Break In New Motorcycle

Typically the owners manual will give you a method to break in the motorcycle, I would just follow that. A lot of people have their own methods, some just don't follow one at all though and go hooning as soon as they get it lol

Yeah, there's a lot of "ancient wisdom" floating around about engine break-in. But modern engines are built to tighter tolerances and use better materials than older engines. Following the owner's manual instructions, as Sidewinder says, is your best bet. But absent that, my dealer's advice on the last two, modern BMWs I bought was pretty straightforward: run the bike up and down through the rev ranges and gears until the first service (600 miles), and avoid lugging the engine or running long stretches at the same RPM. There's no need to baby it. In fact, making the engine work fairly hard will help seat the piston rings and avoid excessive oil use. But don't wring its neck. Be moderately aggressive, if that makes sense.

I've followed my dealer's advice on my last two BMWs, and I've never had to add any oil between 6,000 mile service intervals on either of them.

That sounds pretty straightforward. Considering you've used that method for the last two modern bmw bikes that you've owned, I can't see why it wouldn't work for the G310 either. I don't think I'll be able to contain myself and not ride it semi-aggressively. Some people say you shouldn't enter the higher rpms at all and keep it real low until your first service... there's no way I can do that lol.

So shift gears as much as I can and give it the occasional rev? At least it'll give me plenty of practice rowing through the gears.

SlickRick said:

Some people say you shouldn't enter the higher rpms at all and keep it real low until your first service... there's no way I can do that lol.

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While that used to be true back in the day, that's bad advice for modern engines. You're much more likely to prevent a good run-in (and perhaps even damage the engine) by lugging it in the lower rpms. Smoothly running the engine through the entire rpm range, from idle up to near redline, is key. And not keeping it in any rpm range for long. So no droning down the freeway, at least initially.

LiquidCool said:

So shift gears as much as I can and give it the occasional rev? At least it'll give me plenty of practice rowing through the gears.

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Yep, I try to think of it like kneading a loaf of bread. You want to work it, and mix all the ingredients thoroughly.

Then change the oil to remove all the run-in cruft, and retighten all the bolts at the first service. Then you should be good to go.

Free advice, and worth every penny! :grin2:

Thanks for the advice guys! It'll also be a good chance for me to try my hand at changing oil for the first time at around 500-600 miles. I think that's the average mileage where people make the first oil change.

Free advice is the best advice! Sometimes not taking the free advice can cost you a lot though

The riders manual is now available for download at BMW's website. Pretty much only the basics are listed, and maintenance schedules, but there are no specific "break-in" procedures listed.

Hmm... now that's a bit of a pickle for people that were essentially relying on it. Perhaps just asking someone at the dealership would work out as well.

JACoH said:

The riders manual is now available for download at BMW's website. Pretty much only the basics are listed, and maintenance schedules, but there are no specific "break-in" procedures listed.

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It's there, on page 51. And matches what I was told to do by my dealer on my last two BMWs.

One important thing to note from experience is the miles or timeline they state for a break-in to complete isn't usually an exact science, part of it is going to be feeling or just doing it enough till you know everything has broken in enough. Just saying that since on other forums i've seen break in threads go on for 10's of pages of when the phase will be "complete"

Heard it's not simply just breaking in the engine either, you'll have to properly bed the brake pads before they start biting properly. Guess you'll know when you don't have to take so long to come to a complete stop.

Everything really needs to get used to break-in. Suspension components need to be worked a bit before you get them to settle properly, tires have to get broken in, etc.

From engines to helmets, almost every piece of motorcycle gear requires some kind of break-in period, and tires are no different. Just ride around town before taking things too aggressively.

Just stick to the manual.

<6000 rpm for 0 - 300Km

Over 300km you can take the revs over 6000rpm but no full throttle till 1000km break in service. Try ride in hills and corners, this helps with throttle variation.