Hitchcocks Forum

"running in" is an often discussed subject and not only on this forum. Just had a holiday experience I thought I'd share.



I'm just back from a week in the Algarve, Portugal where I hired a new UCE 500 classic for a few days. When it was dropped off at the villa, it had 30km on it from new.



Now having just hired a bike, there is no way I'm spending my holiday running it in for them, I've hired it to ride. So first outing, it went for a 20km 2-up run on undulating dirt tracks, mostly in second gear. Next day it did an 80km round trip on twisty single track roads, stirring the gearbox to beep it moving briskly along but in fairness, only doing up to 90km/h. On day 3 I took it 2-up for another 250km on precipitous and winding B-roads with a fair chunk of the notoriously steep and twisty National Route 2. I didn't give it any quarter, topping out at 90-100km/h and keeping it on the boil the whole way, making no allowances for its relative newness. All this in temperatures of around 30 degrees.



As well as being a delightfully civilised ride compared to my 350 classic (although less characterful), I was very pleased with its performance (and ground clearance), it was very "chuckable" and didn't get out of shape at any point. Getting to the point of my post, nor did it do anything untoward mechanically. No stutters, bogs, partial seizures, tantrums, refusals to start or even funny burning smells. The only thing of note was a slight oil weep round the back right of the head gasket.



So brand new bike with delivery mileage and I took it out and effectively spanked its arse for several hundred miles and it didn't miss a beat.

I do the same with demonstrators, which is why I would never buy one... On another forum an American company thrashed two UCE bikes flat out for miles without apparent ill effect. No need to mollycoddle them really.

I don't give a shxt because it's not mine so fxxk it.Its that what you are saying guys?.

No, that's not really what I'm saying at all. Although if they want it running in slowly or it taking easy (and in fairness, they didn't ask me to), they shouldn't be charging someone for the privelage. The rental guy said he's been hiring out bullets for 3 years now and has had more problems with the BMWs in his hire fleet.



There is a pervasive implication in the motorcycling community that unless you "take it easy" on a new bike there will be some immediate and dramatic consequence like the engine exploding or heat seizing. Also that despite what people are finding with Japanese bikes, the big single, OHV (and loose bored) engines on enfields are somehow a special case and need extra mollycoddling.



My experience here seems to add a little more weight to the counter opinion. Short of deliberately riding it about in an excessively low gear, I couldn't have given this a harder time in normal road riding with no apparent immediate consequences. Possibly gives a little more credence to the "hard running in" procedure which is becoming accepted as more normal in the sportsbike community.



The one thing that hire bike wont be getting that it ought to be (in my opinion) is a short-interval oil change round about now.

All I can say is you 2 will not be getting any test rides on any bikes I will have for sale.

All I can say is you 2 will not be getting any test rides on any bikes I will have for sale.

Highly recommended method. And as stated in the article, most motorcycles are ridden in this manner by pre-sales and delivery staff for the first 20/30 kms.
http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Test ride? Well if the price is right.thats ok
😋😋😋

Flat out till it's fixed is fine if your not going to keep the bike long term.
I know what works for me and my bikes, and it's not that.🔧🔧🔧

Hi, if you think about it you dont run in a motocrosser for 500miles.