New HD owner questions?

[GoHack]

This may be a little off topic here.

I just bought a brand new HD FXDI, which I hope to pick up next week.

I'll be riding it home from the dealer, which is around a hundred miles on the interstate. I can only guess at this point, that the day time highs will be in the low 40's. I'll be dressed up warm. It doesn't have a windshield yet.

Will riding a brand new bike, w/an un-broken in air cooled engine, at those temperatures, do any harm to the engine's break in? What I mean is, the engine, I believe, comes w/20-50 wt oil in it, the engine is air cooled, will the cooler temperatures have any effect on it's break in, since the engine won't be running very hot, and thus everything will be running tighter than normal, thus causing more wear than normal? I would imagine, the slower I ride, the hotter the engine runs, the better. Should I have the oil changed at the dealer to a lighter weight oil such as a 10-40 wt.?

Also, what is the best way to break it in? As I mentioned, I'll be riding a hundred miles on the interstate. How should I ride? The speed limit is 70 mph. I've been told to vary my speeds up and down, and to get off and on, on a few exits. My friend, who is giving me a ride to the dealer, will simply love following me.

This is my first HD, as well as an air cooled, bike. All my other bikes were water cooled, crouch rockets, or sport touring. I usually put between 6-8000 miles on my bikes per year.

As for changing the oil, I plan to do it's first engine oil change at around 250 miles. The next one, at 500 miles, then at 1000 miles, the complete power train. I plan on going to synthetic, HD SYN3 or Amsoil, at either the 500 mile or 1000 mile mark.

Thx.

 

[JonS]

I too am thinking of getting a new bike. Mine will probably be a Honda though - sorry. I thought the same thing about the constant 70 mph speeds. I would tend to take some side roads at 55-60 mpg slowing down thru towns at 30 mph. Can you take other side roads other than the freeway?

 

[hk33ka1]

Well I think Harley still makes their 10W40 for cold weather riding and in those temps it should be suitable. Check your manual for viscosity and temp guides. As far as getting a proper break in goes from running a 20W50 in that temp I don't know if it will hurt it or not but I imagine it will be OK in the long run. I'm sure more than a few guys have made the same trip as you with a new bike thise time of year. Your oil change plan looks like a good one. I would go with the Amsoil over the SYN3 for 2 reasons. First Amsoil has been making their oil for 30 years and their bike oil for 4 years along with the 20W50 Racing oil for almost 10. Some people have been using their other oils for longer than that with success. I do not know how long Citgo has been making other oils like the new in 2003 HD SYN3. The second reason is price. The Amsoil wich is usually more than other brands is cheaper in this case by about $2 US a quart. You could also use Amsoil 20W50 in all three oil cavities or use the gear lube in the trans with either 20W50 or 10W40 in the primary. The few used oil analysis we have seen here were better than the dino 360 Harley oil but no really that impressive for the price of it. I have been using Amsoil in my 2002 Softail and have seen oil consumption go from a pint or so in an oil interval down to 0. I also now have lower hot weather operating temps.

 

[GoHack]

Thx for the responses.

quote:

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I too am thinking of getting a new bike. Mine will probably be a Honda though - sorry. I thought the same thing about the constant 70 mph speeds. I would tend to take some side roads at 55-60 mpg slowing down thru towns at 30 mph. Can you take other side roads other than the freeway?

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Nothing wrong w/a Honda. My last bike was a Honda ST1100. I figured to give a HD a try. Never owned one. Mechanically, they're a lot better than they use to be. In fact, HD extended the warranty, starting w/the 2004 model year, from a one year, unlimited miles, to a two year, unlimited miles. That's got to show something in their confidence in their own products.

Anyway, I live in a very rural area of Washington state, and while there are some other roads I could take, I'm not too comfortable w/riding a brand new bike on those roads until the bike is broken in, as well as my getting use to riding it. Not this time of the year, anyway. That, plus it'll be fairly cool for riding, so the sooner I get home, the better, at reasonable speeds of course. I'm not going to push it by any means. I'll vary my speeds and take some exits.

