Proper Engine Break-In: Method and Benefits?

[Valiant]

Okay, it's been a few months since I bought my PCX, but I've still only got about 250 miles on it. Manual states that I should avoid full throttle starts, hard braking, and "ride conservatively". I've also heard that it takes about 2,000 miles to fully break in the engine.

I wanted to ask if this means I should avoid highways until that 300 mile mark. Maybe just run laps around Diamond Head crater for the next 50 miles? I'm also curious about what it actually means to "break in" the engine. Does this mean it accelerates faster? Higher top speed? Better mileage?

My short jaunt on the highway:


I notice it goes to 63 on flats, and 53 with a slight uphill incline. I would assume the rev limiter would mean it sticks to those speeds even when fully broken in, so would it mean it can get to those speeds faster?

After the 300 mile mark, should I just jump on the highway for the other 1700 miles? I'm not entirely sure how hard I can push it, but I just figured I should just spent most of the day on the highway when I have a day off. I just wasn't sure if 6+ hours of riding would melt the engine. I only ride for an hour and a half at the most. My bowels/bladder don't seem to last much longer than that .

I'm also curious about the mods to be honest. I plan to ride this for about 4 years, I don't have my own tools(or a garage). I would certainly like to get a little more juice out of the engine. Though given how new this model is(2013 earliest IIRC for this line), it's not entirely clear what effects a mod would have on the long-term. I'm perfectly happy with a 65-ish mph top speed, I'm just looking for more acceleration.

Also thinking it may be a good idea to try and sell that extended warranty, given the low price of this scooter.

[yak]

The main idea has remained unchanged for 40 years. No racing take-offs from a full stop; no panic stops; don't run the scooter at one speed for 30 miles; vary the speed as often as possible; no top end runs. Then at 300 miles, you can drive it as you like. You will not melt the engine. You won't damage it in any way. Nothing special happens at 2,000 miles.

There are endless discussions about whether a modern vehicle even needs a "break-in". Many smart ( engineers, scientists, mechanics) scooter owners say that you should run the scooter hard during the break-in. Which will make it run better when you push it to its limits later. The argument will continue for another 40 years.

My personal recommendation is to take it easy for 300 miles. You are almost there.

I used to ride my Yamaha 125 around Diamond Head. It got stolen while parked in the garage at Kings Alley in Waikiki.

[nahtanoj]

another HI rider!
for what it's worth, i just bought mine a couple weeks ago, and i am doing nothing special for a break in. just riding it how i would normally ride. i probably have 200ish miles on it now. i've been around the Island twice. the only time i have trouble with speed is when i'm going uphill into a headwind.
what you'll notice as the engine breaks in is an improvement in mpg, and power. nothing huge, just a little bump. i've already noticed it is holding speed better on the highway than when i bought it. first tank was 89mpg, next was 100mpg.
if you ever wanna go for a ride, hit me up!

[iceman]

My Mpg has been going down a bit since new - still amazing figures! My rear tyre is a few PSI under, but doubt that is making that much difference. That said, way better mpg than most others but I still ride mostly 30 and occasionally 40 when roads permit, so not pushing 50-60+ like others.

[kramnala58]

... My rear tyre is a few PSI under, but doubt that is making that much difference ...

If a few means more than 2, then it likely will make a measurable difference as 3lbs is roughly 10% of the recommended PSI. The lower the PSI, the more rubber on the road creating friction, and the more rubber on the road, the lower the fuel mileage.

[sendler2112]

I did no special break in on mine. Just started riding it as normal. Nothing magic will or won't happen to the engine performance. Most modern engineers will agree that most break in is done after a couple thermal cycles. One thing I have heard race engine builders say is to change the oil sooner rather than later the first time.

[Valiant]

another HI rider!
for what it's worth, i just bought mine a couple weeks ago, and i am doing nothing special for a break in. just riding it how i would normally ride. i probably have 200ish miles on it now. i've been around the Island twice. the only time i have trouble with speed is when i'm going uphill into a headwind.
what you'll notice as the engine breaks in is an improvement in mpg, and power. nothing huge, just a little bump. i've already noticed it is holding speed better on the highway than when i bought it. first tank was 89mpg, next was 100mpg.
if you ever wanna go for a ride, hit me up!

I've been thinking I might need a riding buddy for the more scenic routes in case I need someone to call an ambulance for me .

Though I suspect my endurance isn't up there, can't really imagine going around the entire island.

Still, despite breaking my leg over there, I'm kind of itching to tackle Tantalus again.

I did no special break in on mine. Just started riding it as normal. Nothing magic will or won't happen to the engine performance. Most modern engineers will agree that most break in is done after a couple thermal cycles. One thing I have heard race engine builders say is to change the oil sooner rather than later the first time.

Eh, I'm not racing on it though. So I guess the real goal is the 600 mile oil change(and 1st service) where all the metal bits get cleaned out?

[iceman]

... My rear tyre is a few PSI under, but doubt that is making that much difference ...

