| Author | Message | ||
     Whosyodaddy |
Again, I'm new at this so please be gentle...  The break-in requirement (<2500 rpm first 50 miles) is killing me. I've been trying religiously to follow this but I've caught myself a number of times looking down at the tach only to see that I'm at 3000 or 3500. Of course, I downshift to bring it back down but I'm hoping that since I'm usually at this speed for only a few moments at a time, I've not hosed anything. I've gotten conflicting info on breaking in a bike but I'm going to defer to the knowledge of the Buell designers and follow the advice in the owner's manual. Or am I being too anal? Thanks again for your feedback (and patience). WYD | ||
| Darthane |
Break-ins, like oil and tires, seems to be a matter of preference. I was a good little boy and followed the manual - my motor's been bulletproof over 15,000 miles. Other people rode 'em like they stole it from day one and have had similar experiences. I'd say yes, you're being too anal. It's very doubtful that you're going to screw anything up by being at 3500 instead of 2500 RPMs. My advice - find a nice curvy road with a 50mph speed limit that goes for a looooong ways. Take a day and ride as far as you dare, turn around and head home. Break-in complete, with nice scenery along the way. | ||
| Buellgator |
Yeah I did the same thing on mine and haven't had a lick of trouble. I really doubt you've screwed anything up. Ask the guys with the '04 models as HD/Buell changed the break-in on those models but didn't change anything in the motor configuration. | ||
| Noface |
Too anal. If it's goa 100miles on the odo and about six heat cycles, ride it like your gonna ride it. That's how I did mine, and it's been bullet proof other than the drive belt (03 Gates belts suck). Change the oil and filter at 500 miles, then 1000, and then 3000. After that, every 3k or to your liking. I use the Wal-Mart Super Tech filters too. They're the same damn filter as comes in the Buell box. JS | ||
| M1combat |
I hear that a very important thing is to vary the RPM range you are running in... That way you don't end up with bearings that are worn in more at 2500 RPM's. I did third and fourth gear rollons (not to full throttle, but a good bit of acceleration) from 2500RPM to about 3700RPMS after the first 50 miles or so. The first 50 miles I kept it under 3K, but still varying the RPM range. | ||
| Xb9er |
There have been recent (past week or so) posts on this very topic that you should search for. Another, opposing school of thought on the motorcycle break-in process is presented here: http://www.mototuneusa.com Mike. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Actually, it was the mototuneUSA article that got me questioning the owner's manual recommendation. To a mechanical neophyte, the article makes sense. On the other hand, I have to think that the Buell design team knew what they were doing when came up with their break-in recommendations. | ||
| Noface |
Whosyodaddy, they (Buell design team) also have a LEGAL dept that give a nod to what's printed in the brochures and manuals. Do you think the legal types want you out wringing the snot out of your new bike, wipe it out, and then sue them "cause the manual said ride it like ya stole it"? There's more to break in than pistons, rings and cylinder walls. Just about everything that moves get's "seated". But the manual is a bit too conservative IMO. I'm not advocating wringing it out to redline straight out of the parking lot after initial delivery, but 2500 rpm? That's lugging it in my book. Ride it like a sane person for the first hundred or two hundred clicks, then loft the front wheel...  JS | ||
| Ubermensch |
I would just concentrate on always changing RPMs and not worrying about a specific RPM not to exceed. |
