How to best run in a new engine?

[truewheel]

Hi all... I'm pretty new to here and motorcycles in general so N00b alert...

Paid my deposit for a cbr250ra today and...

when I asked the dealer about the first 1000km running in period he said that it's ok to briefly red line it (I think that's 10 or 10.5 on mine) because it will help to "bed things in prior to the first service" but to avoid constant red line revving (eg high speeds on the freeway, fanging up hills in a lower gear etc).

But I've read comments a few times in PSB about how running in a new ride gives you the shits because you're not supposed to take the revs higher than 7.5 before changing up - prior to the first service. I think it was 7.5 for the cbr, probably 9 or 10 for the Ninja 250, which I think reds at 13.

Is there a definitive right or wrong way to approach this? Are there good guidelines for gear changing (eg 5000 in 3rd is better than 4000 in 4th)? Or am I just being over precious with the new machine cause Honda's are so bulletproof it's not worth getting my (soon to be purchased) leathers in a twist?

Thanks in advance.

[filbert]

Variety is better for it than repetition, rev it out now and then if the mood takes you once it's warmed up but change gears at different rpm as much as you can, don't bog it down in too high a gear it does more damage than revving freely and don't let it get hot doing slow turns in a carpark.

Just ride it as though you care, don't baby it and don't thrash it, changing gears at specified rpm or cruising at same speed or revs is worse for it than going up and down the range in the hills or on backroads doing lessons.

[truewheel]

I went for a bit of a net search and found this...

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

Kinda wish I hadn't read the article... MotoMan makes my head spin!
Is this the good oil or evil voodoo?

[kennyboy]

Just do what filbert said, run it normally through the rev range without sitting at constant revs for long periods and I'm sure you'll be fine. It's only a 250 anyway, who cares.
I had someone tell me once that the best way to break in an engine was to load up the vehicle with heaps of weight and drive it as hard as you have to keep up with traffic. I laughed

[filbert]

Are you racing and chasing peak horsepower? Or wanting longevity and reliability?
For longevity and reliability read the manual or go with a variation between that and what I said, if you're after peak power and don't care if it lasts then kick its arse from day one like I assume the article says, your bike your choice

[kennyboy]

I did what that article says to my Hyo, had it for two years/12000kms and never had an issue.
I think I made it maybe 500m away from the dealer and was full throttle everywhere from then on.

[filbert]

I did what that article says to my Hyo, had it for two years/12000kms and never had an issue.
I think I made it maybe 500m away from the dealer and was full throttle everywhere from then on.

Therein lies the problem with passing it on as advice, you got rid of a near new bike long before it could show any sign of a problem, even if it shortened engine life by 30% you wouldn't know until at least 40000 kms even on a hyosung, I've gotten over 100000 kms out of an untouched motor from new roughly following the manual I might have gotten the same with that method but I'll never know so I can't recommend it, that's not saying I disagree with it since I still push my bikes while running in just not race pace

[kennyboy]

I'm not telling him to do it, just that I followed the prescribed method in the article and had no Ill effects short term.
If I were doing it to a bike I was going to hang onto then I would do it the way you described first. Not too little not too much, just ride it normally.

[filbert]

I do think the author of the article oversimplifies the process by only concentrating on ring bedding, manufacturing tolerances are great these days but there are still a lot of other mating surfaces that need time to get to know each other, I go through a run in process for my gearbox, clutch and valvetrain allowing for anything that may work loose, not just the pistons.

[kennyboy]

Probably right, there is alot more to an engine than just rings

[NMBRPL8]

at least 40000 kms even on a hyosung


lol that IS the lifespan of a hyosung isnt it?! In my experience at least lol
Theres a LOT of information floating around out there with a lot of very iimpressive sounding science to back it up. Thing is until you do it yourself on a few engines, and live with the results one way or another, you will never know. Personally, for my own engines, i run them from the get go the way they are going to be run, which is usually hard. Tough love :p I could tell you how many tens of thousands of kms they have done since then, but thats the distance the wheels have travelled, the work a motor does varies with load and application. End of the day though, you picked up a new 250cc from the dealer, first thing you should do is sit down and read the owners manual start to finish. now read it finish to start, and now start to finish again. Good, now youv done that, follow the instructions in there for the bike. If you do that, if it explodes in a ball of flames, you take back the molten puddle of wreckage and say 'warranty'
If you follow advice found on the interwebz and blow it up and go back and say 'warranty?' they say 'lolz nah'

Follow what your owners manual says, the bike will last you past our RE class until you swap up to a bigger bike, and being a honda it will probably then go on to last someone else for another ten years + after that

[Falcore]

What filbert said.

