Running in discrepancy

This is one of those old chestnuts that nobody seems to agree on. Both camps seem to have some good points, but I tend to err on the side of the manufacturer - so I followed their rev advice while running in my new monster. But the thing is I will never know if doing that really helped, at the expense of riding like an old woman for 600 miles when all I wanted to do was have some fun on my new bike.

It reminds me of God's advice to Bender - "When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

Most companies like Honda run brand new production engines on a bench at full throttle for about 24 hours. Non Stop. If it doesn't go pop the design usually gets signed off for general release.

Navy Boy, if you ever get the chance to go to the Triumph factory, then do. Not only is it interesting, but you may even have the privilege of seeing your own freshly built bike taken off the production line and redlined on the dyno. But don't worry about it. They do this to 'every' new bike that comes off the line; I've watched it myself :-D

Generally you can't go too far wrong just 'riding it normally' and it's often what I've done with my own Hinckley 1050's from new. But as a general rule I'd say better to open it's lungs up than make it stutter around labouring the engine unnecessarily.

I once picked up a new BMW boxer and just after it's first virginal mile (wasn't run around the block at PDI coz of rain) I then managed to hold it near redline for a good 10-12 miles of an open and lengthy dual-carriageway. That bike never smoked at start-up after being left on the side-stand (common) and it never used a drop of oil in the 12,000 miles or so that I owned it. Not one drop - again, a common trait with too gently run in boxers. It also started like a good'un, ticked over healthily and sounded better than most friends boxers did too. And it also seemed to make good power, often pulling a lead on a similarly experienced riding friend with the same machine. That was all the convincing I needed that sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind in the right mind. I'm sure there's a song in there somewhere?!?!

I'm really only famous for being indestructible! Well, also probably for being a bit self-opinionated, when really I ought to be more humble and promote humility more!

One bike I did run in very carefully was the R1, because I was told that it's bores had a ceramic coating (boron?) of some sort, which concerned me in terms of it's sealing properties. Otherwise I've generally gone for it!

My general view is that when the engine is new we are trying to remove minuscule engineering imperfections and create as tight a seal as possible between any moving surfaces which slide against one another.

I want to do this to remove any originating manufacturing glaze and ensure the most efficient - least friction, best thermal transfer and burning efficiencies - running engine at the end of it. I figure that I cannot do this if I am being half-hearted!

It's a bit like telling a sprinter to practice by jogging about a bit - that's not preparing him for his intended use - come the day of judgment he'll not perform to his full potential!

The only engine I've run in very gently (read: less than manufacturer approved revs) was a ZXR400R. The reason was I was doing a friend a favour and running his bike in for him, as he didn't have the time and we had some decent length rides coming up. I know some 'friends' might take the urine and use it as an opportunity for madness, but I was incredibly reserved with it, wanting it to run sweetly for him.

But the result of that was that the dealer ended up taking the engine apart at the first service to investigate a top-end rattle. They found quite a few problems internally overall. My friend rejected the bike and Kawasaki (to their credit) gave him a brand new replacement.

Lesson learned: Einstein said "Everything should be as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler than that". And had he been around now, I'm sure he would have said 'It's simple - FRASH EEET!' ;-D

Re-reading Kevin's article about Castrol and you can believe that synthetic oil just stops metal friction and thus it is near impossible to run a bike in. So frash eet or treet it proper makes no difference!!!Don't buy that myself.

Some years ago Bike Mag measured the wear on an 80,000 mile RI ( i THINK ) AND IT WAS 2 thou wear so synthetic oils work.

So, as the Chinese say, You can't have synthetic oil and wear at the same time.

Therefore the most important issue with running in is the oil you use. There, and remember my Dad's a Policeman.