March 19th, 2009, 03:13 AM | #1 |
I'm lovin' it.
Name: Mike
Location: Melb, Australia
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: A lot.
|
Break In + Learning @ same time
Hey,
I was wondering if a person who has never touched a motorbike before in their life was to buy one to learn on, how would that person be able to break in their engine. For example, most people when learning how to ride a motorbike for the first time, tend to ride around in car parks, then progressing to empty streets at very slow speeds. I've read/researched many people/groups saying things such as "the break in is x% complete at x miles/kms", and got this from Mototuneusa - "There's a very small window of opportunity to get the rings to seal really well ... the first 20 miles !!" So my question to you is how is a non-experienced rider meant to break in their engine when they are trying to learn how to ride a motorbike for the first time when most of the riding at the beginning will probably be at low speeds either in 1st or 2nd gear. Any hints/tips/help is much appreciated, thanks!
__________________________________________________
Son: When I grow up I want to ride a motorbike. Father: You can't do both son. |
|
March 19th, 2009, 03:35 AM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Sam
Location: Northern Virginia
Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.
|
Since you're in Australia, do you have the equivalent of an MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation)? In the US, the MSF provides training, including the use of a motorcycle, helmet, and gloves. You should obtain your license, etc., prior to venturing out on public streets.
In my case, I took the MSF class, got my license and then bought a bike and broke the engine in, while learning. YMMV Good Luck |
|
March 19th, 2009, 06:10 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
Don't stress about break-in. Priority one (through 10) is learning how to ride the bike.
Check out these threads on break-in: Thread 1 Thread 2
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
March 19th, 2009, 12:44 PM | #4 |
one disaster at a time
Name: Jody
Location: West Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): EX250J9 Posts: 411
|
If you go by the Kawasaki owner's manual, they recommend breaking the bike in by keeping RPMs below 4000 for the first 500 miles. That sounds like it should work out perfectly for you. By the time you've done 500 miles in a parking lot, you and the bike will be more than ready for some higher speed training.
|
|
March 19th, 2009, 10:31 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Wade
Location: Sydney, Australia
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): Black 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 52
|
In Aus (at least in Sydney) we need to take a H.A.R.T corse which is provided by the RTA to get our licence. Then they can provide other courses but they arent cheep.
|
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:31 PM | #6 |
I'm lovin' it.
Name: Mike
Location: Melb, Australia
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: A lot.
|
Yeah we do have courses, but they are very expensive. But when we get our license we have to do a practical test, written test, and a motorcycle computer test. Motorbike riding training usually goes for (people with no experience whatsoever) 2 days, 4.5 hours a day and teaches the basics for riding a motorbike, managing gear etc etc. After that, we have to past the practical test which consist of,
- Operation of controls without looking at them - Left hand turn (360 degrees) then stopping in a box/marked area - Right hand turn (720 degrees) then doing an emergency/quick stop in a box/marked area - Riding 18 metres in a marked area for at least 10 seconds I don't think these exercises and the 2 day training would be enough for me to build enough confidence to immediately drive on public roads while worrying about varying RPMs and all that other jazz that a break-in consist of.
__________________________________________________
Son: When I grow up I want to ride a motorbike. Father: You can't do both son. |
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:35 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
Fixed.
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:37 PM | #8 |
I'm lovin' it.
Name: Mike
Location: Melb, Australia
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: A lot.
|
So what you're saying Mr. Alex is that a person should not worry so much about 'breaking in' the bike?
__________________________________________________
Son: When I grow up I want to ride a motorbike. Father: You can't do both son. |
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:39 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.
|
not if it's going to interfere with how you ride as a beginner. just ride the bike.
|
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:41 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
I'm saying the fears of breaking in an engine poorly such that its performance or longetivity are affected in any way are terribly overblown, and would almost require someone actively trying to do so. And in most cases, they'd still be unsuccessful at harming the engine in any way.
Don't redline the engine when it's freezing cold. Don't lug the engine. And don't hold the bike at exactly 7000 rpm and only 7000 rpm (or any other single specific rpm) for the first entire 10 hours of its life on the highway. Which would be particularly hard to do even if one tried. You'll be fine, and your bike will be fine. Enjoy the ride.
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
March 19th, 2009, 11:50 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: David
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250R in Green! (Sold) Now 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE Posts: 564
|
When I first started, I just rode the bike how I needed. To me learning to ride was more important than breaking her in 'correctly'. Just the basic things that Alex mentioned above and a little care for the bike and you will be fine.
__________________________________________________
2008 GREEN Kawasaki Ninja 250R. AreaP Quiet Core Carbon Fibre : 8000k HIDs : Dynojet Jet kit : Double Bubble Windscreen |
|
March 21st, 2009, 06:16 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Trista
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 EX650R Green Kawasaki ninja Posts: 120
|
I also have a brand new '09, I had never ridden before 2 weeks ago. I can only say that after the first time out I didn't think I would ever get it into second gear but then in lesson 2, I not only got it into 2nd but up to 5th and 100 km/h. Everyone is different and the break in period was not something that I even thought of because I wasn't figuring on riding the heck out of a new bike. Have you read the manual recommendations regarding breakin period? As for the MSF course or equivalent, it is going to cost me $430 CAD to take the course (21 hours). We have a graduated licensing system in Canada, the first is a written test $15 CAD, then the course $430 CAD including a riding test then a wait period to gain experience of 18 months before another riding test/course of another $200. Get on and get some riding experience, that's what I am doing. Have fun and be safe. |
|
March 21st, 2009, 08:58 PM | #13 |
I'm lovin' it.
Name: Mike
Location: Melb, Australia
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: A lot.
|
Wow, I'm shocked! 21 hour course, and I thought the 2 day (8 hours) was long! And the price... guess its worth it in the end if it teaches you to become a better/safer/more confident rider.
__________________________________________________
Son: When I grow up I want to ride a motorbike. Father: You can't do both son. |
|
March 21st, 2009, 10:03 PM | #14 |
GTsmokeya
Name: Erik
Location: Lake In The Hills, IL
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 04' Silver 250 Ninja Posts: 28
|
Lol, I am a bad example when i bought my bike I read online for an hour about what lever did what and which pedal does what. After that I hit parking lots for a bit got the hang of it and the rest is history. My friend who went the safe way with classes and such ended up dropping the bike more than once I have yet to. knock on wood..... So safety first and worry about the rest later.
GTsmokeya |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Break time on a slow day. | Sykes92 | Videos | 7 | April 5th, 2014 06:45 PM |
[motorcyclistonline] - Reaction Time | Don’t Blink | Code Break | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | June 12th, 2013 12:50 AM |
[crash.net - MotoGP] - Stoner, Pedrosa break into all-time podium top ten | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | August 11th, 2011 07:30 AM |
[crash.net - MotoGP] - Rossi: A good break for the bad break | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | August 10th, 2010 04:40 AM |
[motorcyclistonline] - Time, Space And Speed - Code Break | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | December 14th, 2009 01:40 PM |
|
|