GBD Approved

I think run-in period really matter and it is prooved too, we can't ignore this, dont take it as a bike just let it take as a simple fact a new fresh matel part leaves some unwanted matel part when it revvs on certain rotation or RPM, it require some to set enoupgh for the delivery of best performance on lowest risk, even it observe more oil in run in period.

These things prooven that run-in period is very important....

I can't even take 0.1% this type of risk from my side for my ride, not every body or every machine has destiny as like your...

Even i have seen, when CBR250r was launched in Delhi, a guy was riding it around at 70 KMPH on a busy road, he was taking the bike from godown to showroom, may be for the delivery or for the display, but it must be gonna somebodies ride in future...

YES, running-in a bike really matters.

there are two type of run-in methods- one is to ride it slow, below a certain RPM, till say 1500 kms--the other method is to run-in the hard way giving it short bursts of high speed/high rpm.

may be unknowingly you have followed the second method.


btw, this matter is already discussed in-depth in another thread already.

I have too seen it many on BHiwandi-Thane highway...this guys rip the bikes like "no tomorrow" !! ...lol...

Even i think Run-in period is very much needed to be followed but don't know why i think it's only for higher cc bikes where the power and deliveries are at real high level...say like anything or 150cc ??

Yesterday i asked one boy in my building who have brought a passion for daily 15kms ride to office, i see him ripping every now and then, just asked what average is he getting he said around 65kmph, is it bad in cuty ?? Don't know the engine health?? but sounds ok !!

Doesn't Company testers ride this bikes at all speed as a test before delivering to showrooms??

70 kmph on a 250cc is considered slow. Riding too slow is infact going to do much harm by stressing the engine.

Somen...
1. Bursting to 120 Kmph for a minute & then dropping is quite different from riding at 120 Kmph for 15 min
2. Riding at 60 Kmph for about an hour is different from varying speeds for an hour between 40 Kmph to 100 Kmph

Hope you got the difference

Nicely Sum it up

you say you used to ride at 90kmph...thats a little over 6k RPM on the r15...

running in is a little over-rated i agree... engines these days are robust enough and can handle a bit of strain right from the start..infact its advised to give bursts of high RPM ranges and high speeds...thats is what causes the break-in. Change oil/oil filters more frequently and dont wait for the 1000km mark or whatever the manual says for the first service. Also, run-in should never be on the basis of speeds, rather it should be on RPMs. You could ride an r15 at 60-90kmph in the 4th and 5th gear, as well as 2nd and 3rd, which would put your engine under more strain?

This a subject that is controversial and has been debated to kingdom come. Few topics have the polarized opinions as this one.

Incidentally, the August 2012 issue of Super Streetbike has a page devoted to this topic (page 21). Here is a quote from the article "There are multiple schools of thought on the best ways of breaking in a new motor, but no matter how you do it, the more meticulous you are, the less handicapped your engine will end up being."

Another interesting quote "OEM break-in or an 'easy' break-in isn't necessarily the best way to go, which is why some prefer to use a dyno instead. Regardless of conflicting opinions, all processes have one thing in common: in order for the engine to properly break-in, the piston rings must fully seal to the cylinder wall under combustion pressure or 'load' without warping or becoming out of round thus causing oil consumption or 'blow by' "

Following the Motoman method seems risky to people, but it ain't that bad as perceived....
The owner's manual method is given importance in our country where riders are meant to be sedate on their steed till about 1.2 k kms.

Let me share what I followed during the running in period:-
1. 0-300 kms - Short bursts upto 70 kmph. Mostly rode in 40's.
Engine oil flushed at 300 kms.

2. 300-700 kms - Short bursts upto 95 kmph. Sometimes 100kmph as well. Speed maintained at 60 kmph on an average.
Engine oil flushed at 700 kms.

3. 700-1200 kms - Rip till 120 kmph. Keep at 110+ for 2-3 mins then come down to 80 odd. Repeat.
Engine oil flushed at 1200 kms.

[All high speed outings carried out on ECR, Chennai-Pondi stretch]

People said I'd blow my engine. Now, at 17k kms, I see there are no problems.
I still use the normal 10w30 oil. Shall try 20w50 next month.

Mileage in city (moderate riding) - ~42 kmpl.
Mileage in city (spirited riding - 6-7k RPM) - 38-39 kmpl
Mileage on the highway (>5.5k RPM upto 7 K RPM) - 46-50 kmpl.

I'm serious about the above facts. Who says following the manual is mandatory?

I never had the patience to run in my bike(P220) properly.
0-300 kms never been above 4k RPM
some where b/w 300 -400 kms on the odo i had to take my bike upto 115 km/hr to avoid getting wet in rain
400-500 kms max 4k-4.5k rpm
Got it serviced at 500 kms and since then it has been flying at high speeds.

But IMO running in a bike is necessary because, my old 06' splendor+which was broke in properly by my dad is still in pristine condition even after abused by me.

First Cylinder kit, followed factory run in, fouled bike within 2k itself and had ro replace Cylinder kit.

Second Cylinder kit, followed my Hybrid run in,
Till 250 - 3.5k.
250~500 - 4k.
500~750 - 4.5k.
750~1000 - 5k.
1000~1250 - 5.5k.
1250~1500 - 6.5k.
1500~1750 - 7.5k.
1750~2000 - 8k.
(1st Gear max will 5k is enough. And the respective RPM's were maintained in all gears, and would never upshift without reaching the upper limit even if there was only 250rpms to go.)

Still now running fine, mileage with bone stock except for Iridium plug was 50~55kmpl, and got a constant of 55.6kmpl on a daily basis riding 80kms a day(To and fro college route.) on mixed riding conditions(90% Highway 10% Street).

there are two aspects -
1. Whether we need breakin- yes we do!!
2. How we do it- Do it any way you want, just avoid overheating the engine. Avoid overloading the engine and avoid constant speeds.