Shoes, baseball gloves, a book—these are a few things that take a little time before they start showing their worth. Breaking in your new shoes helps them fit better to the shape of your feet, making it easier to walk in them. Doing the same with baseball gloves removes their stiffness, making it easy for you to securely hold the baseball. A broken-in book helps prevent the spine from creasing or breaking.
But did you know that your new vehicle, especially your new motorcycle, needs breaking in, too?
Why Do You Need to Break In Your Bike?
A new motorcycle contains new parts. And while these parts have been checked and undergone quality control to ensure that they fit with each other, friction between parts will still be at its highest. The valves, the cylinder, the piston rings—these parts need to rub against each other so they can settle better against the surfaces they interact with. There’s no other way to fully test how well each part works together and settle into each other apart from breaking your motorcycle in.
Experts suggest that the break-in period lasts between the first 500 and 1,000 miles, after which the internal friction will be significantly reduced and your ride becomes smoother. Of course, this doesn’t apply to every type of bike. An off-road motorcycle, for example, may take a longer break-in period than a scooter.
Nevertheless, if you’re a new motorcycle owner, here’s how you can properly break in your bike:
1. Follow the Manufacturer’s Recommendation
Your manufacturer knows the best thing for your bike, which is why it’s best to follow the recommended break-in process that’s written in the manual that came with it. Fortunately, different manufacturers share universal recommendations that you can follow.
2. Do not use full throttle
During the break-in period, make sure to avoid using full throttle while driving. In fact, you should only go so far as ¾ throttle between the first 500 and 1,000 miles. Using your new bike on full throttle will cause its engine to heat up rapidly, which can affect your bike’s performance, fuel efficiency, and engine life.
3. Do not make hard stops and starts
Unless there is an emergency, sudden starts and stops should be avoided. It’s best to accelerate and de-accelerate smoothly so your motorcycle’s parts won’t aggressively rub against each other and cause unnecessary friction.
4. Use different engine speeds
During your bike’s break-in period, running on constant speed for long periods isn’t advised. Instead, it’s best to utilize your bike’s rev range. Use the bike on high revs for short intervals and fluctuate between this and its low-mid range. For example, if your engine redlines at 15,000 RPM, it’s a good practice to fluctuate between 4,500 rpm and 7,500 RPM.
5. Change the oil after the break-in period
After gaining 500 in your mileage, it’s a good idea to change the oil and filter. When doing so, you may see some metal debris in the oil, which is perfectly normal. These flakes will likely come from your bike parts adjusting and settling into each surface.
Keep in mind that there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to breaking in your motorcycle. As long as you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and not overdo it, you can break your bike in successfully and enjoy a smooth ride afterward.
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