Break-in and Highways?

Tim250 · June 5th, 2010, 04:44 PM

I've yet to try anything over like 40 miles per hour on my new 250. It's at just 30 miles so far.

The manual advises keeping it under 4k RPM during break-in.

Does that mean it's not possible to drive on a 60-70 mph highway until the bike is broken in for 500-1000 miles? Or can the bike do 60-70 without going way over 4k RPM?

rockNroll · June 5th, 2010, 04:57 PM

I just ride them however I want, though I do drop the oil several times during the first 1k-1.5k miles.

Talonne · June 5th, 2010, 05:04 PM

I did small stretches of highway during break-in. NO long/sustained runs at a constant RPM.

Kitdog · June 5th, 2010, 05:07 PM

4k in 6th gear is about 35 mph. Asking about break in is like asking if your pro life or pro choice... its going to get heated. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10171

is one thread that can be found in the wiki about break in. That said I did use the short burst up to 10k in 2nd-5 at wide open throttle (wot) then engine break back down. Dont stay at one rpm too long. The only other thing I did was more frequent oil/filter changes, 50 miles, 250 miles, 600 (part of the 600 service at dealer) just did my 1000, then I will do one at 2000 and probably make the change to synthetic.

Alex · June 5th, 2010, 08:49 PM

http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/Break-in

CZroe · June 5th, 2010, 09:05 PM

I had to drive mine 680 miles home from the dealer.

miks · June 5th, 2010, 10:08 PM

Break in? What the hell is break in? Just ride it like you stole it mate, vary the revs and you'll be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

mikecronis · June 7th, 2010, 06:13 PM

I find you'll get better-than-posted mpg if you break-in per Kawasaki engineer's recommendation (versus no-mechanical-engineering-degree kid street-cred).

Who would you trust? A team of men who dedicated their whole lives to becoming the top mechanical engineers for Kawasaki of Japan, being the best-of-the-best in their engineering field, scoring the highest grades possible in a rabidly competitive Japanese college, giving up family and any fun so that they can someday become Team Kawasaki's mechanical engineers, carefully testing each Ninja 250 engine for possible variations using state-of-the-art super-science to create the best possible results over dozens of years...

Or some 19 year old kid with a GED who works at Taco Bell who "heard it from this guy" and jives with him because it follows the impatient method code he lives by, using a "seat-of-the-pants" dyno, swearing that unjetted slip-on gives him 20Hp.

Your call.

Taco Bell is delicious, however.

CZroe · June 7th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Mike: The recommendations have not changed in decades though manufacturing, engineers, and tolerances have. This says that it is a "copy-paste" recommendation. There is much demonstrated incentive for Kawi to keep these recommendations regardless of engine health (keeps customer alive to buy a more profitable bike in the future, creates O-ring seals that are "reliable enough" without being so perfect that you'll never have an issue, etc). One thing is for sure: Manufacturers DEFINITELY blast the engine at high RPMs to begin the ring-setting before ever shipping the bike.

mikecronis · June 8th, 2010, 12:33 AM

Well said, sir. I stand corrected!

View Poll Results: Good to ever drive on highways during break-in?
Yes	17	70.83%
No	7	29.17%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

June 5th, 2010, 04:44 PM	#1
Tim250 ninjette.org newbie Name: Tim Location: Texas Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Posts: 4	Break-in and Highways? I've yet to try anything over like 40 miles per hour on my new 250. It's at just 30 miles so far. The manual advises keeping it under 4k RPM during break-in. Does that mean it's not possible to drive on a 60-70 mph highway until the bike is broken in for 500-1000 miles? Or can the bike do 60-70 without going way over 4k RPM?

June 5th, 2010, 04:57 PM	#2
rockNroll . Name: rock Location: greenville, south carolina Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.	I just ride them however I want, though I do drop the oil several times during the first 1k-1.5k miles. __________________________________________________ Always get a second opinion because most of these people are makin' this stuff up

June 5th, 2010, 05:07 PM	#4
Kitdog ninjette.org guru Name: Kit Location: New Mexico Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r, 1996 Yahmaha YZ 125... Both in Blue the coolest color Posts: 285	4k in 6th gear is about 35 mph. Asking about break in is like asking if your pro life or pro choice... its going to get heated. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10171 is one thread that can be found in the wiki about break in. That said I did use the short burst up to 10k in 2nd-5 at wide open throttle (wot) then engine break back down. Dont stay at one rpm too long. The only other thing I did was more frequent oil/filter changes, 50 miles, 250 miles, 600 (part of the 600 service at dealer) just did my 1000, then I will do one at 2000 and probably make the change to synthetic. __________________________________________________ "Well you know, for me, the action IS the juice"

June 5th, 2010, 08:49 PM	#5
Alex 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	http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/Break-in __________________________________________________ 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)

June 5th, 2010, 05:04 PM	#3
Talonne ninjette.org guru Name: Jessica Location: Calgary, Canada Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Metallic Diablo Black Posts: 298	I did small stretches of highway during break-in. NO long/sustained runs at a constant RPM.

June 5th, 2010, 09:05 PM	#6
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	I had to drive mine 680 miles home from the dealer.

June 5th, 2010, 10:08 PM	#7
miks I'm lovin' it. Name: Mike Location: Melb, Australia Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: A lot.	Break in? What the hell is break in? Just ride it like you stole it mate, vary the revs and you'll be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. __________________________________________________ Son: When I grow up I want to ride a motorbike. Father: You can't do both son.

June 7th, 2010, 06:13 PM	#8
mikecronis ninjette.org member Name: Mike Location: Colorado Springs, CO Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R-J, 2005 Honda Superhawk VTR1000 Posts: 95	I find you'll get better-than-posted mpg if you break-in per Kawasaki engineer's recommendation (versus no-mechanical-engineering-degree kid street-cred). Who would you trust? A team of men who dedicated their whole lives to becoming the top mechanical engineers for Kawasaki of Japan, being the best-of-the-best in their engineering field, scoring the highest grades possible in a rabidly competitive Japanese college, giving up family and any fun so that they can someday become Team Kawasaki's mechanical engineers, carefully testing each Ninja 250 engine for possible variations using state-of-the-art super-science to create the best possible results over dozens of years... Or some 19 year old kid with a GED who works at Taco Bell who "heard it from this guy" and jives with him because it follows the impatient method code he lives by, using a "seat-of-the-pants" dyno, swearing that unjetted slip-on gives him 20Hp. Your call. Taco Bell is delicious, however.

June 7th, 2010, 07:49 PM	#9
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Mike: The recommendations have not changed in decades though manufacturing, engineers, and tolerances have. This says that it is a "copy-paste" recommendation. There is much demonstrated incentive for Kawi to keep these recommendations regardless of engine health (keeps customer alive to buy a more profitable bike in the future, creates O-ring seals that are "reliable enough" without being so perfect that you'll never have an issue, etc). One thing is for sure: Manufacturers DEFINITELY blast the engine at high RPMs to begin the ring-setting before ever shipping the bike.

June 8th, 2010, 12:33 AM	#10
mikecronis ninjette.org member Name: Mike Location: Colorado Springs, CO Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R-J, 2005 Honda Superhawk VTR1000 Posts: 95	Well said, sir. I stand corrected!

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