Break in period

[romeo27]

I just got a New 2003 Katana 600 i was told the breakin period was 500 miles meaning I could not take the bike over 4000 rpm during this period.
the guy at the dealer said 50 so I am totally confuse. please help.

[Uncle Bob]

Oh, don't get us started !

The great engine break in debate, follow the book or ride it hard to really seal the engine ?.

Never heard of a dealer saying only 50 miles though.

The important thing is to vary the strain in the engine, don't run at a constant speed for long periods ( if you have to ride at let's say 45 mph following trafic on a road ) then vary the gear you're in so that the engine doesn't operate at the same rpm level for long.

Don't worry about going over 4,000 rpm before 500 miles, actually I encourage you to do this but for short periods only ( if it was my bike I'd run it to redline for a second or two every time I'm out for a ride).

Now if you do a search on site for engine break in I think you'll find other info.

Now this is what I would do, please make up your own mind based on collected information.

[bat4255]

Ditto, but change the oil sooner, like 150 miles or so to get the shavings out. Again a lot of differing opinions, but you will be suprized on the shavings in the oil at 100 miles, the bike will be a lot happier.

[NomadTurk]

For my new 04 GSXR 600, they told me not to take the bike into hard curves and go over certain rpm for at least 200 miles.

They also told me to buy a sandpaper and sand my tires little so they will stick to road better.

[pitbull76]

Originally Posted by NomadTurk

For my new 04 GSXR 600, they told me not to take the bike into hard curves and go over certain rpm for at least 200 miles.

They also told me to buy a sandpaper and sand my tires little so they will stick to road better.

As far as not going hard into curves, you should be careful every time you get new tires. It takes a while to "scuff" them enough so they stick properly. That's probably why they suggested sanding the tires, but I don't know if that will really make any difference.

[stevie c]

I don't think there is any need to sand your tyres,but you do have to be aware of the fact that you have new slightly greasy tyres,especially in the wet.

After 100 miles or so you will be fine.

Stevie

[NomadTurk]

Thanx

[gixerman]

In my opinion the best way to break your bike in is gently. Never load or over rev it, use the gears as much as poss. It would be easy to complete 500 miles in top gear at 4000rpm but other than sixth gear nothing has had any use or loading. Vary the speed and use the gears.
In the uk one of the bike mags took 2 GSXR750's run one in as manufactures recomendations and thrashed the other from the word go! The thrashed one made 3h.p. more after 3000 miles but rattled like an old worn out bike. The other ran sweet and was deemed to last a lot longer. My own Gixer 1 makes 152.7 at the wheel and has a few mods.They say they have seen up to 160 on one thats not run in. Ok if you don't plan to keep it long. Hope this helps out.

[LiquiDrums]

Never, EVER sand tires down.

The reason why is that when you ride down the road, your tires are rotating so quickly you get an even wear on the tread. if you sand your tires, you can easily wear 1 part down more than the other, or 1 side down more.

This is rarely noticable to the naked eye, but you feel it down the road and occassionaly you'd feel a "bump bump" in turns.

Let the road do the work.

i wear in tires by going through the weave pattern we all learned from msf courses. Some people say "find some gravel and get your rear wheel turnin to wear it down". But the front wheel's still sparkly, and that's mucho harder to deal w/ when it goes out of wack.

[gixerman]

As you know new tyres are very slippery when they're first fitted. This is due to the reiease compound that is used to stop them sticking to the mould when they are made.
Most of us find scubbing a set of tyres in a pain in the arse. Being smooth for the first few miles is absolutely vital.
If you've watched racing you'll have noticed the riders swaying from side to side on the warm up lap. As well as putting heat in the tyres they are taking the slippery layer off the outside thus avoiding a costly spill later in the race. Within 100 miles they should be fully scubbed in. Increase your lean angles gradually, be safe and enjoy!

[Justpassinthru]

This site has some interesting ideas about the break-in method, including the hows and whys of an aggressive and quick break-in: http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm It seems to go against all that we have learned from the past, but as the Moto Man states, our engines are precision machined, and there is little other than the transmission gears and the rings/cylinder walls that need the edges and crusties smoothed off.

Dave

[NoobieOnBusa]

Well my break in periods where usually 500 miles.. on my GSx1300 and GSX1000 i rode the first 500 miles under 7k rpm, but after that i rode it no more than 9k for until 1000.. and after 1000 i changed the oil.. i would occasionally take up in high rpms durings my rides but when in neutral.. just a quick rap on the gas.. so far, they ran fine.. after the oil change, you'll notice a world of difference.. hehe

[wafflehouse]

the method the linked site stated is the way i was told to do it by several mechanics and by my automotive instructor

-wafflehouse

[87gsxrnut]

They also told me to buy a sandpaper and sand my tires little so they will stick to road better.

This is the kind of BS that makes me want to open a dealership. So I can FIRE the A-holes that say that kind of crap.

- Nut

[TireSMKN]

GSXR'sandall sportbikes are machines...and their engines are 100% complete precision. There should VERY little shavings coming out. They were made to be driven hard. As for the break in period you'll here a difference song and dance from every other yahoo in the world. This is a machine. Keeping it below 7000rpms for 500miles is bull...If you do this, you aren't breaking in the break, due to the obvious that your not using the higher rpms' of the bike. These bikes are made to be rev'd, ripped, and shifted hard. They are machines. As for the first 500 miles, yes go alittle easy but dont baby it. Let it learn itself and work itself. Hit the redline a few times. Let the frame, forks, suspension feel all of its ins and outs that it has. Keeping it easy wont allow the bike to experience what it was made for.

But hey, I'm just another yahoo on a web forum posted my crapola!

Happy Riding!

"Theres no music, like redline music"

[hydewildman]

there is some really great information but it is hard to know who to believe and how to do it I believe the best way would be to use ALL the rpm range and keep it verying for the first bit