Read the owner manual and talk to the service adivsor. Keep it below 4000rpm for the first 50 miles and below 5000rpm for the next 450 miles and do not lug the engine. Change oils at 1000miles. Follow the break in period and you should have no problems.

 

It's your 20 grand. It is YOUR decision....do you break it in the way the manufacturer instructs, or do you follow the "ride it like ya stole it" method?

Your wallet.....your call.

 

I would say this is not needed but can't hurt. Did you change all the fluids at 250 mile intervalls? Just wonder how did the oil look? Lots of metal??

 

So what do the instructions in the owners manual state? I'm expecting delivery of a new EGS in April and don't have access to an owners manual yet.

 

I'm with the ride it like you stole it group. I've never had a problem and this is my 7th new bike.

 

I just hit about 550 today after 5 weeks of sneeking in rides around bad weather. I did it like the owners manual says with a couple of blasts from 30>60 in 3rd like mentioned about. Checked my oil hot and its right on the money..........

 

I broke mine in more like glide recommended, but used 2nd and 3rd gear. Fairly hard acelleration and then roll the throttle off for fairly hard deceleration. I changed my oil and filter after the first 200 miles, then did the stage 1 with a dyno tune at the 1k service. My dealership doesn't like doing the dyno tune until the 1k because it takes several runs on the dyno to tweak the SERT and the engine is still too tight before breakin. I believe HDs breakin instructions are overly conservative. If you do a search on this site for breakin you will find a link to an article that gives very specific detail why you should take a harder approach to the breakin to get the rings to seat correctly, if you go too easy the rings never mate to cylinder walls right. Everyone has their own belief on this, but as long as you don't lug it and don't push the rpm's too high I don't think you can do much wrong in the breakin.

 

Personally, I think the Harley suggested "break-in" period is more for the rider to get use to the new bike... They don't want you doing a burn-out getting out of the dealership and crashing.

I was watching a show about HD and as soon as a bike comes off the assembly line, they go through all the gears pretty hard... I don't know the specifics but I bet they are going over the suggested break in RPMs and MPH.

 

This may be the site you are talking about.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

thank you to all who responded. I tend to lean towards the moco break-in instructions....Once again great information on this forum. Can't tell you how many people I suggest join this group.