I know there are a million posts on oil and oil changes, so I'll use those to find out what filter and types and amounts of oil to use. However, this post is on something that I wasn't able to find info on, as it's pretty user-specific to myself.

I have had the bike for about 3 weeks and have put about 300 miles on it. Most of it has been in the city but 40 or so are from short stints on freeways, and all of the miles have been in accordance with the manufacturer's break-in rules (well, I did slip to 5500 a few times, but I am usually under 5K). I am wondering if I should do an oil change right now or wait until I take it in to the dealer for the break-in maintenence (200 miles from now, or about 2 weeks unless the weather gets nicer  :x ). I would be fine with doing a change now, although i would prefer to just have them do it with the first service and I can take it from there.

Any opinions?

Dave  

waiting will be fine

reason....it's an engine....cars go...3000 + on their first oil change

with this logic....you could go 5000 + with the lowtech air cooled engine

but 600 is fine
800 is good also

Alright, will do. Thanks a lot for helping me out.  
I'll see if the dealer does it with my 500 mi service, and if not I will have a mini project for the weekend.

Dave  

For the initial 600 mile service, I let the dealer do it.  The bike is under warranty, there are a lot of little things that should be checked apart from the oil change, and the dealer should hit them all.

From then until 4000 miles, it's oil changes and anything a weekend mechanic can do.  By then your 12 month warranty is up and anything goes.

Call the dealer up, make an appointment early week, and you'll have your bike back by the weekend.  Seems like peace of mind to me.  

Breaking it in as per manufacturers recommendations is a type of bike abuse.  It's never going to be happy.
Should have done it the Motoman way.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Still not too late.  Just go out there and flog that puppy.
Rev it hard, vary the engine speed and never lug it and you will be rewarded.
Over 20,500 miles on my 2002 and running better than new.
Guess what?  All the miles on "car oil".
Castrol GTX 10-40.
Mike

Quote from: mp183Breaking it in as per manufacturers recommendations is a type of bike abuse.  It's never going to be happy.
Should have done it the Motoman way.

whatever

Quote from: JetSwingwhatever

x2.  1200 so far on broken-in-per-manual, and it's quite happy.  I broke in my F650 per manual, and for the 6000 miles I had it, it was terrific.  And it will live a long time.  It's not just about keeping revs under 5000, though; varying revs is important.  You need the loading and unloading.

The dealer's service department was totally booked, so it was at 1000 miles by the time I had the service done.  I OKed it with them and changed the oil at 600 at home so I could at least open 'er up before the service.  But if you're getting it in the shop at breakin point, there's no reason to do a change yourself.

The argument on whether to break it in per the manufacturer or by the high-revving method is one I'm staying away from. I read to keep it under 5K and have heard people agree with that, so that's how I do it. I read a post earlier today with the same debate and someone played the devil's advocate and said "Do you really think the factory would recommend driving at high speeds..." or something to that tune. But the method details breaking it in at high revs, not high speeds; you can redline it in first and still be under the speed limit.
So I'll stay with the <5K on this bike.