When should I do first oil change and why? Give your recomendation and some reasoning behind it please. =)

 

I did mine at around 75 miles. The reason for doing so isto get theoriginaloil out since there will be fine metal shavings floating around in the oildue to the break-in process. Metal shavings don't help out much with 'lubricating' the engine parts very well. Plus, assembly lube, and other gunk will be circulating around in the original oil until you change it out.

 

did mine @ 300 miles. switch to a 100 synthetic. been riding it above 8k since.

 

I'm about to change mine at 600 miles because that's what the Owner's manual recommends. They designed and built the bike; they warranty the bike for the first year; and they're vested in the bike's short-, mid-, and long-term reputation. They're the experts.

You'll heara lot of different stuff, though. I'll also go ahead and tell you I don't follow their recommendation for break-in. I believe it's overly-conservative to protect themselves from early problems during the primary warranty period.

 

so what do you follow for break in? nothing at all? or smooth accelerating?

 

I've got 400 miles on my '08 Ninja 250R now and I did the first oil change at 100 miles (intended to do it sooner).My theory on break in for new bikes (I've only owned 4 new street bikes, the others were used) is a cross between "ride it like you stole it" to remembering I didn't steal it....I paid for it. It's damn near impossible to break in a 250 according to the manual....hell, you'll get run over like being on a moped. Do a lot of quick accel up to 5-6K for the first 100 or so miles but follow that with some quick decels as well....don't ride it at prolonged speeds of 50-55mph and even RPM's, that's the key. I rode it up to 90mph today at about 10K for a short while...once I've changed the oil again at 600 miles, I'm going to run it up to 12K for about a mile or 3. Be sure to check that bolt between the drain plug and oil filter on the opposite side of the exhaust...mine was loose and leaking. Ride safe whatever you do. TB

 

Exactly...and I didn't see your post before I offered my opinion... but that break in period according to the manual could be hazardous to new riders.

 

As I said, you'll get a lot of different answers. Just go to most any established bike site, and there are pages of conversation on break-in.

I have broken in dozens of bikes, of all kinds(Yes, I'm very fortunate.). I have gone stictly by the manual,and I have usedthe "perfromance/hard" break-in routine. I saw no difference at all, as a street rider in reliability or performance. I have never had a bike have an engine problem. So, I just don't think it matters much. At least, not for a street bike. In racing, there may be some advantages. I don't know.

Having said that, a few years ago I went to my own mixed routine. The thing everyone agrees onis varying the rpm during break-in. Other than that, I combine the methods. I do a progressive, but aggressive break-in. I startriding prettyeasy the first 50'ish miles, but w/several pretty hard accelerations and back-pressure decels thrown in. Then I up the ante from there, increasing rpm's and throttle input progressively, in stages,for the next 100'ish miles. After that, I runit hard to 250-300 miles. I vary the rpm's throughout the process, and mix in some hard decels all the while, of course. There is nothing magical about it. It just makes sense in my head. Works like a charm. Then, again, they all did.

As I've said on numerous sites, ref. oil changes, break-in, maintenance, riding, etc.: These things are not that fragile. Use a bit of sense, and I suspect you'll do fine.