break-in period

[Jim Hyman]

Mark, Steve, Great question! Almost as controversial as "what's the best oil?" [Don't ask, just search the archives when you a spare hour or three ...] Vary the engine speed & load. Don't ride at a steady rpm for extended periods. All the new parts need to be seated and the best way to do this is with moderate acceleration followed by coasting. This varies the load on engine & transmission parts and helps them mate to each other. I can't think of a beeter way to break-in a new m/c then to go for extended rides on the backroad twisties. Riding at a constant 3000 - 4000 rpm for hours on end or babying your new bikes is a poor way to go, just as riding the piss out of a new bike is a no-no. An occasional momentary burst to 5000 rpm is fine. The main point is to ride moderately with varying loads. BTW, 4000 rpm equates to about 60 mph. Absolutely have the 500 mile service done at 500 miles, not at 1000 or 1500 miles. There's a lot of doubt on the list about whether or not Kawi dealers really perform a valve check, even when the dealer insists that the valves are really checked and adjusted. If your not capable of doing the valve adjustment, find a fellow lister who has done KLR valve adjustments & do the oil change & all service checks yourself. Just ask - the people here are unbelievably helpful. Some will only charge you for a six-back or a bottle of virgin oil. Make sure that you have full documentation (receipts and a maintenance log) of all maintenance performed if your cycles are not serviced at a Kawi dealer. Buy the KLR600 "base" service manual and the KLR650 "supplemental" service manuals (total price $38 - $50 for both). These are a must for performing all normal maintenance procedures. Only use "SG" rated motor oil (available at m/c shops). Hold off on switching to synthetic motor oil until the 3000 or 6000 mile oil change. Check all nuts & bolts regularly, new KLRs tend to occasionally shed a few things initially & then settle down. Enjoy the ride! Professor A9 Federal Way, WA. [USA] ------------------------------------------- --- Mark King replied: Steve, You will have a great time on your new KLR. I ran mine in sticking to the rev limits on the sticker. I used the bike exclusively on twisty canyon roads where it was easy to vary the throttle and revs. I had a look at a few different Kawasaki's and they all had the same break in rev limits whether the redline be 7500 or 15000. This leads me to question the validity of the Kawasaki break in rev ranges but I suppose most the people on the list stuck to them which means they cant be all that bad. --- original message from Steve McCord

> Hello Group, > I pick-up my new 2001 KLR_650 tomorrow.[08/05/00] I am new > to the group and to a KLR but not new to motorcycling. I've > been riding about 30 years now starting on dirt bikes to > Harleys to BMWs to "haul-ass" sportbikes and finally- full > circle. I look forward to many miles of adventure on my KLR. > I am requesting any advice that group members may have for > the break-in period. No, this isn't my first new motorcycle > but I thought some of you might share some do's and don'ts > learned thru experience.