proper break in procedures

“I am new dual sport bike rider and recently picked up a 2012 800XC ABS. I have a 160 miles on the bike and was told by the sales person at the dealership to not ride at one speed for too long during the initial break in period of 500 miles. Does this mean no 1-2 hour highway trips? Anything else I should consider during the first 500 miles? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks”

On one hot boring afternoon, when Brett and I had nothing to do, we stopped in and visited the local Yamaha shop.  An hour later, after a test ride and a deal I couldn’t refuse, I had a brand new 1985 Yamaha FJ1100!  I had no intention of buying a new bike, but the deal was so good I couldn’t say no, and with Labor Day weekend approaching the  next week, the perfect time for break in miles was provided.  I had the bike, the time, and when a ride is needed I can always find the money, so off to Pennsylvania I went, only 1800 miles away, and took a week off from work.  With stops in Pagosa Springs the first night, getting an early start on tomorrow, then Garden City, Kansas, a small town in the middle of Illinois that has come and gone, and finally Roanoke, Virginia, I had 2000 miles before the first weekend of ownership.  Spending a few days with my grandparents, I was able to get my first oil change at the local dealer, who didn’t understand my first service at 2200 miles, and how I had ridden that far to get it.  But after a quick check, a short visit, and some back east riding, and a rest, I was on the road again.  Taking a different route back, by the time I arrived home in New Mexico, I had 6600 miles on my bike and it was only a week old!  I had observed none of the factory break in procedures, and the bike was finally sold 11 years later with over 76,000 miles on it, running so well and looking so good I got full retail at trade in time.  I hope I get such a deal when I get traded in...

When people ask “what do you do?”  I have to stop and think.  I am retired on a disability, but write 5 devotions a week that are read on 6 continents.  I minister to men and women behind bars, and pastor a small group downtown.  I am an advocate for helping those who need it, and at different levels.  I also ride new motorcycles for Triumph’s press fleet, over 200 in the past ten years.  So I am active despite my physical handicap, I may be weakened, but not weak in Christ. I have broken in so many new bikes I can tell when they break in, I can tell the difference on each bike, and each one is different.  It has been awhile since I bought a new bike, but the last one had only 630 miles on it before heading out on a 7300 mile ride, so I know about the real world of break in experience.  But I also know the real world of being a Christian in a fallen world and how tough it can be. 

I have seen and see how weak I am and how it is a strength in God’s eyes, how he uses me because I need to follow him and not lead.  How when his spirit is alive in me, things get done that I couldn’t do on my own.  Or mess up if I had the strength.  His power is made perfect in my weakness, and Paul has been an inspiration to me in that way.  Consider Paul for a moment, and see how our weakness allows God’s will to live through us.  He was not attractive, although learned.  He would never show up in People magazine, nor be honored on TMZ or even at the UN.  He had no press agent, no gaggle of reporters following him around and misquoting him, and many times he admitted to feeling frustrated and restless, as great disappointment attacked him. He was so open to the leading of the spirit that he was subject to all the pain Jesus felt, and yet was encouraged to go on.  He may have been ready to give up on himself, but he never gave up on Jesus.  And a great testimony of Jesus Christ working in his life was going out, people were saved, healed, converted, and ministered to because of his faithfulness.  His ministry was a success, and he never failed to give God all the credit, his eternal prayer “thanks be to God who gives us the triumph through Jesus Christ.”  Despite personal anguish, he had the confidence in Jesus, that things would turn out good.  God’s good, not our own, but for us, if we can only hang on.  He was broken in the Lord, but never broke.  Out of weakness came the personal manifestation of Jesus Christ, his break in procedure providing him a personal relationship that today many marvel at, and one which we can have too.

For when he wrote in 2 Corinthians about persecuted, and beaten down, losing hope and despairing, he also told us how in doing so he was carrying around the spirit of Jesus in him.  In this world we will have tribulation, put that one in your prayer box, but we will rise above it, in Christ.  Those of us who have seen heartache and despair, who have been broke and broken, lonely and alone, can testify to the greatness of God reaching out to us, and we get to see a deeper side of God than those who live life safe.  My FJ may have only been a week old, but had seen more miles than the average rider saw in a year.   And would see many more miles, it wasn’t babied, it was meant to be ridden, far and fast, so it was only doing what it was designed to do.  Where are you in Jesus?  Are you out doing what he has designed and called you to?  Do you stop and falter when God calls and you encounter danger, or do you lean on him, knowing that if he called you to a mission, he will provide?  He who guides provides, and the end results are blessings.  Not all who are called ride 6000 miles in a week, or go to Africa on a mission.  God puts those in need in front of us every day, as he did with the rich man and Lazarus.  Who have you stepped over today, thinking you are rich, only to find that Lazarus was far richer in Christ?  This past week we saw a national evangelist turn away victims from his church who needed shelter, telling them to have faith.  Would you have?  Would Paul have abandoned them? Or as Jesus does, invite them in, and wash their feet.  Give them rest.  Meet their needs.  This supposedly rich man stepped over thousands of Lazaruses, finally opening his doors to pressure.  His reputation tarnished, as he was exposed for the false gospel he preaches, there is no love of Jesus in him, just a way to better yourself.  Ask yourself, who was the weak one in this situation? 

We may not all get to ride as many miles, but each mile has its own blessings.  And dangers, I need Jesus with me every mile, every day.  My body is weak, but when my spirit is willing, I have all I need.  Adequate is what scripture tells us, not too much, not too little, just enough.  Remember he sent out his disciples with only the money in their pockets, and look at the things they accomplished.  I could have sat home, put on the break in miles and then got a service and then taken the trip, but the time would have passed.  So I rode, as I was supposed to, and was a great blessing to my grandparents.  A special three days we kept secret for years, it was our time together, not to be shared.  But meant to be shared with Jesus, who watched out for me in the heavy rains.  Confirmed by a Pennsylvania State Trooper, who when I stopped to remove my rain suit, told us how across the state, they had their eye on me.  “Hard to hide in a bright yellow rain suit,” they told me.  God had them over me, who is over  you?

Proper break in requires care and feeding.  When the spirit feeds us, we have life, and never hunger.  Every 200 miles I need gas, and then and oil change when I arrived.  But it was God who brought me through safely, and has again and again.  Paul had that confidence in Christ, do you?  One short ride could turn into a long one if you don’t.  Or if you do.....the roads are endless.  Jesus Christ, the proper break in procedure for life. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

ps-I am getting my 2012 triumph tiger XC abs in a few days driving 1,000 miles to pickup the bike. Not riding it, it will get tied down to the bed of the truck.

Plan on bringing it to a shop to have them do a hard break in. The bike will go on a dyno machine and will run 2-3 heat cycles. Once gently for 10-15 minutes, then cool down for 2-3 hours, then medium speed, then full out the last time followed by an oil change immediately.

I guess the idea is to let the motor break in and the rings to seat. By warming up and cooling down and heat cycling you give the bike a chance. Plus I don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket.
Or I could take it to Chuckwallarace track this weekend and run it on the track for $165. Not sure what I want to do? The cheapest price I got was $80 for a dyno break in at my local shop and $150 (discounted) from cyclemall, who have a very nice dyno room with natural air.

 

Or you could just go and ride it, which will break it in just fine. No need to overthink this.