. Over a dozen brand new bikes, and not an issue with any of them.

 

[thebuyer]

Well said, and that’s how I run mine in. Over a dozen brand new bikes, and not an issue with any of them.

Well I’ve had an issue with last/current bike ... and listening to other people there have been similar problems.

So I’m taking a new bike tomorrow, running it in “ properly “ .. no mods or changes ... and if this one rattles or burns oil.. I’m rejecting it .... might even turn orange !!

 

[Engineer]

I am on my 5th 1200GS, all run in by the book and no issue with any of them - so follow the manual, easy as

 

[Weird Bob]

I have run my last three in by the book just because my method happily coincides with what the book says.
Pick up bike from dealer
Ride three kilometres or less and return to dealer to have something adjusted or tightened.
Repeat
Ride home
Walk around bike trying not to squeeze myself like excited schoolboy
Put bike away.
Next morning catch morning ferry to Wales (who am I kidding it’s the always the lunchtime ferry - though the plan is always for the morning ferry I just don’t seem to make it)
Get off ferry. Fill with fuel
Do about 300km a day on a good mix of corners mixed with hills and then hills mixed with corners.
Stop every two hours for a drink and a piss cause I feel old (accidental heat cycle of engine and tyres)
Repeat for two days (3 if the missus doesn’t realise I’m gone).
Catch the ferry home then drop to the dealer for first service.
I will confess to avoiding the quick shifter most of the time until after first service.

 

[Wapping]

Well said, and that’s how I run mine in. Over a dozen brand new bikes, and not an issue with any of them.

I am on my 5th 1200GS, all run in by the book and no issue with any of them - so follow the manual, easy as

So there you have it girls, two starkly different methods and both with the same - equally happy - result.

Somewhere out there, there’s 16 or so bikes, owned no doubt by happy owners, none the wiser as to how the running in was done. I bet they chose the one to buy by judging the sparkly shine and the colour; it’s as good a way as any other.

 

[Weird Bob]

So there you have it girls, two starkly different methods and both with the same - equally happy - result.

I think your right. Either method will work just as well unless you really do some stupid crap on run in. Any difficulties you have after the fact is luck of the draw rather than how you ran it in.

 

[thebuyer]

O what a difference

So picked up new GSA this morning... no mods, just standard everything.... headed for NW using all my favourite roads... used 4K revs and after 100 miles stretched it a little but didn’t go over 5k... covered 310 miles today, and the bike feels so much better... less rattles... smoother... so let’s hope this is the start of a long and happy relationship.

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

So picked up new GSA this morning... no mods, just standard everything.... headed for NW using all my favourite roads... used 4K revs and after 100 miles stretched it a little but didn’t go over 5k... covered 310 miles today, and the bike feels so much better... less rattles... smoother... so let’s hope this is the start of a long and happy relationship.

Problems only start when you have paid, they have programmed it in to the software..........

 

[MondoRich]

So picked up new GSA this morning... no mods, just standard everything.... headed for NW using all my favourite roads... used 4K revs and after 100 miles stretched it a little but didn’t go over 5k... covered 310 miles today, and the bike feels so much better... less rattles... smoother... so let’s hope this is the start of a long and happy relationship.

I hope you have a great time together

 

[Frankh]

Running in

Well said, and that’s how I run mine in. Over a dozen brand new bikes, and not an issue with any of them.

You don’t keep em long enough to have problems

 

[thebuyer]

Problems only start when you have paid, they have programmed it in to the software..........

Good job I’ve not paid yet ... now work that one out