Rocket break-in

[odie]

I didn't find and threads on the Rocket about break-in.
With my new "08" and going through the break-in process. Any thoughts here? The dealer said "just drive it". The Triumph is simple on the subject. One point that Triumph makes about "Avoiding high engine speeds at all time" for first 500 miles. "Engine speed" is only dealing with RPM's? Not miles per hour, right?
This Rocket is so powerful at lower rpm's and the mph are up higher than I am used to.
This is what I have done so far. For the first 100 miles I shifted out at 2500 rpms and max speed was 65 mph. After 150 miles I shifted out at 3000 rpms and max speed 75 mph. I have over 200 miles now and started shifted out at 3500 rpms with a max speed of 80 mph.
What's crazy about the Rocket is that I am only cracking the throttle.
Triumph says "do not ride at speeds greater that 3/4 maximum speed for the first 500 miles. What is maximum speed? hehe

odie

[baggage1]

Didn't say whether you had a Tourer or a regular Rocket. I think the top speed on the tourer is limited to 120 and 140 on the regular rockets. I'm unfamiliar with those speeds and pretty sure that 3/4 throttle if continued would result in top speed.

[Diego]

Originally Posted by odie

I didn't find any threads on the Rocket about break-in.

There are two main reasons:

(1) there's nothing magic about the process; what you're doing is fine as long as you remember to keep engine RPM varying, don't lug the engine, don't use full-throttle yet, etc. And,

(2) sooner or later someone usually wants to turn such threads into a "debate" about some "special" break-in method or another, but those discussions are not specific to this model and are thus off-topic. And, since the arguments are supported more by faith than demonstrable fact, the threads sometimes turn into flame wars with quasi-religious overtones. At that point, they're outta here. Word to the wise, and all that.

There is one surviving thread that was civil and has lain dormant for a while, which you may find useful: Running-in Advice.

[Molinoman]

I second what Diego said, if you go on a 500 mile trip don't stay at one speed for the whole time. The main thing you want to do is get to the 600 mile service where you will get the full synthetic blend oil (expensive) and after that ride it like you stole it and as an added bonus your shifting into first from neutral should go a lot easier.

Since you didn't say whether you had the R3T or not that 600 mile service may not be correct, but it should be close.

Dennis

18 dtg Dubai
19 dtg Home

[crazyman]

Well, I have just under 900 miles on my R3T. I'm scheduled for her first service this week. I know, 400 miles past due. No worries. I rode the bike like normal. I've heard more often than not to just ride like you normally would.

[T-Rex]

Owner's manual may have the info you need.
T-Rex

[tbsrider2000]

I did an 800 mile trip right off the lot. I bought mine in Dallas, rode to Shreveport, LA, then back home to San Antonio. The dealer I bought it from said I really didn't need to worry about the 500 mile service, they've done plenty of them on Rockets, and it's not worth the money the customer has to pay. He gave me an oil filter and some of Triumph's Mobile One and told me just to look the bike over good (I'm pretty familiar with bikes in general) make sure I change the oil immediately when I get my bike home, and that's all I should need.

I have 41,000+ miles on it now and have never had a mechanical problem. Shoot, I think she's just now getting broke in good!..

[bobmielke]

I've owned 7 new motorcycles in my riding career and the break-in process is always the same. Change speed, change lots of gears, change the type of roads you're on. Don't be overly concerned about the speed just ride the snot out of it for about 800 miles before taking it in for the first service. The whole reason for the break-in routine is to loosen all the burrs on mechanical parts and flush them out with that first oil change. That's why they put a special break-in oil in the new bike. I rode city, rural & slab miles to vary the use. I rode under 45mph with lots of stop & go as well as a 181 mile two lane trip at 55-60. I also threw in a 100 mile interstate trip where I got the bike up to 70-75 for over an hour.

[tbsrider2000]

Most of my break-in was highway miles, but I purposely varied speeds.. I did brake 100 MPH briefly before the first 500 miles.. A Porsche 911 came zooming up on me. Now, we can't have any of that, can we? Then I did some city riding around Shreveport, followed by the trip home. Also, the last 100 miles of my trip home, I started running in the 90 MPH+ range, trying to out run night fall. You see, I planned poorly for the ride home and it was a warm day in the 1st week of January, and I took off without a jacket.. The warm day started getting much, much cooler as the evening kicked in.. and I was determined to make it home before dark!.. lol

[xhdskip]

Bought mine in South Mississippi and rode it about a week between 50-85.
Took it in for its first 500 mile oil change, climbed on and rode 600 miles back to Oklahoma. Varied speed and seated my valves real good. Got a little over 13,000 miles on her now with plenty left to go I'm sure. Been riding er like I stole er since that first oil change.