breaking in new FE450

Christmas is early this year
Monday I will collect my new FE450. The first in the Netherlands.
So I just signed up to this forum. Nothing but good so far.

One question: any suggestions in breaking in this bike?

Ola Husattt,

waren de Ts in de uitverkoop?

A big welcome in the Husaberg community.

try this link http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm, it is very interesting reading. You either do that or go by the book. The Husa's do have a special break-in oil. So don't leave that oil in any longer than 3 hours.
This Friday I took delivery of a 2009 450 and 570 and we did it the "hard" way. But it's too early to give any further info on my experiences.

For what it is worth; I had the pleasure to guide around a few mechanics of the Hannspree-Ten Kate Honda Superbike racing team. Of course I had to ask about this subject with two new bikes arriving soon. One of the main mechanics , Gert Kerkedijk, told me they use the very same "hard" way to run in their bikes.

Als je ooit in de buurt bent, kom eens langs in de Algarve.

mazzel, Adriaan

husattt said:

Christmas is early this year
Monday I will collect my new FE450. The first in the Netherlands.
So I just signed up to this forum. Nothing but good so far.

One question: any suggestions in breaking in this bike?

Click to expand...

I have broken in many engines over the years on dirt bikes, and have always done it the "easy" way. It used to be that i put at least 5 tanks of gas through my bike before I rode it really hard.

I have broken in 4 Husaberg motors all using the easy way. When my 04 550 was new I followed the manual's rec'd way of doing it. Recently after 220 hours on that 550 motor, when I took it apart b/c of a broken valve spring and decided I should take it down for an inspection, the motor was like brand new inside with no visible wear on the piston skirts, and no evidence of excessive blow by. In fact the inside of the motor looked like new. This had a lot to do with changing the oil frequently and properly.

I do agree that you should make sure to warm the bike up until the radiators are hot to the touch, as this will help alleviate any drastic thermal differential expansion problems.

It is hard for me to believe that the manufacturers, with the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on R&D would be oblivious to the "hard" way of breaking in a motor and all of it's benefits.

In a nut shell, just ride the bike around mellow, don't lug it, and don't rev it too hard, don't keep it at a constant rpm, keep some load on it, change the oil often when the motor is hot, and don't use synthetic oil for a while as this can hamper proper ring seating.

And i also don't believe what that site has to say about running in a motor easy to let parts take off high spots, or run in. That's total bs as far as I'm concerned. The first few oil changes that you do, you always see lot's of bits of metal on the drain plug magnet, or fuzz. After that, there is hardly any fuzz at all on the magnet. All that fuzz in the beginning isn't coming from the rings, it's coming from the mains, trans bearings, etc etc as they all wear in. By putting a lot of load, or high rpm on those bearings until they have seated a bit, you run the risk of galling the hard facing on the bearings, or damaging the hardfacing with high temps.

If you're just breaking in a set of rings, like I did just recently, then you can run it a bit harder initially, and after a few heat cycles you're good to go.

heavy acceleration .. heavy deceleration .. for the first 50 miles . this will give you a perfect piston ring seal . dont let your new motor get too hot , change oil and filter after the critical
first 50 miles .

The manual states no more than 50% throttle for the first 3 hours. No more than 75% throttle over the next 12 hours.
My method is no wide open throttle or extended use in deep sand for the first 3 hours. Other than that ride it like you normally would. After 3 hours ride it as normal.
Just my opinion and it has worked well on 3 new Bergs so far. Wide open throttle is few and far between for me anyways.

On my 05 650. After the first ride, changed the oil. First 3 hours rode it medium (no more than 1/2 throttle) with alternating throttle response. Checked the valves and rode it a little harder but not balls out unti around 10 hours. Running great at 82 with no probems.
I usually follow the general rule for each bike. I've broken in 2 Honda 450's 3 consecutive rides one after another. 30 minutes with 20 minutes rest. Then it was good to go. first day opened it up but not big time hammer down.
Pollo

That would be a regular saturday afternoon ride then.
It's al offroad and muddy, so good for breaking in.
I get some new oil for when I get home.

I may be somewhat conservative in the beginning, but then again I have a good history of long lasting motors without problems.
It took me three weeks to get those first 3 hours and almost 2 months before the 10 or 12 where I would really get on it. I wasn't in a big hurry. I just want what's been working for me. For those that say the hard break in gives the motor more power, let em have it. I don't race and my bikes have plenty of it for what I need.
Pollo

When I took possesion of my new FS650 I drained the oil out that came in the bike & used mineral oil for the run-in. I couldn't believe that Husaberg dont give you any instructions on running in the bike in the owners manual. I ran mine in like my go-carts, 10 minute runs slowly stretching out the throttle to 3/4 revs over 200kms, accelerate then brake against the engine, accelerate then brake against the engine. Let the bike cool completely between runs.

There is break-in oil according to dealer.
Replace oil + filter after 1 hour ( or a bit more)

husattt said:

There is break-in oil according to dealer.
Replace oil + filter after 1 hour ( or a bit more)

Click to expand...

That is correct. All KTMs and Husabergs are shipped with break in oil. I have seen the factory KTM bulletin on clutch issues when the break in oil is run for a prolonged period.

I'd run the break in stuff for three hours and consider it ready to ride, after an oil and filter change. Modern plated bore engines are just not that picky about how they are run in, as long as you use some moderation and reason, just like everyone has already said.

You can bet the factory race team does not run 15 hours of break in on a motor.