New 09 FJR

[verranth]

I finally bought my FJR 09, last one on the lot, and signed for it on Monday 22nd. :yahoo:

Now...the dreaded question.... but first, a quick history recap:

I bought my 09 FZ6R last June, brand new, and did the "manual" suggested Break-in. Kept her under 4K RPM or whatever it was, and did the first 600mile service at the dealer...blah blah...

Now...I have a chance to try the second method of break-in that I read on the net....

Pretty much ride it like you stole it concept. They did mention to warm up the engine before taking it through the paces, and not to red-line it.

The last critical bit is to, after warming it up, to ride it hard for 20 miles, always chaning rpms, and then change the oil. After those 20 miles, you're pretty much in the clear to ride it however you want.

I just dropped a bunch of dough and I'm wondering which way to go about it...anyone who has opened up their engines, or someone else's engine please give your expert advice.

For those of you who have hit over 100K on your FJRs, please also give your advice, and more importantly, if you bought yours with 0.1 miles, let me know how you did your break - in.

Thanks. *also...WOOT!*

 

[Afast03nNJ]

Ever vehicle I've ever owned, all of which have gone will over 100, even close to 200K have been "broken in" using the "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT" method.

Any engine builder will tell you that the only thing that "breaks in" is the camshaft and that happens within 20 minutes of operation.

Catch an episode of Twist the Throttle and see how Kawasaki dyno's each bike right off the assy. line. Were talking a quick warm up and WOT right up to red line on a brand spanking new 10 minute old machine.

FWIW - Do what ever you feel most secure doing! My 03 was driven hard out of the box with it's 1st oil change at almost 4K miles. As of today, it still runs like a raped ape with absolutely no issues.

 

[BPFowler]

Just drive it. Break in is a "No Big Deal".

Mine I just took it easy for untill I got it home , changed the oil , and drove it how ever I felt like.

>>> disclaimer <<>> YMMV



Have fun

enjoy

it is a fine and wonderful Bike

 

[SVTNate]

I'm a ween, I followed the instruction manual.

Coming off a V Star, it was a good idea anyway, because losing 50 pounds of weight (well actually 100, 50 off the bike and 50 off of me) and doubling the horsepower at the same time was a recipe for disaster if I just went about slamming the throttle open from the get-go.

 

[FJRBluesman]

There is a reason why the engineers chose to have a break in period.

 

[glide99]

Why did the engineers choose a break in????

 

[old&slow]

I don't have bikes with 100's of thousands of miles on them ,,, and I usually replace my cars around 100 - 150 thousand miles..

But my usual break in, is drive pretty much normal with out hammering it for the first few hundred miles,,

try to vary the RPM's for the first few hundred miles ,, change the oil after the first few hundred miles..

Haven't had one blow up yet...

My buddy did the "Quick Break in method " on his new "06" FJR he got two weeks before we went on a trip...

And it's still running fine too..

I figured if you talk to 6 different people on "break in" ,,,, you'll get a half dozen different answers... :blink:

 

[CAJW]

I broke my new 05' in with this method.... pushing 5 years and still running strong. https://www.fjr1300.info/breakin.html

 

[JimNtexas]

I broke my new 05' in with this method.... pushing 5 years and still running strong. https://www.fjr1300.info/breakin.html

That's pretty much what I did, except for the 20 mile oil change. My bike is still pretty new, so the jury is still out and will be for several years I guess.

I bought mine at a dealer 500 miles away, so the main thing I did was ride home on back roads so I'd be forced to vary the speeds. There's no way for me to operate my FJR continuously at 4000 RPM anyway this side of I10, I can't afford the lawyers that kind of operation would require.

Jim

 

[Deacon51]

I don't think it matters... it's a FJR, not a race bike.

On a brand new bike (or car, lawnmower, R/C truck, or weed eater) I RTFM... and do what it says.

