I've been reading conflicting information....

Some places say to break it in easy and go nice and slow, not to rev it or top 60-70. Others say that to really get the peak performance and seal the piston ring correctly, you need to run the engine hard for the first 20 miles in 2nd and 3rd gear.

What have your experiences been and what would you suggest?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.  Now go ride!   

Oh, and welcome to the board.   

I'm afraid you'll get as many conflicting opinions here as you have already read. Opinions are like.... well, you know the rest. Everyone will tell you something different. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.

After break-in, we can discuss which oil, which chain lube, and which is the "best" next bike after the GS! 

My own experience with my new SVS was to *mostly* follow the manufacturer's suggested break in. 

I reaserched that topic in the past.....and conclusion that I came up with is that being smooth and taking the engine through the heat cycles and different RPM ranges is more important then trying to stay below some RPM number......The recent Motorcyclist issue has given similar advice as well.....so perhaps a race or a track day wouldn't be a great idea (unless you could spent time to break it in at the track, which would be the best case scenario)......definately no 600 mile hwy trip though

do change your oil when you're done braking it in

I3

Oh, I'll have fun. It's just that this being my first bike and all, I'm just afraid of gimping myself or shooting myself in the foot.

Thanks for all the input

[4

Does anyone go through any kind of minor "break in" after the bike sat in winter storage? I plan to be a bit easy on it once I get to break it out of storage, but I think after about 100 miles Ill check the oil and basics again and get her back up to the 9-11000 range to feel that awesome pull again 

its hard to ride the bike under 5,000 and keep up with traffic on stop and go 90-100km/h roads 

700 more km and an initial servicing at the stealership.. then i can keep up with traffic easier 

Follow manufacturer's guidelines.   The guys who designed the engine went to college for that shiat.   

It was kinda a pain to keep mine under 5,000 RPM, because it makes that first few hundred miles REALLY drag!    And I didn't take it on the highway (or over 62 MPH) until it hit 600 miles.   But I did get 72 MPG on the first tank. 

You should be taking it slow with a new bike anyway, even if it is just "new" to you.   Get to know her slowly, and learn where the limits are a little at a time.

And add just enough fine sand to the oil to get a nice polish on those cylinder walls.    No more than a handful.

When I got my 2005 gs500f I broke it in with what it says right in the manual. I wasn't too bored not being able to get above 5k rpm because it is my first bike and I didn't want to fall or anything. Just take it slow and easy and get used to it.  It took me about 1000miles before I got really comfortable with riding, and I wasn't really worrying about what big hills I might have to stop on before I went for a ride. The only point is to have fun! 

[3

I felt pretty comfertable around 200 miles, but in a lot of areas around here there are very steep hills and starting on hills it kinda tricky for the first while. I guess I'm still scared to start on a hill if I had a passenger. I haven't had any passengers at all yet.

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on March 29, 2006, 07:20:48 AM

Quote from: porsche4786 on March 28, 2006, 07:59:20 PM

It took me about 1000miles before I got really comfortable with riding, and I wasn't really worrying about what big hills I might have to stop on before I went for a ride.

Really? I guess I don't feel so bad, then. Something "clicked" for me sometime between 100 and 200 miles, and I suddenly knew I was ok, at least short of the freeway. Not that I didn't have a lot more to learn (and still do), not that I'm "safe" (no illusions), but I no longer had to sweat the basics of making the machine do what I wanted it to, and my subconscious had begun to sort out the tidal wave of unfamiliar sensations and impressions into "usual" and "unusual" categories.

Based on talking with some other folks, including the MSF instructors, I figured I was pretty slow. On the other hand, there aren't that many hills you have to stop at around here.. though there is one killer steep downhill stretch, patched and frost-heaved pavement, with a stop sign right at the bottom..

I hit the freeways starting at about 350 miles. Not a big deal, once you're used to the wind, other than IT WAS FREAKING COLD. Entrance and exit ramps are the same as any other curve, just keep head up and eyes well ahead...

Now, at 1,100 miles, I'm pretty bored with everything within 15 or 20 miles, and looking for more tagregs further out for fun rides.

Still not looking forward to my first toll booth, though- that might be a hurdle. What do you do? Neutral and stand up straddling the bike to get into pockets? That, and grated bridges... yeeetch..

3c

Quote from: Caffeine on March 28, 2006, 07:08:25 PMFollow manufacturer's guidelines.? ?The guys who designed the engine went to college for that shiat.? ?

Actually they just repeat the old adages that were devised in times of much less sophisticated manufacturing methods over and over. To me the principles lined out here sound sensible.

But then, if the bike to be broken in is your first one shis is hardly feasible for rider confidence reasons.

TONS of steel-deck (grated) bridges in my area!   I had to get over that fear fast!    There isn't much to it, since you just have to maintain a straight line once you get on the bridge.   The bike will feel like it is dancing around underneath you a little bit, but just keep going.   Don't freak out, it's normal and you will get used to it.   Don't try any sudden movements/lane changes/braking or acceleration.

One local drawbridge is steel deck, but it has concrete "strips"  about 18 inches wide right where the car tires would ride, so I just aim for those.     

Broke mine in by dropping it at a stop sign within 48 hours of getting it.   Sigh.

Quote from: daneilah on March 29, 2006, 06:28:19 PM
Broke mine in by dropping it at a stop sign within 48 hours of getting it.   Sigh.

Did the same thing within one hour of getting it.