2009 R1 Break In

I?ve have never owned a new motorcycle before. That being said I decided to go with the take it easy for the first thousand miles method. I?m at about 40 miles at the moment and haven?t taken it over 6k rpms. I would like to go on a road trip with a couple of my buddy?s tomorrow but they are headed in to the White Mountains in NH. One mountain is the highest east of the Mississippi with the road going basically right to the top. About 6300ft. Will this kind of altitude put my new engine under undue stress??

Welcome to the forum, but please search before posting. There are a ton of engine break in threads on this board, even some specifically about the 09 (even though it is no different). I would worry less about the altitude and more about the 'road trip' part.

I?ve have never owned a new motorcycle before. That being said I decided to go with the take it easy for the first thousand miles method. I?m at about 40 miles at the moment and haven?t taken it over 6k rpms. I would like to go on a road trip with a couple of my buddy?s tomorrow but they are headed in to the White Mountains in NH. One mountain is the highest east of the Mississippi with the road going basically right to the top. About 6300ft. Will this kind of altitude put my new engine under undue stress?? THis is a topic that will never get consensus. My 09 as well as my 07 ZX14 saw redline at 100 miles and never looked back. Changed the oil at 400 miles (minor and normal break in metal) and again at 1000 miles and the oil was clean. Do not be afraid to open her up but it is your bike and do as you please.

THis is a topic that will never get consensus. My 09 as well as my 07 ZX14 saw redline at 100 miles and never looked back. Changed the oil at 400 miles (minor and normal break in metal) and again at 1000 miles and the oil was clean. Do not be afraid to open her up but it is your bike and do as you please. +1 exactly how I break mine

redline within 20 miles drop the oil and change for yamalube mineral oil till 600 mile service then back to full synthetic jobs a good un. did that with mine and it's ballistically quick.

redline within 20 miles drop the oil and change for yamalube mineral oil till 600 mile service then back to full synthetic jobs a good un. did that with mine and it's ballistically quick. Worst advice ever.

I broke my R1 in at the track. It had 3 miles on it at Homestead. I routinely hit the rev limiter. Dumped the oil in between the 2nd and 3rd sessions. Really loosens up and runs better. Besides it ridiculous riding the bike around at 4k rpm, it's torture and lugging the bike is probably harder on it than riding it like it's supposed to be. I loosens it right up breaking it in at the track. I tried the slow break-in once, took FOREVER for the engine to loosen up.

THis is a topic that will never get consensus. My 09 as well as my 07 ZX14 saw redline at 100 miles and never looked back. Changed the oil at 400 miles (minor and normal break in metal) and again at 1000 miles and the oil was clean. Do not be afraid to open her up but it is your bike and do as you please. I did fairly normal to fast riding, varying the RPM's and did a lot of engine braking and accelration sprints for a while, first oil change (and filter) was at 100 km's Then I rode it like a stole it, did the 1000km dealership service and changed oil to semi-Synthetic and the filter with the rest of the service. No hassles up to date and she runs well. :thumbup

Worst advice ever. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm have a quick read of this then? it's a little more informed than your three word effort would you like to enlighten us with your thoughts and reasoning on break in then?

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm have a quick read of this then? it's a little more informed than your three word effort would you like to enlighten us with your thoughts and reasoning on break in then? If you actually have read that article, tried to comprehend it and that summed up your understanding, then you don't need to be giving out advice about this, ever. I am very familiar with that site, agree with most of the theories and methods, but you have completely missed the point. Oh, if you want to hear my full opinion, search. I have debated engine break in technique in at least 3 other threads.

If you actually have read that article, tried to comprehend it and that summed up your understanding, then you don't need to be giving out advice about this, ever. I am very familiar with that site, agree with most of the theories and methods, but you have completely missed the point. Oh, if you want to hear my full opinion, search. I have debated engine break in technique in at least 3 other threads. jeez who are you my dad, the guy who originally started the thread wanted different opinions on engine break in. i have read the website down to the letter and as it is a reputable source i have decided to give this method a try. it has worked and all i'am doing here is passing it on. i assume that most of the people who come on here are old enough to read and old enough to make their own mind up.

jeez who are you my dad, the guy who originally started the thread wanted different opinions on engine break in. i have read the website down to the letter and as it is a reputable source i have decided to give this method a try. it has worked and all i'am doing here is passing it on. i assume that most of the people who come on here are old enough to read and old enough to make their own mind up. Wow, maybe you should write him an email and let him know that it's way longer than it needs to be. It surely can be summed up by: redline within 20 miles drop the oil and change for yamalube mineral oil till 600 mile service then back to full synthetic jobs a good un. did that with mine and it's ballistically quick. :dundun:

