Starting to ride my '08 Nightster. Waiting toREALLYsee what it can dountil the "break in period" is over. Is this a good thing? I have heard some riders say that it doesn't matter and to just go for it. Keep in mind this is my first brand new bike so i've never really had to "break one in" before.

 

Follow the owners manual...don't just go for it, you'll ruin the longevity of the bike.

 

I go for a by the book break-in with some ring bedding (heavy throttle (not high rpms) for a few seconds followed by deceleration). Heat cycle are good as well, but the motor has probably went through a few. The first was at the factory when they ran the engine. The second was at the dealership when they road tested the bike.

 

The most important thingis to heat cycle the motor. warm it up with a quick run and shut it down allow it to cool, repete. Then run it however you want to. Nightrider has a good article on break-in.

 

RTFM.

 

My "other bike" was ridden easy until 500 miles. Never even had it more that 1/4 throttle. Since then, I've let 'er rip quite a few times. Ah, the feel of acceleration. The sportster was used when I got it.

 

Keep away from the rev limiter for a little while and don't beat on it while it's cold. Also, change the first oil at 20 miles, not 1000. Then ride it like you own it. It'll be fine.

 

Someone else can ride their bike "like they stole it". I ride mine like I'm the one that paid for it.

 

I rode mine hard and it runs fine. I ran a Suzuki "by the manual" and it blew 3 head gaskets in 800 miles. I say run it hard. Most of the people you find on here will say go by the manual. Websites have been set up that say running it hard makes it run better and gives you more power in the long run. It's your bike so ride it how you want.

 

I'm somewhere in between the "follow the manual" and ride it hard schools of thought. The oil change at 20 miles is only if you use the "damn the torpedoes" technique. that means make sure the bike is fully at it's operating temperature, make sure there are no cops around and precious little traffic....and romp on the sonuvabitch! Do that for 20 miles and then change the oil. Dino oil. In theory that gets the vast majority of the metal deposits out of the cylinder, and creates a nice ring seal quickly. I'm leery about that, but I think that method is certainly better than babying it, and keeping steady speeds for the first 500 miles.

My .02? Ride it normally in stop and go traffic until it is warmed up. Then find you a nice highway with plenty of exits/on ramps and a decent access road alongside of it. At 25-30 kick it into 2d gear, and change gears every 10-15 mph after that up to around 75 in 5th. See how quickly you can do that. Get off a couple of exits down, and repeat. That way you are working the engine without over revving it, promoting good heat cycling and piston ring sealing, and having fun in the process, going JUST slow enough not to get pulled over by the authorities. Essentially, it's "by the manual". Don't get above 5k rpm and vary engine speed. Change oil at 500 miles, and then again with the 1k service. After 1k I switched to synthetic, but some suggest 2k.

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