If a few means more than 2, then it likely will make a measurable difference as 3lbs is roughly 10% of the recommended PSI. The lower the PSI, the more rubber on the road creating friction, and the more rubber on the road, the lower the fuel mileage.

More than 2 - almost 2 weeks ago I checked them and front was 128 (not 129) and rear was about 129 (not 133!) - will be worse now. Two local garages air pumps still out of service and my electric portable pump should be with me tomorrow onwards. I thought it would be fine for a few weeks as with the poorer conditions, more rubber on the tarmac, more grip, but yeah, worse mpg. Still, can't complain with what I'm getting

[nahtanoj]

been thinking I might need a riding buddy for the more scenic routes in case I need someone to call an ambulance for me .

Though I suspect my endurance isn't up there, can't really imagine going around the entire island.

Still, despite breaking my leg over there, I'm kind of itching to tackle Tantalus again.

i've never been to Tantalus. i actually just moved to the Island October 1st. so, it is all still new to me. looks like it would be fun.
it really isn't that bad. i leave Honolulu and head to north shore, stop for lunch and a stretch, then head back.

[Valiant]

been thinking I might need a riding buddy for the more scenic routes in case I need someone to call an ambulance for me .

Though I suspect my endurance isn't up there, can't really imagine going around the entire island.

Still, despite breaking my leg over there, I'm kind of itching to tackle Tantalus again.

i've never been to Tantalus. i actually just moved to the Island October 1st. so, it is all still new to me. looks like it would be fun.
it really isn't that bad. i leave Honolulu and head to north shore, stop for lunch and a stretch, then head back.

Hmm, so I guess this isn't your first 2-wheel motorized vehicle?

My impression of the road was that it's stupid narrow and has a pretty vicious crown(road is pretty much dome shaped), even on the 180 degree turns. A moto v-logger mentions that it's not a real bike road, and also notes some greenish brown spots along the edge of the road indicating a moss/dirt combination.

In any case, I went up there 2 weeks after I bought my PCX, slipped on the edge of the road during a 180 degree left turn, and promptly broke my left leg.

The road is sh*tty by most standards, and sometimes I wonder how cars manage to get up there at all. But the view is pretty breathtaking.

I still plan to stay away from that road until my doctor tells me that my fracture is 100% healed up without complications .

[Valiant]

I used to ride my Yamaha 125 around Diamond Head. It got stolen while parked in the garage at Kings Alley in Waikiki.

How was it locked?

I'm a little curious given that I bought the PCX for college commuting, and I have yet to leave it locked there for extended periods as of yet. It's questionable whether it would actually be stolen given the choice of poorly locked mopeds and super fast sportbikes that would be sitting next to it(which would be under a rain cover) all day.

[Valiant]

Okay, I think I well broke it in today.

I put about 50 miles on the meter after taking the wrong exit and ended up the next city over in Kaneohe maybe about 15 miles away .

Wasn't that much fun given the bugs that killed themselves on my faceshield, and the fact that I had to work later in the day, so the prospect of ending up on the other side of the island when my shift started didn't make the experience fun.

I did notice the speed continually drop until I was almost under 50 at one point, though I'm not sure if that's because I pushed the engine too hard, or because there was an uphill incline that wasn't obvious.

I'll try to get the video uploaded, but it usually takes 24 hours straight to upload 1080p.

[nahtanoj]

not my first ride. been riding on the street for about 15 years. road scooters and dirt bikes around my farm growing up. i've not been on the H3 but heading north on H2 i gotta tuck to get over 50mph on the hills. i doubt you pushed the engine too hard. sounds about right for the performance. any headwind can really effect speed over 50 also.

[Valiant]

Funny story about my little detour to Kaneohe:
I stopped by the local Burger King to get a drink and for a restroom break. I walked over to the men's room and saw the door open and someone inside. It took a while for my brain to process what I was seeing, because I was EXPECTING to see another guy finishing up, and not two little girls 6-8 years old inside, one of them still using the toilet.
Closed the door and walked away, and at no point did I ever see a parent run up because a suspicious looking guy in a bulky neon yellow jacket almost went into a men's restroom where their daughters were.

SMH Parenting fail.

[Valiant]

The little slowdown made me feel like I might need a little more power. I'm still uploading the video, but it didn't exactly make me feel comfortable when I'm on a two-lane road, and about 10+ cars have to blow by me 15 mph faster on the left for about a minute or so. Nobody honked at me, but I wouldn't want to be there during rush hour.

I would assume a simple variator mod wouldn't do much given that, if I understand it right, the last gear is simply geared higher for higher top end, but probably won't do much for acceleration either uphill, with a headwind, or both.

But then again, I don't exactly have a lot of plans on city hopping on the highways .

[Valiant]

Alrighty, here's my video:


Skip to 33:00 for the highway part, the first 33 minutes is just me doing my usual laps around Diamond Head.

40:35 is where I missed my intended exit.

48:30 is about where I encountered "the slowdown", with my speed dropping to about 47 mph in a 55-60 zone, though it climbs back up quickly when I enter the tunnel. I was considering dropping off to the right to turn off my engine just prior to the tunnel to see if my engine was overheating or something.