 

[Ancint Brit]

I agree with the above. The only reason to take it easy for the first few miles is to take the shine off the new tyres. (important if you live on a cold wet rock like us in the British Isles )

 

[na1g]

See calsci.com/NewBike.html#BreakIn

The general concept seems to me to be: warm it up, make it work over a range of RPM and loads, don't baby it, don't abuse it, change the oil. Or, in a nutshell: use some common sense.

Modern machining processes have pretty much eliminated the traditional break-in that we learned from our fathers. I think the writers of the owner's manuals just don't want some numbskull beating the crap out of their brand new engine.

pete :cold:

 

[Gerry.GEG]

Yes, Twist the Throttle was an eye-opener. Anyone who thinks they do the break-in is a bit surprised after they watch that show. I bet most of the drive it like you stole it goes on there. I tried to personally do a motoman break in but it was hard coming home from the dealer. I really didn't want to explain to LE what I was doing so, I call mine a modified motoman. I did change the oil/filter at 25miles. Then at 600mi. for its first official service. I truly believe that all engines are built so well now that however you do it will work but I do subscribe to the motoman theory. Just change the oil and filter however makes you comfortable. It's cheap and effective in keeping your engine running a long time.

Good luck and don't sweat it too much.

Ever vehicle I've ever owned, all of which have gone will over 100, even close to 200K have been "broken in" using the "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT" method.
Any engine builder will tell you that the only thing that "breaks in" is the camshaft and that happens within 20 minutes of operation.

Catch an episode of Twist the Throttle and see how Kawasaki dyno's each bike right off the assy. line. Were talking a quick warm up and WOT right up to red line on a brand spanking new 10 minute old machine.

FWIW - Do what ever you feel most secure doing! My 03 was driven hard out of the box with it's 1st oil change at almost 4K miles. As of today, it still runs like a raped ape with absolutely no issues.

 

[flyingz06]

Yes, Twist the Throttle was an eye-opener. Anyone who thinks they do the break-in is a bit surprised after they watch that show. I bet most of the drive it like you stole it goes on there. I tried to personally do a motoman break in but it was hard coming home from the dealer. I really didn't want to explain to LE what I was doing so, I call mine a modified motoman. I did change the oil/filter at 25miles. Then at 600mi. for its first official service. I truly believe that all engines are built so well now that however you do it will work but I do subscribe to the motoman theory. Just change the oil and filter however makes you comfortable. It's cheap and effective in keeping your engine running a long time.
Good luck and don't sweat it too much.

Ever vehicle I've ever owned, all of which have gone will over 100, even close to 200K have been "broken in" using the "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT" method.
Any engine builder will tell you that the only thing that "breaks in" is the camshaft and that happens within 20 minutes of operation.

Catch an episode of Twist the Throttle and see how Kawasaki dyno's each bike right off the assy. line. Were talking a quick warm up and WOT right up to red line on a brand spanking new 10 minute old machine.

FWIW - Do what ever you feel most secure doing! My 03 was driven hard out of the box with it's 1st oil change at almost 4K miles. As of today, it still runs like a raped ape with absolutely no issues.

second TTT show Just drive it.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I did the Motoman break in on my 04. Still runs great, no oil burning It'll second gear power wheelie as well... (especially two up)

Your pretty much seating the rings to the cylinder so vary the RPM's. Heat cycles are good too...

 

[RCook]

There is a reason why the engineers chose to have a break in period.

To satisfy the lawyers?

Seriously though modern machining tolerances and assembly QA have eliminated the need for a prolonged break in.

 

[verranth]

Well, I talked to the mechanic when I picked it up. He said that i can pretty much do whatever with the bike. The only thing he wanted me to do is listed below:

1. Be safe

2. Warm it up

3. Change RPM

4. Repeat for 3 full heat cycles (heat cycle= from dead cold, to running temp, drive some, let it cool all the way down)

So, I did just that. Took it out for a 30 mile joy ride, changed the RPMs, ran up to 5th gear (low rpms on highway), reved it up 8K RPM (2nd gear on highway), and merged out and did some secondary roads, etc. Rinse and repeat

I'll let you guys know if I ever make it to the awesome 200K mile mark =)