I?ve have never owned a new motorcycle before. That being said I decided to go with the take it easy for the first thousand miles method. I?m at about 40 miles at the moment and haven?t taken it over 6k rpms. The book says "don't exceed 6900 for extended periods". You don't do the engine good if you baby it too much, but you don't do any good if you exceed those recommendations either. Keep in mind that the engine has to get rid of manufacturing residues (specially steel shavings and casting sand generally). That's probably the most important reason to keep loads within certain limits. And that's the reason why I am doing the first oil/filter change at 200mi and the second at 600mi. Secondly some bearings and parts have to propperly adjust (or better: have a chance to, if needed) Don't worry about the "Mototune method". What they claim can be done later, there is no 20 miles window of opportunity. B.T.W Thanks for the reminder, I owe this forum an article that has been written by a former engine developer on this very special theme... forgot to post it.

I think that none of us will ever live long enough to get the right answer to this question. Do what you like! :) If it breaks, fix it, or buy another one.

For my 09 I did a combo of what i did with my 6r and the mototune method. This time i took the revs higher sooner, but for the first 200 miles I was constantly varying the rpms all the time. I didn't consistently start bringing her to 10-11K in 1st and 2nd gears until I had about 240miles on her. I did drop the break in oil out at 25 miles, it was black. I then put in Yamalube 10w40 and it's still slightly opaque and a little bit dark. Bike has 432 miles on it now, the last 100 I ran all in one day, and was a good workout full rpm spectrum in all gears, only stretching 5th and 6th to about 10k. Max speed I hit on my 'safe' straightaway was 140 indicated. Plenty fast to finish break in. Engine braking is very strong on her. I don't have the ticking noise on startup and no odd engine noises or things going on. I'm probably going to change the oil this weekend as my full exhaust/pcv/autotune and fender elim will be going on it. I didn't baby it, nor beat it for the first 200ish miles as I think run it in a little harder, but more importantly, vary your rpm's all the time. You're right about 5th gear 4k rpms, god that is lugging and to me feels like you're doing more harm than good. I've found that I really only need the first 3 gears really, maybe 4th if I'm going to hit a highway, but for streets riding/back twisties, 1-3 is fine for me. Rpm's are right there and so is your power. Search here you'll find that this topic is probably debated more on the internet than anything else. Do what you feel is right. As Nostickers said, if it breaks, fix it, or get a new one!

HI All, New to the forums and to the 09 R1, just got her yesterday :-) very pleased so far! I wanted to ask you guys some recommendation for the 50+- miles oil change... have been reading lots of posts on this subject but i just wanted to make sure that i wont screw up my NEW engine by putting in any "regular CAR Diesel oil" :dundun: I live in london, and the only mineral oil i can find in my local store is "Mobil Super 15W-40" and "Castrol GTX 10W40" . The only Yamalube i can find is Outboard Motor Oil?? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-Yamalube-4-Stroke-Outboard-Motor-Oil---5L_W0QQitemZ260423903576QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090607?IMSfp=TL090607216001r39383 I dont know anything about oils but filling Diesel or outboard oil in my new baby is kinda worriyng me... .. also, is K&N oil filter a good one for this first change? TIA

The book says "don't exceed 6900 for extended periods". You don't do the engine good if you baby it too much, but you don't do any good if you exceed those recommendations either. Keep in mind that the engine has to get rid of manufacturing residues (specially steel shavings and casting sand generally). That's probably the most important reason to keep loads within certain limits. And that's the reason why I am doing the first oil/filter change at 200mi and the second at 600mi. Secondly some bearings and parts have to propperly adjust (or better: have a chance to, if needed) Don't worry about the "Mototune method". What they claim can be done later, there is no 20 miles window of opportunity. Good advice, Juerg.

Sounds like you're going up the Mount Washington Auto Road, right? If I were you, I'd be more worried about my brakes. And my wrists! Going up will be a breeze, coming down? Not so much... I?ve have never owned a new motorcycle before. That being said I decided to go with the take it easy for the first thousand miles method. I?m at about 40 miles at the moment and haven?t taken it over 6k rpms. I would like to go on a road trip with a couple of my buddy?s tomorrow but they are headed in to the White Mountains in NH. One mountain is the highest east of the Mississippi with the road going basically right to the top. About 6300ft. Will this kind of altitude put my new engine under undue stress??