Main one is don't labour it an don't go spending half an hour practicing your o turns

[Paraletic]

heres a little exerpt from another one of these threads i couldnt be bothered re-typing.
see more at:
Running in a new bike

Higher loads / wider throttle will increase combustion pressure, thus putting more force on the rings, thus more scraping the bore. while this is great for bedding them in the walls are not getting lubricated too well as the hight spots (just what running is is trying to remove) will be scrapped dry and will scuff if held like that for too long. but also the opposite is true where not enough pressure on the rings will not remove the hight spots, thus allowing blow by, oil burn, and polishing of the bore.
remember the abrasive nature of the fresh metal does not last long and there is not much you can do to rectify this once it has occoured. (yes there is a trick with ajax powder, yes it does work.)
the reason for changing your rpm and keeping it around mid range, and not idling too long, is for your camshafts / valves. at low speeds
(below about 3000 rpm) your lifters will not rotate, and if your valves dont have rotocoils (most wont), neither will they, thus wearing on the same spot (remember newtons law, f=P*A,) and if its there for too long it will score and scuff till it will never rotate causing premature failure of the valvetrain / camshaft. or in the case of valves, this can result in overheating the valve and burning through it, and sealing badly.

so basically changing the load frequently, (and do load it up abit,) will remove high spots, then allow for lubrication will do a treat on your bores. And changing the revs to keep the lifters and valves rotating.

And yes, i am a Mechanic.

also, your dealer sounds like a douche-bag. hitting the limiter will not help your rings during Run in.

[Desmo]

Just ride it.

[truewheel]

Thanks for all the help!

Are you racing and chasing peak horsepower? Or wanting longevity and reliability?

Definitely the latter. My main criteria when evaluating was daily commute with the odd bit of fun on the weekends. Otherwise I would have gone with the skittle, with it's better top end and imao looks (still struggling a bit with THAT exhaust on the cbr!)...

[Barfridge]

I went for a bit of a net search and found this...

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

Kinda wish I hadn't read the article... MotoMan makes my head spin!
Is this the good oil or evil voodoo?

Somebody always finds that link.
A single cylinder CBR is not a race bike, so most of that stuff doesn't apply, not if you want any longevity out of the engine.

Have you read you owners manual? Usually the manufacturer has a pretty good idea of what to do.

[truewheel]

End of the day though, you picked up a new 250cc from the dealer, first thing you should do is sit down and read the owners manual start to finish. now read it finish to start, and now start to finish again. Good, now youv done that, follow the instructions in there for the bike. If you do that, if it explodes in a ball of flames, you take back the molten puddle of wreckage and say 'warranty'
If you follow advice found on the interwebz and blow it up and go back and say 'warranty?' they say 'lolz nah'

That's a great point...I think I'm just over worrying cause it's my new baby and I wanna do the right thing. But warranties are there to give peace of mind so...

Like everyone always says here, I'll want a bigger ride soon enough. However I will probably still keep this one for commuting. That's why I chose new over 2nd hand and for that matter why I posted this - I plan to be riding her for several years so wanted to minimize my maintenance way beyond the 2yr warranty period.

[truewheel]

Have you read you owners manual? Usually the manufacturer has a pretty good idea of what to do.

Not yet I'll get it when I pick up the bike (after I pass my test). Actually, I'll try to find one on the net first.

Jesus, RTFM! How many times have I said that on Whirlpool...

[NMBRPL8]

lol thats fine we have all been there, picking up the new toy, anxious, nervous, excited, so many ideas so many plans. Even if the new toy is actually second hand, we all got like this once upon a time. So dont feel bad and dont let anyone make you feel bad for getting excited or for asking questions. A good way to spend your waiting time, the ancient time honoured way of passing time in fact; read magazines. Browse a bunch of newsagents, and forums, and everything you can, focus more on riding skills and tips, learning about motorcycle care and maintainence. Things like that will stay with you for life, while a bolt on zorst or a k&n filter go with the new owner when the bike does. Look for magazines with good tips, build up a small tool kit of things you will need for maintainence, learn about things like counter steer and riding tips and good places to ride, make sure you have all your riding gear in order and dont skimp on cost or quality, get the good stuff thats going to last you a liftime, because once your out there on two wheels your hooked for life! The other thing a lot of us have done is thought 'no, i will keep my 250 for a long time, definately' and some people indeed do. but most, id say like 90%, maybe more, wind up with getting rid of the 250 in favour of something more capable. But learn to ride your 250 to its limits, i dont mean in terms of thrashing it but cornering, chose your lines, body position, throttle and clutch control etc etc etc. Again those skills will translate to your next bike and stay with you for life.

Not saying RTFM, well, i am, so many people fail to. Loose chains, dry chains, ridiculously overlubed chains, dangerously low tyre pressure. Common rookie mistakes. Avoid making them! But i wouldnt worry about engine break in so much, its an old fashioned concept that doesnt hold much sway these days. As mentioned already, tolerances are pretty tight these days, technology is up to scratch so they are built knowing the forces they will face through their working lives, there is the few people that get right into the details and way overthink it, but there are far far far far far more who just buy it, fill it with the cheapest dino juice they can, and keep on riding it. It will still last years going that route, but be kind and maintain it!

[truewheel]

Yer cheers, I have been reading up a lot - mainly internet - and lurking a fair bit around here too. This forum's saved me heaps of $ and effort already when it came to choosing my ride. Very happy to be a supporter.