Breakin in new bikes

aees
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4/20/2024 1:36pm

If you are not going to ride according to OEM recommendations to keep warranty up (at least KTM used to be below RPM X for some hours), then just go as normal. ECU record will anyway be screwed if you do you own brake in schedule.

If you ride like you should, you use first session as warm up and checking track so if there is a leak or strange sound coming you will notice it. Come back, check bolts and spokes.

That's it. No need to go easy for mechanical reasons. Change oil and filter after first ride day. Grease everything up if you want to.

2
Heavyhitter
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Machias, WA, USA
4/20/2024 1:54pm

Most shop techs get paid about 45 mins to pdi, oil filter and do a bolt check etc. Most importantly they run and ride the bike, if it is going to have a failure manufacturer it will be early, and it has happened before so the importance in the pdi is really to run and ride it and confirm it goes through gears and the rev range fine with no leaks or creaks. 

No fault of theirs but when you get home you should give the bike a good grease job, and then proceed to ride the shit out of it, oil change after the first ride and go from there! 

2
mikelawlor
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Johnsonville, NY, USA
4/20/2024 2:04pm

Just ride the thing like you would any other time. I do grease the linkage and the steering stem bearings after the first ride cause they are mostly dry and change the oil after the first ride but other than that let her eat. Race bikes are framed every week and get a brand new motor every week and they just get on them and beat the piss out of it harder than you or me ever thought about and they are fine. 

2
Zycki11
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Edwardsville, IL, USA
4/20/2024 2:42pm
mikelawlor wrote:
Just ride the thing like you would any other time. I do grease the linkage and the steering stem bearings after the first ride cause they...

Just ride the thing like you would any other time. I do grease the linkage and the steering stem bearings after the first ride cause they are mostly dry and change the oil after the first ride but other than that let her eat. Race bikes are framed every week and get a brand new motor every week and they just get on them and beat the piss out of it harder than you or me ever thought about and they are fine. 

Right? Grease what needs greased, tweet the valves riding it and making sure things are good through trans and then let her eat like normal. After first day of riding swap oil and oil filter and then your good 

2

The Shop

chad_111
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CA
4/20/2024 3:33pm

I purchased a new yz250 last year.  I've had plenty of bikes over the years but this was my first time getting a brand new bike.  Took people's advice to disassemble the linkage, steering stem etc to grease them.  Was a big waste of time, yamaha did an excellent job greasing these parts at the factory.

As for engine break in, I always do a heat cycle right after assembly at home in the garage.  Then do another heat cycle at the track at about 1/2 throttle or less.  Then ride er like usual after that.  It's close to what the manual says, and has always worked for me.  You will always get different opinions on this topic.

 

1
4/20/2024 7:36pm
1911 wrote:

Spray paint all the plastic black, then install Metal Mulisha stickers.

Do you cut the fenders before or after you paint them?

3
1911
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4/20/2024 9:41pm
1911 wrote:

Spray paint all the plastic black, then install Metal Mulisha stickers.

Do you cut the fenders before or after you paint them?

After I paint, and right before the rear paddle tire goes on 👍

1
Leeham
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Rochester, WA, USA
4/20/2024 11:44pm

Change oil once from the dealer to make sure its got enough and the right stuff.

Oil up filter.

Ride it like normal

1
Tumic
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Sundsvall, SE
4/21/2024 12:16am
chad_111 wrote:
I purchased a new yz250 last year.  I've had plenty of bikes over the years but this was my first time getting a brand new bike. ...

I purchased a new yz250 last year.  I've had plenty of bikes over the years but this was my first time getting a brand new bike.  Took people's advice to disassemble the linkage, steering stem etc to grease them.  Was a big waste of time, yamaha did an excellent job greasing these parts at the factory.

As for engine break in, I always do a heat cycle right after assembly at home in the garage.  Then do another heat cycle at the track at about 1/2 throttle or less.  Then ride er like usual after that.  It's close to what the manual says, and has always worked for me.  You will always get different opinions on this topic.

 

It’s not about the amount of grease, it’s the quality of it.

flatspin
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Washington D.C., WA, USA
4/21/2024 1:08am

Re grease everything before riding it. Let it warm up once really good and break it in just how you ride it. Change oil after 45 minutes on your hour meter.

chump6784
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AU
4/21/2024 2:11am
Tumic wrote:
Before it even hit’s the dirt i: Re-grease all bearings on the bike. Take off the tyres and lube the spoke niples. Change the tubes. Grease...

Before it even hit’s the dirt i:

Re-grease all bearings on the bike.

Take off the tyres and lube the spoke niples.

Change the tubes.

Grease triple clamp bolts.
Change handlebar/grips.

Change seatfoam to a firmer.

Grease chain tensioner bolts.

