Engine Break In For New Motors

Here's a site that will give you some ideas on proper engine break in...

MOTOTUNE USA... Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

This is my advice for breaking in a new motor and how I do mine also.

Find a road where there is no traffic and get it up to third gear. Accelerate from 30-60 using a substantial amount of throttle (around 3/4 + ) and coast back down to 30 again letting the engine do the breaking for the bike.
Do this 10 times and your rings are seated. Keep speed to a reasonable limit and vary it on the parkways with no lugging and no high RPM's. Change the oil and filter at 100 miles,then enjoy it.

What this does is to load both the top and the bottom of the rings forcing them out against the cylinder so that they seat evenly all around the circumference.

steel · Mar 5th, 2009, 08:03 PM

The HD dealer here on Long Island say, " The first 50 miles keep it under 50mph, and stay away from parkways and don't touch 6th gear. Mile 50 to 100 dont exceed 55, and again to stay off parkways and don't touch 6th gear."
I'm tempted to push it a bit harder then 50 and 55 without going crazy.

Hobbit · Mar 5th, 2009, 08:19 PM

just ride it how you are going to in the real world just vary your speed on the parkways and use all the gears - that dealer should know better

wstalker · Mar 15th, 2009, 09:50 AM

I just bought a leftover 08 ultra that had been titled, but not ridden...has 9 miles on it. Reading the mototune article (something I wish I had done before this posting) I am wondering your opinion. The dealer delivered the bike...ran it for a few minutes. There is a new battery in the bike and I have had a tender on it. I started the bike in the garage and let it run for about 15 minutes.If I get the opportunity to break in the bike as suggested it will take me a 10 mile ride to get to a reasonable road. With these variables have I ruined the opportunity of being able to break in the bike as described...I'm new to this site, but been riding forever. Thanks for your input.

glider · Mar 15th, 2009, 09:52 AM

It's never too late in a young bike like yours to get it out and do the break in process as described. You can even do it on the way to the road you had plans to use if you are careful. The object is to load the rings on accel and decel both to seat them.

wstalker · Mar 15th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Thanks for the advice. Appreciated

vlad335 · May 12th, 2009, 02:03 AM

Might be something to this now that i think about it. A guy that plays in my band says that the strongest running bike he ever owned was a 2003 Fatboy. He talks about this bike all the time actually. He no longer owns it as he got drunk one night and wrecked it and is lucky to be alive so i'm told.

However, I do remember him telling me once that he lit the tires out of the dealer lot when he bought it and spanked it hard on the way home as well.

Hmmm...

BTW. He now drinks very little and never while riding. He rides an 08 Roadking now and has owned 2 other bikes since the Fatboy but still mentions it constantly whenever we talk scoots.

Hobbit · May 12th, 2009, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlad335

Man this is good stuff. Too bad I'm reading it now that my bike has 60 miles on it.

Picking up the wifes bike tomorrow though and going to give this a try.

you can still do this and it will help

vlad335 · May 13th, 2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbit

you can still do this and it will help

Picked up the wife's Streetbob and performed this breakin method. Nice 30 mile ride home from the dealership. Her bike runs better and has more power than my streetglide and i am not imagining it!

glider · May 13th, 2009, 04:18 PM

It really does work to seat the rings properly and in the long run will give you a nice tight motor with good compression.

Mar 5th, 2009, 08:03 PM	#1
steel New Family Ride: 2008 FLSTN Join Date: Mar 2nd, 2009 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 2	re: Engine Break In For New Motors The HD dealer here on Long Island say, " The first 50 miles keep it under 50mph, and stay away from parkways and don't touch 6th gear. Mile 50 to 100 dont exceed 55, and again to stay off parkways and don't touch 6th gear." I'm tempted to push it a bit harder then 50 and 55 without going crazy.

Mar 5th, 2009, 08:19 PM	#2
Hobbit Moderators Ride: 2009 FAST 103 Street Bob Join Date: May 18th, 2007 Location: The Shires UK Posts: 7,625 My Mood:	re: Engine Break In For New Motors just ride it how you are going to in the real world just vary your speed on the parkways and use all the gears - that dealer should know better

Mar 15th, 2009, 09:50 AM	#3
wstalker Start The Engine Ride: 2008 flhtcu Join Date: Feb 1st, 2009 Posts: 12	re: Engine Break In For New Motors I just bought a leftover 08 ultra that had been titled, but not ridden...has 9 miles on it. Reading the mototune article (something I wish I had done before this posting) I am wondering your opinion. The dealer delivered the bike...ran it for a few minutes. There is a new battery in the bike and I have had a tender on it. I started the bike in the garage and let it run for about 15 minutes.If I get the opportunity to break in the bike as suggested it will take me a 10 mile ride to get to a reasonable road. With these variables have I ruined the opportunity of being able to break in the bike as described...I'm new to this site, but been riding forever. Thanks for your input.

Mar 15th, 2009, 09:52 AM	#4
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,469 My Mood:	re: Engine Break In For New Motors It's never too late in a young bike like yours to get it out and do the break in process as described. You can even do it on the way to the road you had plans to use if you are careful. The object is to load the rings on accel and decel both to seat them.

Mar 15th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#5
wstalker Start The Engine Ride: 2008 flhtcu Join Date: Feb 1st, 2009 Posts: 12	re: Engine Break In For New Motors Thanks for the advice. Appreciated

May 12th, 2009, 02:03 AM	#6
vlad335 New Family Ride: 2009 Dyna Super Glide Custom Join Date: May 11th, 2009 Location: Latrobe, PA Posts: 8 My Mood:	Come to think of it. Might be something to this now that i think about it. A guy that plays in my band says that the strongest running bike he ever owned was a 2003 Fatboy. He talks about this bike all the time actually. He no longer owns it as he got drunk one night and wrecked it and is lucky to be alive so i'm told. However, I do remember him telling me once that he lit the tires out of the dealer lot when he bought it and spanked it hard on the way home as well. Hmmm... BTW. He now drinks very little and never while riding. He rides an 08 Roadking now and has owned 2 other bikes since the Fatboy but still mentions it constantly whenever we talk scoots.

May 13th, 2009, 04:18 PM	#9
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,469 My Mood:	re: Engine Break In For New Motors It really does work to seat the rings properly and in the long run will give you a nice tight motor with good compression.

Tip Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Engine Break In For New Motors

Harley Davidson Engine Related Issues