Though there is another thread where this comes up, I just figured maybe it's a good idea to have a specific named thread where other 300 owners can give their take on what they did to break in their bike?
I'm only 60 miles in and have been going through the gears and generally keeping it around 4K, sometimes running up to 6K.
My dealer said keep it under 6K, but not concerned if it goes over. I don't plan on changing the oil until the 500-600 mark right now.
I was very conservative at first, swapped oil at 100 miles to get the metal out. Then started going upward. Kept it under 10K till I hit 1K miles. Most of the time was spent below 6, but, I would go up from time to time. Swapped oil again at 600 miles. Running pretty well so far.
I just rode it like normal from day one. Changed the oil as spec'ed at 600 miles, there was some obvious fine silvery stuff in it that had made it through the oil filter but no different from any other new Japanese bike I've broken in, regardless of the method. I didn't bang it off the rev limiter or anything like that, but I definitely didn't baby it, I was commuting to work and back the next day which involved both some high speed 75mph travel and lots of 25mph lane splitting to get through the traffic jams. My take on it is that modern engines basically come pre-broke-in from the factory because they have to pass emissions the moment they hit the dealer floor (especially true of Kawasaki engines with their coated cylinders), the gearsets are the most likely source of any metal and they don't really care whether you're revving at 4,000 rpm or 8,000 rpm.
So why the break-in advice in the owner's manual? Basically, they're trying to keep new motorcycle owners from crashing the bike right off the showroom floor. But I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years, I've never followed that advice and I've never had a motorcycle die on me because of it. I've had a motorcycle die from neglect (forgot to check the valves, sucked a valve, ponged the piston, engine full of metal shards with obvious damage to bearings and gears, gave up on it as a lost cause, I was 14 years old at the time so how was I supposed to know you had to adjust the valves lol), the rest just kept running until 60,000 miles or so when I sold them for a few dollars (still running well, still not burning any oil) and moved on to my next bike.
So why the break-in advice in the owner's manual? Basically, they're trying to keep new motorcycle owners from crashing the bike right off the showroom floor.
Ya know, I've never thought of it that way, but that makes perfect sense. New bike with different weight and handling characteristics, questionable levels of experience and ability...etc.
I've never done the Motoman method as such, but I definitely have pushed my bikes hard right off the showroom floor. It's never caused any issues with oil burning or whatever. The advice in owner's manuals is a CYA for the manufacturer, that's pretty much it.
I break every new bike in the same way, which has been quite a few over the years. I ride it like I stole it, right off the lot. Just keep it out of the red range. I have never had a problem with any bike doing that. I do know several guys that have ended up with engine problems, after they babied their bikes.
Bought 2 new 2019 X300 for my wife and myself ( a few weeks ago), rode them 230 miles home at 50 to 70 mph, did the oil change at 400 miles on Saturday, did a 100 mile run on Sunday, bikes going great. ( bike number 51 for me, number 12 for my wife)
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