Hitchcocks Forum

So, when I bought Enf she had just under 15k on the clock. I was told that she'd had a rebuild done around 10k - there was a receipt for £750 from the previous previous owner, but was just listed as "parts and labour", with no breakdown of what work was carried out.


I contacted the previous previous owner from the address on the V5 copy, and yesterday got a letter back with a phone number, so I've just had a chat. The oil pump had originally failed, so new pumps and spindles were installed, and whilst it was being done they did main bearings, big and little end and rings. He couldn't remember the mileage when this was done, but said that he'd MOTd it at the same time.


I've just checked the MOTs, and it shows the same mileage as when I bought it, so essentially the guy I bought it from hadn't even put a mile on it since the rebuild!


This fills me with both joy and dread, since I have (a) got a freshly rebuilt engine, and (b) ridden a freshly rebuilt engine with no hint of an attempt at running it in


Luckily I ride like a granny with a load in her knickers, so she hasn't been thrashed too harshly, but I now know to take it easier for the next few hundred miles until she loosens up a bit, and throw lots of fresh oil at her in the meantime. Hopefully I've not done any lasting damage, but what should I keep my eye out for in particular?

Just to add, Enf is an unmodified (as far as engine and running gear is concerned) 1998 Indian 350cc.

Nice one! You should be able to feel what's happening, loosening up, and an early oil change will tell you what's going on inside.

The problem being, who rebuilt it?

Receipt is from Southern Cross Motorcycle Engineers, in Kilburn, London. Not heard of them myself, but 4.5 out of 5 over 37 Google reviews bodes well.

TheShaggyDA I don't want to worry you but:- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-60413-1757857

Interesting, but as I'm not a creditor, I'm not particularly worried about a company that was wound up in 2013 only to reappear with the same name - dodgy financial history from the directors doesn't automatically equate to poor workmanship from the staff. The overall sound, feel and outside condition of the engine and fasteners doesn't raise any red flags so far.

I would drain the oil and remove oil filter, inspect oil and filter for metal fragments or filings ect, If clean reassemble and check again after 200 to 300 miles of running.

There is more than one school of thought regarding running in, the first is the makers way which was designed to stop bikes coming back under guarantee, the alternative is to take the bike and ride it normally, most professionals think the best way to run in barrels and pistons is to thrash the bike straight from the off.

Years ago when tuning bikes for racing I never bothered with running in, just didn't have the time or inclination, does anyone think that race bikes are run in now?, I very much doubt it, just ride and enjoy, no harm will have been done, you may even have done yourself a favour by not knowing, I can't remember the last time I ran a bike or a car in.

I suggest not running in an air cooled engine could end up being very expensive. Plus it depends how an engine has been re-conditioned and the machinery used to do it.