Once it gets a little warmer, say 50 degrees, and having had a feel for the bike, I'll be riding those back roads, alot. I also have a few weekend trips in the planning stages w/friends this summer, as well as a possible vacation trip to Yosemite National Park. I'll be putting some miles on it. I don't trailer my bike.

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by GoHack:

As for changing the oil, I plan to do it's first engine oil change at around 250 miles. The next one, at 500 miles, then at 1000 miles, the complete power train. I plan on going to synthetic, HD SYN3 or Amsoil, at either the 500 mile or 1000 mile mark.

Thx.

---

Why are you changing so often?? Is this the recommended breakin for HD now?? If it is what a Pain in the butt.

Most vehiles(scooters) that I have had recommend first service at 500 then go to a normal service interval of either 3000 or 6000 depending on model.

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by GoHack:

Also, what is the best way to break it in? As I mentioned, I'll be riding a hundred miles on the interstate. How should I ride? The speed limit is 70 mph. I've been told to vary my speeds up and down, and to get off and on, on a few exits. My friend, who is giving me a ride to the dealer, will simply love following me.

This is my first HD, as well as an air cooled, bike. All my other bikes were water cooled, crouch rockets, or sport touring. I usually put between 6-8000 miles on my bikes per year.

As for changing the oil, I plan to do it's first engine oil change at around 250 miles. The next one, at 500 miles, then at 1000 miles, the complete power train. I plan on going to synthetic, HD SYN3 or Amsoil, at either the 500 mile or 1000 mile mark.

Thx.

---

For breakin be sure to vary your speed, The 20w50 won't hurt if your riding in the 40-50 degree weather! Just be sure to go easy for the first few miles. I believe your actually buying your bike at the right time. With the cool air running over a new motor you will have less heat than in the summer trying to break in a bike at say 90 degrees.

I wouldn't change over to synthetic until you get at least 3000 on the bike. Amsoil is a good choice in the 20w50, I"ve used it myself in my BMW and have lots of friends that ride harley's using it. (Though I do admit that my Bro-in-law that just bought an 03 Heritage won't use it???? Go figure

)

Enjoy your new bike, take it easy the first few miles until you get used to it. I agree that H-D has come a long way in the last few years!

Keep the shiney side up

 

[doyall]

Congrats on the new bike. I took delivery of my 99 FXDWG in the winter and did the wear-in in cold weather without problems. The owners manual says something like keep RPM's under 2500 or speed under 55 for first 500 miles. It might be dangerous on the freeway if you try that. HD used to recommend first oil change at 500 miles but went to 1000 mile first change with the TC88's. 250 sounds like a very short run but I guess it will let you bond with the bike quicker. If you do a 500 or 1000 mile with the original oil there sould be no problem going with a synthetic. I've personally concluded that the HD SYN3 oil is terribly overpriced for what you get. Do a search in the VOA section, or mayby even in this section, for some discussion. I have about concluded that it doesn't make a whole lot of difference what brand of oil you use. To that extent I currently have Castrol GTX 20w50 HM in mine. Got about 800 more miles before I do a used oil analysis to see what has happened. Used plain GTX 20w50 for an Auto Rx treatment for 1000 miles prior to that.

[ February 17, 2004, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: doyall ]

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by hk33ka1:

Mike they are selling new bikes with Syn3 in them from the showroom floor. Do you think this or Amsoil at that low mileage would hinder or pro-long break in? I had a couple thousand on mine with HD360 oil before I started using Mobil 1 then switched to Amsoil. So I can't really comment on how much longer or shorter the break/ring seat would be with a PAO oil. Harley is recommending this and you would think they might say to keep the factory 360 conventional oil in for a 1000 miles or so before you switch, but maybe not?

