SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB350/400

Running in advice

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Ken4004:
Hi Ted thanks for the advice , that so of aligns with my initial thoughts.

I spent a lot of time and money rebuilding my bike and hence my cautious approach, it’s interesting that there is alot of opinions on this subject.
I spoke to a motor cycle dealer a few years ago and he said you don’t need to run a bike in anymore and if you don’t ride it hard from the beginning it never loosens up properly and you get less performance out of your bike, not a philosophy I believe.
I suppose if your only keeping your new bike for a year of two and then trading it in for a new model on a regular basis you probably don’t really care about how long the engine lasts as long as it doesn’t fail while in your possession ! I have always looked after my bikes and they still look good even after 10 years of ownership.

Regards Ken

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
An old  friend of mine was a metalagist who worked for a firm called Lubrizol at Hazelwood where he was the head chemist, they are independant oil/lubricant testers to the international oil industry. He bought a new Rover 2000 TC that he ran in for what to me sounded like a ridiculous period, 10k miles!

He sold the car when the bodywork statrted to let it down, not only did it never need oil topping up between services  but it covered almost 200k miles when he parted with it. I'm talking here about a 1970's vehicle before the advent of newer oil technology. He told me that he thought it was the extra long running in period that gave his engine the long life.

I have always respected manufacturers advice on running in periods even on company cars, many new cars back in the 1960's would have running in sticker in the rear screen. Yes things have moved on, not sure if a rebore has  the ability to machine within the current fine tollerances used by engine manufacturers.

taysidedragon:
I rebuilt my 400f with new pistons, rings, honed bores, new bearings, seals etc. so I ran it in carefully for the first 500 miles. It's now done several thousand miles and doesn't use any oil between oil changes.
When I bought my Street TripleR I followed Triumph's running in advice and it was still running beautifully,  no oil use after 12 years of use. A mate of mine bought a Street Triple just before me and he ragged it from the start. His used oil and showed blue oil smoke from the exhaust when revved.
Bedding in rings is important.

exvalvesetdabbler:
Here's what the owners manual has to say

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Regards
Dave

Athame57:
I think this is the kind of question that will get a variety of answers. I had a rebore recently, or rather my bike did,  ;D I plain took it easy for a few hundred miles and then rode as usual.  8)

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