break-in

[OB_vidar]

Everybody talks about numbers, let me know, wo slammed the throttle wide open first?
How many km/miles did your flat board show.
Mine showed 55km when i had it on the rev limiter for the 4 first gears.
What is there to break in, I dont want my engine worn before i use it!

[OB_Falconer]

Vidar, you will greatly regret treating your new baby this way. We have already heard a number of reports from folks who have fried the bottom end of their motors by skipping the required break-in period. I strongly recommend that you spend some time reading the owner's manual (especially the part about the break-in protocol) before it's too late.

If it isn't too late already.

[OB_KawAbuser]

You work at a Saab dealership and you are treating your new bike like that. You will be Saabing later if you screw your crank/rod bearings. Case in point: Marty Kane(some guy who drag races for a living)even says he is breaking in his bike to the letter, then he will install his turbo(but he probably doesn't know as much as you anyway). Good luck and get that Saab story ready for your Suzuki dealer, you might need it!

[OB_emattson]

Call your dealer first. My dealer is a friend of mine (I've bought my last 3 bikes from him). He knows I take care of my bikes and I'm religious about servicing it and go to great pains to keep it looking new. (He has taken my old ones on trade over the phone. No test ride or tech inspect). So call your dealer first to make sure he won't hang you out to dry if you do your own service. I know if a warranty issue ever came up, he would honor it without question.
Nailz

[OB_Carroll Performance Works]

I have 525 miles on my Hayabusa so I can rev it to eight grand right? Well so I did on my way home from work about 2:30 a.m. and I neve held it wide open, but it was cruising around 165 .I think it will run 190. what the fastest anyone gone yet? Rob C

[OB_emattson]

I do the following for breakin:
Easy on the brakes until the pads get broke in. No hard stopping as it will glaze the disks. I change the oil and filter at 300 miles, adjust the chain, check torque on all the bolts I can get to. (Lots of metal slivers and paint dots in the oil... paint dots from where the factory marked the internal parts. I use a quality 10w-40w)
I keep revs below 6 grand. I put load on the engine (from 3K to 6K rpm in 3rd and 4th gear. This helps the rings seat)
Change the oil and filter again at 600 miles. I use a quality 10w-40w. Start using the breaks a bit harder. Check the chain, it is probably a bit loose as it streches the first 1000 miles or so until it is broke in. Still putting the load on the engine but taking it up to the 8K RPM range now. 900 miles. change the oil and filter. 10w-40w again. Check the torque on the bolts. Check the chain. I now run to within 2K of redline on occasion. Rings should be seated as well as the break pads. I do not take my bikes in to the shop for the 600 mile check-up. It does not void the warranty (I checked with the dealer on this a while ago). They just want to ring ya' for a few hundred bucks. I put Golden Spectro synthetic blend(a mixture of 2 quarts 10w-40w and 1.5 quarts 20w-50w) in at 1100 miles. Then change the oil and filter every 1000 miles. I've followed this same procedure on my last 3 bikes with perfect results. Just my $.02 worth
Nailz

[This message has been edited by emattson (edited 21 July 1999).]

[OB_Cisco San Jose]

Thanks Nailz,I also did my own 600mile checkup on my 98TL-R and was hoping to do the same on my Hayabusa.I wanted to change the oil but someone on one of the MC posting said the warranty was going to be void if I did my own checkup,I guess the guy said that they put the bike on a computer analyzer to make sure your engine is in top running order and there's a log in check list which I guess goes into the Suzuki computers to keep track of their bike/model.I guess it's a database to keep track of common problems and possible problem items which might come up in the future.The information is also used to improve the next generation of Suzuki motorcycles.

[OB_Carroll Performance Works]

I stoped in and talked to the dealer they didnt know anything about the 600 mile check up. I,v been running mine like emattson and,I did find those red paint dots in my oil .I do all of my own work thur my business,oh yea they wanted 160 to change the oil,and the bike for three days.No wonder Im so busy.

[OB_Earl]

Of course everyone is going to break in their bikes the way they want to. I think break in was a lot more important years ago. The new cylinder coatings seal very quick. I have owned 32 new motorcycles over my life. The last three Zx-9r, 1500vulcan, zx-11, R1, and the busa were run with reason. Several blasts to 10,000or so from 10 miles up. Always ride easy for a few more miles then again wind the lower gears up hard. I then change the oil and filter several times during that time. Always worked and the R1 was one of the quitest and best running bikes I ever had. I did a compression check and all cylinders were within 5psi of each other. I always used a syn. blend from the start also, but to each his own.