Break - in procedure

mpm · Mar 14, 2011

Hi All-

I am planning on picking up my Stryker at the end of this week as the weather is starting to get tolerable. I didn't grab the manual when I signed the paper work and put the bike in storage. Was hoping someone could give me some of the break in process on this bike before I pick it up.

Thanks
Matt

ares x · Mar 14, 2011

All they told us was pretty much the same as when I bought my Raider. Take it easy for the first 600 miles (no gunning it), don't ride at the same speed for more than 20 minutes and be careful on curves for a bit because the tires are new.

strykerhulk · Mar 15, 2011

I was told different by the dealer. I got my stryker last week and the dealer said to ride it easy for 100 miles and then ride it like u stole it. Now who to believe???

I could the raven one..

ares x · Mar 15, 2011

Like I said, they told me the same thing when I bought the Raider alost 2 years ago. It was the same dealer though.

ace · Mar 15, 2011

This is an ongoing debate I have seen for motorcycles, cars, etc. Some people will argue to ride it hard to seat the seals properly, others will tell you to talk to the dealer, I for one just follow whats in the owner's manual. Unfortunately for my motorcycle I never get to ride it enough to determine if the break in procedure was good enough after 100,000 miles of riding or now. Fortunately for me, I rotate cars often enough to not rack up that many miles either! ;D

kov68 · Mar 16, 2011

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Check this out and decide for yourself what is right for you.

RedStar Raider · Mar 16, 2011

This will always be up for a debate, but I tend to lean more to this guys way of thinking for the street break in process.

Kov68 said:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Check this out and decide for yourself what is right for you.

RSR

mpm · Mar 16, 2011

Thanks for the info. I knew this was a controversial topic to begin with.

This is the first new engine I have bought other than the diesel in my Kubota tractor. I think I will follow the link you guys provided for break in on the street.

RedStar Raider · Mar 16, 2011

It is very important to warm up a water cooled engine completely before riding, and of course breaking in. My son rides a Kawi ZX10R, and I have to wait for him a few extra minutes. (Raider=air cooled)

RSR

SanDiegoStryker · Mar 16, 2011

Wow, you guys are brave if you follow that break in procedure. I'm definitely no mechanic. I am going to follow what the owner's manual tells me to do.

RedStar Raider · Mar 16, 2011

SanDiegoStryker said:
Wow, you guys are brave if you follow that break in procedure. I'm definitely no mechanic. I am going to follow what the owner's manual tells me to do.

I bought my first Raider with .01 mile on it. I was in the city, and it took about 20 minutes to get to the freeway, and i ran up the R's to about 3-4k and shifted thru the gears, about 5 miles i got off on a less traveled road, and ran it up to about 4K and shifted thru all 5 gears, and then decelled all the way back down thru the gears, and shut it down, while my brother smoked a cigarette, and then off we'ed go again, doing this another 5-6 times, and then we just rode the rest of the day. A week or so later i was getting on the freeway, and was getting on it kind of hard, and it hit the rev limiter, except i didn't know it, at the time, and i about sh!t my pants when that happened. I came back and got online and started reading on another Raider forum about what had happened, and was really happy to find that it was ok, still don't like hitting it tho.

RSR

kov68 · Mar 19, 2011

Kov68 said:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Check this out and decide for yourself what is right for you.

Well, I took my own medicine and decided to try this procedure on my bike's break in.
My Stryker had 1 mile on the odometer.

I warmed up the engine completely, and went for a 20 mile ride in the country.
Basically I followed the instructions to a "T", and after I got back home I said to myself "Wow, I just beat the **** out of that bike!"
I drained the oil while the bike was still warm, and there were no metal shavings at all ( I even cut the filter apart ).
Installed Pure One Filter PL14610 and Shell Rotella-T 15w40 Non Synthetic Oil (Jaso/MA Spec Certified).

Now it seems that the engine is stronger with more grunt.
To each his own, and yes this topic is controversial, I had my doubts, but I feel I made the right choice.

RedStar Raider · Mar 19, 2011

Kov68, sounds like you had a great time! It must have felt really good to get out for a ride?!

RSR

kov68 · Mar 19, 2011

Yea, It sure was fun 8)

RedStar Raider · Mar 20, 2011

Kov68 said:
Yea, It sure was fun 8)

How many miles have you put on it so far?

RSR

kov68 · Mar 21, 2011

She's at 110 Miles so far.
I'm hoping they clean and patch the roads around here so I can enjoy the ride more!
Praying for a heavy rain to clean up the winter dirt, sand, & salt!!

RedStar Raider · Mar 21, 2011

Kov68 said:
She's at 110 Miles so far.
I'm hoping they clean and patch the roads around here so I can enjoy the ride more!
Praying for a heavy rain to clean up the winter dirt, sand, & salt!!

It must be difficult not being able to ride much, but it isn't worth what could happen when roads are as you described.

RSR

perogies · Apr 2, 2012

I am at 500km (just over 300 miles) and was wondering how long people drove their bikes before opening them up. I have a scheduled 100km service in 2 weeks but am getting antsy babying the throttle around town. Any adverse affects opening it up before the first service interval?

alaskanmonte · Apr 2, 2012

I loosely followed the owners manual to approximately 500 miles. At that point I changed the oil and filter. After that I drove it like I would normally drive my motorcycles (hard). I them changed the oil again at 1100 miles and went to a semi-synthetic (Motul 5100). Bike runs great and I've had no problems.

NOTE: The owners manual says to change at 600 and then not until 4000 miles. At my 1100 mile oil change there was still signs of the the engine being broken-in. I'm not a mechanic but I would recommend a second oil and filter change after 1000-1500 miles.

canyon1 · Apr 3, 2012

Sure there is the temptation to ride it hard when you first get it, but the reality is that most people don't hang on to the bike long enough to experience the long-term effects of an inproper break-in. So maybe the point is moot. I tend to be conservative, however, and I followed the mfg. recommendation. Maybe not a wholly bad idea as it gave me a chance to become familiar with the bike before I wrapped it around a tree. HaHa

Break - in procedure

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