Triumphrat

gt1jimi

They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. If so, then I'm in trouble. After an internet search for engine break-in techniques, I've seen it all. Various sites proclaiming the "Right" technique range from the tried and true "easy does it" method to the radical (and secret, we are told) "pin it" crowd. I am assuming that the truth lies somewhere between these two schools of thought. So, howzaboutit? What does the weight of experience within the bonneville community indicate?

And for those of us without Tachometers, what is the redline in each gear? My approximate calculations, for the Scrambler @ 7500 rpm with the stock tires, yield the following: 1st gear = 47mph, 2nd gear = 66mph, 3rd gear = 83mph, 4th gear = 99mph, 5th gear = 120 mph (as if!).

mr_badda_bing

I always drive it like I plan on driving it.

We went through all the rigamoral on our new car, people telling us to not exceed 50 mph for the first 1000 miles, never drive it at one speed for prolonged periods, blah blah blah.

We drove the car like we planned on, doing the speed limit and now and then o ver the speed limit (had to check it out after all). Never really full throttle, but then I don't drive full throttle.

The Triumph dealer said to keep it in the 3000 to 4000 rpm range for the first 500 miles, going up 500 rpm the next 500 and so on.

To me that seems like a lot of voodoo.

[ This message was edited by: mr_badda_bing on 2007-06-06 15:43 ]

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2006 Thruxton - Zoe Yellowbike
125 main jets, 42 pilots, 1 shims, 2 turns, HARK (homemade airbox removal kit) EMGO Reverse Cones, 17T sprocket. 4700 Feet Above Sea Level

Normandy

If you are interested in keeping your warranty intact, do what the manual says. Also remember that much of the breakin of the bike is NOT engine related. Brake pads account for the variable speed breakin for example.

bonnieblackinfl

Being a member of the "pin-it" crowd you know my answer. However, my theory is to let it break under warranty if it is going to break. To each his own and everyone has an opinion.

Greg

CAPTDON

1st 300 mi up & down- no constant RPM! After that - like ypu are gonna ride it. Then dump the dino & your off. The bike will run better & better to 6-7000mi. Then thats where she is. I hit 115 mph @ 350 mi just to see if she could for a short blast. If it was gonna break- do it now so I can ride on from there. She has never run better than any bike I have had! They used to check engines @ the factory years ago by redlining them for X sec.s. If they did it they were ok & off to the consumer to do the "Break in". :???:

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CAPT D

BILLYSIM

After 400 miles your pistons will have gone up (and down) about two Million times...i.e. the really early miles say it all ...for you and the assemblers.
...Billy

[ This message was edited by: BILLYSIM on 2007-06-06 21:40 ]

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Shoot safe, straight and often...

merlin

While you DO need to properly break in brakes (to be remembered after installing new pads, too) the breaking period on the engine is for proper lapping of the rings to the cylinder walls. Done improperly one can 'glaze' the cylinder resulting in a bad match with blowby and compression loss. Goggle it...
There are different opinions, anecdotal stories, which I attribute to technology making it less critical, but still important. I'd advise reasonably following the manufacturer recommendation (vary speed, moderate RPM)

dave1068

On my scrambler, I think the book says dont exceed 3/4 of the top speed during break in--figure dont go over 70 and you'll play it safe. After my 1st service, i took it up to 80 or over on the way home and it felt fine.

Remember too, I think there is a speedometer error of maybe 10mph from what Ive read on here. Just use common sense and you'll be fine

Dave-

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"A wise man knows everything, a shrewd man knows everybody"

BILLYSIM

In light of above, I change oil and filter at 100 and 600 miles before going to synthetic at about 1200 miles. Learned this the hard way on my Beemers...

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Shoot safe, straight and often...

raproe

Modern engines like they put in our bikes are pretty tough and you can "get by" without doing a lot of things that the manufacturer recommends such as following break-in recommendations and using the recommended oil. The manufacturers have good reasons and good data for their recommendations but if you don't follow them, you probably will still "get by".

Rich

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