 

Then that i start it up, let it idle until warm and turn it off.

After it has cool down i start it up again and this time i rev it little until warm and then give it a couple of minutes of calm riding.

 

With the bearings properly greased and same with spoke nipples i don’t have to touch the wheels in the next 20-30h normaly.

It’s better to do it the proper way on a new bike instead of 1000 little things during the first rides that come loose etc.

What do you lube the spoke nipples with? I'm always having trouble with spokes seizing

Stonedmason
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Baton Rouge, LA, USA
4/21/2024 4:54am
Tumic wrote:
Before it even hit’s the dirt i: Re-grease all bearings on the bike. Take off the tyres and lube the spoke niples. Change the tubes. Grease...

Before it even hit’s the dirt i:

Re-grease all bearings on the bike.

Take off the tyres and lube the spoke niples.

Change the tubes.

Grease triple clamp bolts.
Change handlebar/grips.

Change seatfoam to a firmer.

Grease chain tensioner bolts.

 

Then that i start it up, let it idle until warm and turn it off.

After it has cool down i start it up again and this time i rev it little until warm and then give it a couple of minutes of calm riding.

 

With the bearings properly greased and same with spoke nipples i don’t have to touch the wheels in the next 20-30h normaly.

It’s better to do it the proper way on a new bike instead of 1000 little things during the first rides that come loose etc.

Stop    it's broken in at the factory you are putting premature wear on your engine 

1
Tumic
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Sundsvall, SE
4/21/2024 5:42am
chump6784 wrote:

What do you lube the spoke nipples with? I'm always having trouble with spokes seizing

Now we are really putting my english to test. 
 

I don’t know the correct word for it but it’s like a wax that that you use to spray in the frame and caveties on cars to prevent rust.

When that hardens it creates a layer that will seal out water and dirt from the threads but you can still adjust the spokes. It wont harden like loctite but it will tighten up the things a little bit.

I use the same on the triple clamp bolts, fork protector bolts, fork lugs and tank bolts to prevent seizing and still make it harder for the bolts to come loose.

I think that the correct term would be cavity wax after i googled it.

2
Zoom
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Cypress, TX, USA
4/21/2024 1:49pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2024 1:50pm

I had 5 Alta's and some of the advantages of electric MX bikes is zero break in for the motor and zero air filters. 

1
Gravel
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Ridgecrest, CA, USA
4/21/2024 1:54pm

As slow as I’ve gotten over the years, every ride is a break-in ride..

4
3strokemx
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USA
4/22/2024 7:54am
40acres wrote:
Then they ride it again at the dealer before they deliver it to the customer, it's certainly broke in.  I'd recommend going over every single bolt...

Then they ride it again at the dealer before they deliver it to the customer, it's certainly broke in. 

I'd recommend going over every single bolt though. Buddy just picked up a '24 350sxf and he had a pinched o-ring on the slave and about 8 bolts that were backed out or finger tight all around the case. 

They might get started at the dealer but the only riding would be if it's a street bike and they have to do an inspection.

ATV's and Side by Sides get driven a lot while at the dealer because they typically store them in the shop area and have to drive them outside every day.

vdrsnk04
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USA
4/22/2024 8:02am

Simple, grip it and rip it. Change the oil & oil filter after first ride. Then maintain it per owners manual. 

1
1
40acres
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Houston, TX, USA
4/22/2024 10:19am
3strokemx wrote:
They might get started at the dealer but the only riding would be if it's a street bike and they have to do an inspection. ATV's...

They might get started at the dealer but the only riding would be if it's a street bike and they have to do an inspection.

ATV's and Side by Sides get driven a lot while at the dealer because they typically store them in the shop area and have to drive them outside every day.

Thanks, worked at a shop for years in the past and my fiancé has been a finance manager for almost 20yrs. I'm well aware of what goes on and your dirt bikes are ridden after assembly and prior to delivery. It's part of the PDI process. Between the factory and the PDI process, rings are already set and worn into the cylinder. This heat cycle stuff when you get it home is really not necessary. 

3strokemx
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4/22/2024 10:33am
40acres wrote:
Thanks, worked at a shop for years in the past and my fiancé has been a finance manager for almost 20yrs. I'm well aware of what...

Thanks, worked at a shop for years in the past and my fiancé has been a finance manager for almost 20yrs. I'm well aware of what goes on and your dirt bikes are ridden after assembly and prior to delivery. It's part of the PDI process. Between the factory and the PDI process, rings are already set and worn into the cylinder. This heat cycle stuff when you get it home is really not necessary. 

Wow that's wild! How many hours do they put on new dirtbikes before they sell them?

4/22/2024 10:38am

idk why you would do anything other than what the manual says. It's really not that difficult they usually spell it out on like page 5 of every manual lol. 

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