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My recommendation is just from personal experience. Will it matter in the long run either way? I doubt it really unless the bike is consuming oil during the breakin(like BMW's do)

My Triumph sprint uses no oil(well about 4oz in 2500 miles), either during break-in or with the Amsoil in it at 3000. Triumph recommends Synthetic at the 500 mile change, I wanted to be sure all was well so I ran Delo 400 for about 1500 miles, then switched to Amsoil 15w40 blend until I had 3000 on the bike. at which time I change to Full syn.

Now I would recommend that he has synthetic before summer hits and he does the tour to Yosemite.

 

[hk33ka1]

doyall is right about the facotry recommended 1000 mile break in oil change. They want all 3 oils changed at 1000 miles then at 5000 and every five after that under normal service. Sooner if severe. For years alot of guys changed all at 5000 and engine every 2500.

Mike they are selling new bikes with Syn3 in them from the showroom floor. Do you think this or Amsoil at that low mileage would hinder or pro-long break in? I had a couple thousand on mine with HD360 oil before I started using Mobil 1 then switched to Amsoil. So I can't really comment on how much longer or shorter the break/ring seat would be with a PAO oil. Harley is recommending this and you would think they might say to keep the factory 360 conventional oil in for a 1000 miles or so before you switch, but maybe not?

 

[GoHack]

Thx for the replies.

I'm a big believer in the first oil change being the most important. Reason being, not only do you have the largest concentration of metal particles, from the initial engine break in, but also possible left over metal particles, chips, and casting sand, from the manufacturing process itself.

I didn't pick the bike up yet. I decided to have a dual front disc brake kit installed. The bike comes standard w/only a single front disc. With everything still new, I figured it's best to do it now. Unfortuniately, the kit is back ordered, so hopefully, next week. It was sunny and 50 degrees F today.

Anyway, after talking to a couple of friends w/HDs, they recommended the dual front disc's. In fact one of them, who has a '03 Heritage, w/only the single front disc, plans on getting the dual disc kit also. The other has a '96 Electra Glide, which comes standard w/the dual disc.

Come May or June, I plan on installing a thermostatically controlled oil cooler, to the bike also. It gets hot here in the summer.

quote:

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Mike they are selling new bikes with Syn3 in them from the showroom floor.

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I talked to a service department technician today and he said that the HD's come w/conventional oil in them from the factory. The special Screaming Eagle models, on the the other hand, do come w/the HD SYN3 synthetic in them.

[ February 22, 2004, 04:46 AM: Message edited by: GoHack ]

 

[BobbyB]

Gohack, I just picked up my 04 FLHRCI a couple weeks ago. The manual says to vary the speed and to not excede 70mph for first 50 miles and 80mph for the next 450 miles. First oil change at 1000.
Bobby

 

[medic]

I didn't really look at all of the posts, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating what somebody else already said.

20w-50 is fine. Vary the speed (RPM's) during the ride. Do not just hit 65 and run the whole way at that speed. DO NOT lug the engine - keep the RPM's up and the load low. Do NOT make sudden throttle changes. All throttle changes should be gradual. You'll want to follow these rules for about the first 1000 miles. If you dealer is a good one, they'll tell you everything I just typed. You'll feel the difference once the engine is broken in.

 

[Dick '97FLHRI]

GoHack,

In the future consider aftermarket (eg Perf Machine) calipers and floating rotors.

The HD "floating rotors" aren't floating.

 

[GoHack]

quote:

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I didn't pick the bike up yet. I decided to have a dual front disc brake kit installed. The bike comes standard w/only a single front disc. With everything still new, I figured it's best to do it now.

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Well I just learned that the dual disc brake kit won't fit my 2004 FXDI. HD changed the wheel axle diameter on the 2004 FXD's, such that, the lower fork provided in the kit, won't fit. The dealer could of replaced the whole front end w/the parts of a 2003, but it would of meant more money, plus mixing parts, so I said foreget it. Hopefully, a kit become available for the 2004.

Apparently, they changed other things on the 2004, such that, a 2003 FXD seat won't fit a 2004.

So Saturday I pick it up. It's suppose to be a nice day for riding.