Hello everyone...

Picked up the KLX last week. Very fun bike...but not enough power. I've been lurking in the forum for the last few weeks and have gained a lot of knowledge about this bike...thanks! How many people have followed the recommended break-in procedure? I find that it's not realistic to keep it below 4 grand...even in 6th gear you can only go 45 at most!

 

www.mototuneusa.com Oh yea!!

 

You're right about the break in being unrealistic. Some people follow it-some people don't. Check out this link and come to your own conclusion. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm As for lacking power, perform the "free mods"(i believe they are listed under the "welcome to.."post), add aftermarket exhaust, air cleaner, and perform the carb mods, and you will see an enormous difference.

 

For the most part my break in procedure consisted of driving it like I intended to when I bought it. I didn't wind it out to redline between gears but I got up to 5-6K between gears and instead of holding a steady speed, when possible, I would ramp up to 6K and back down to 4K for the first 100 miles or so. At 250 I changed the oil and filter and just drove some more, 600 miles changed oil and filter again. Smooth sailing all the way. Going to order my carb parts and snorkel tomorrow and hopefully have them on by the weekend if not sooner.

 

I followed it as best I could up to about 400 miles. After that, I started opening it up a bit more. BTW, I recently did a 300cc upgrade which gave me the opportunity to examine my piston and cylinder - they looked shiney new below the piston rings so what the Mototune guy says about traditional break-in is total BS. I'm NOT saying you shouldn't break your engine in fast - in fact, I broke my new cylinder and rings in fast, though some trusted references indicated that little or no break-in is required for cylinders that have been ball-honed. Your KLX cylinder is ball-honed from the factory, but the difference here is that the rest of my engine parts are already worn in together and just the piston and cylinder were new. The reference I was going by was a break-in procedure specifically for a rebuilt engine with new cylinder and piston.

My recommendation is to take it easy for the first few rides. Vary the RPM. When cruising along, frequently drop to zero throttle and let the engine break slow you down for a few seconds - this sucks oil up through the piston's oil rings and helps to cool the rings and the cylinder. That's really the danger you are trying to avoid - overheading the engine and seizing the piston due to the higher friction from the new parts wearing together. Change your oil a few times during this period. But other than that, I don't think any special break-in is required, Mototune or not.

 

Thanks again guys. Does anyone know how many miles should be on the bike before I start with the mods? Any advice is appreciated...this is my first bike.

 

Perrsonally I waited till I surpassed the 600 mile mark. I have just shy of 800 and will have my carb parts and snorkel next Wed. I figured it'd be best to wait till the published break in period was over before doing anything to it just to help my case should I ever need to use the 2 yr extended warranty.

 

In my opinion....

I've done it both ways and the one time I did the 'hard
run in' I had ring problems- I would NEVER do that
again because I had to live with that after I spent
big $$$ for it. THAT SUCKED!

Secondly .... there are more parts in an engine than
"RINGS" that need a Sloow brake'in such as cam chains,
roller rockers bearings, and oil pumps to name a few
compoants. So for an answer .... for me?

>>>>> NO! Easy does it and you won't reget it.

I would Change Your Oil Right Away though ...

The best thing you can do for your engine is to change
your oil after the first 100 miles. Most of the
wearing in process happens then, there is lot going on
in that breaking in period and a lot of metal in the
oil. VERY FINE metalic (machining chips) a filter
change after 500 mi is smart too and then another oil
change every 1000 mi. till you reach 5000 mi. then
normal serive after that. Then synthetic forever. Just
my two cents!

 

800? Dude!! You need to get out there, snow or not. Man I'm glad I can ride all year.

 

C'mon Deej......look at the date on the post!