Hey John, just heard on local news that “THUNDER BEACH RALLY” will be held in Pensacola, FL @ Casino Beach. They will hold the rally Nov. 7 - 11, 2018 this one time. All money and proceeds will be donated to Bay county, FL in Panama City for the Hurricane relief fund. Won’t be a big crowd but, hopefully some riders, vendors and some good bands will still show up to raise some money for the fund....ride safe all !!!
Got my new Twisted Cherry Road King one week before a vacation with my family at the end of June...Spent the first 2 days pool side and sitting on the beach reading my new owners manual cover to cover! A first for me to be sure. That's what joining the Harley family can do to you!....and dealing with separation anxiety leaving your new Harley home! Thanks for all you do John, SO MANY of us need your vlogs, and look forward to them...always worth the wait. Be safe.
I know exactly how you feel... I just bought a 2018 Hard Candy Road King Special and I am for sure dealing with separation anxiety every time i walk away from it. Hell I find myself waking up at 2am just to go down to the garage and admire it for about 10 min... then back to bed. Is that weird? Lol!!
We can't be the only two! ... It's like admiring a fine piece of art, ya gotta look at it! NOT weird, I'm sure John also goes out to the Harley trailer whenever he can.
This actually helped me a lot. I bought a new heritage and ive always felt like cruising over 2300-2500rpm was a little high so ive just kept around there.
Too bad the dealers down here do test rides and you're actually encouraged to "test out what it can do" by the salesman. I dont know too much about harleys, I ride sportbikes, but bout to get me a harley here. Love the videos! One of the Best motorcycle vlogs out here!
We were taught in mechanic school that the break-in period is about the rider getting used to the bike and not about actual breaking in. All engines got dyno'd at full RPM before the bike comes out the factory. Of course that's only the engine stuff.
Some really good points that rarely get mentioned in "break in" discussions. I don't think "mold release" on tires is still used in modern manufacturing, but rubber works best once it gets up to temp. Probably best not to push any tire if it hasn't had time to warm up.
correct, but don't forget they dust the tires with carbon black so they tires don't stick together , I have loaded n unloaded a few loads of semi tires in my years as a over the road trucker, id say give the tires maybe a dozen miles or so to run off most all the carbon black, so you are making a better rubber to road contact, n making full use of those new tires once the rubber is stickier, or just wipe them off with bleach lol, no no bleach that makes them sticky due to a chemical reaction but may ruin the tire !!!!
I'm one of those odd ducks who reads the manuals and refers to the manuals. Always been that way, VCR manuals, military tech manuals, what ever, I always read em. As usual, John another good video. Always look forward to viewing your videos.
The look you gave after saying NOT to do burnouts with your new clutch, made me instantly flashback to a Biker Build Off with Indian Larry and his suicide shift bike... he torched the rear tire all the way to 6th gear. :-P
It's a jockey shift with a suicide clutch no such thing as a suicide shift .........not trying to be a Dick am just telling you the proper terms. .......RIDE SAFE!
John, just wanted to let you know that your videos just keep getting better and better! Thanks, your tips, especially “keep your ride tight” have really helped me being I’m new to Harley’s. I love the straight forward info.
You are correct , I agree totally the first 500 miles reflect on oil consumption we read about so often and taking it easy lets you and the bike get to know each other , HD includes the manual for a good reason
This was super helpful bro. I have only been in the parking lot and up and down a private Road a few hundred feet a few times in my first 25 miles. I was worried I might’ve went past 3500 Rpm but that bit of you driving assured me I haven’t. Thanks a lot man.
I have a 2019 Slim for 3 weeks and have been keeping it 3000rpm and under. About 600 miles now. Doing it for the 1st 1000 miles. I can have fun on backroads no issues.
Great video John! On the engine side, Piston rings to cylinder wall is the most important thing. Rings require opposing forces to seat properly. Always be accelerating or decelerating, and avoid hard Accel/deccel and high RPMs. Avoid cruising (no load on egine, maintaining speed), avoid lugging the engine. Varry the Rpm range, don't just break it in at the same RPMs. This will give the rings the best chance at sealing, giving you higher compression and more power, along with better longevity than an engine not broken in this way. Just my 2¢. Keep up the good work!
John Your very very good But you might like to view a few of Kevin Baxter's videos especially newly rebuilt engines. I'll keep watching you because you cover a wider range of things I need to know. Thanks for all your work. Mike from Maryland
Good stuff John. I broke the FLHTCU M8 in according to the manual and I've been impressed with the bike's performance, 6,800+ miles in four months. I see all these claims about issues with bikes/cars/machinery and I just wonder how much abuse/modification/or refusal to break them in contributes to those claims.
When I was breaking in my Road King earlier this year I had SO MANY fellow riders tell me to ignore the break-in recommendation. Not only did I find this ridiculous I thought it irresponsible to recommend that to someone else. It just showed ignorance IMHO. Great video and glad I used my better judgement for my brand new $20,000 ride. Ride Safe
When I bought my new Road Glide last fall the salesman told me to take it easy for the first 100 kms (about 62 miles) or so, then ‘ride it like you stole it’. I ignored that gem of advice. With a couple of stops, I had about a 5.5 hour ride home from the dealership. I erred on the side of caution, and babied it for the first 1600 kms (1000 miles). I plan on making this one last a long time, so figured fighting the urge to hammer on that 114 on the ride home was the smart move. Plenty of time to ‘ride it like I stole it’ in the future.
This video is very helpful John Maxwell I bought a bike a month ago 2012 Heritage Softail classic took it out a Christmas Eve for a couple of hours zipping around town getting used to it. once again very helpful video thank you
Speaking of tires, I worked at a chemical plant and we made one product that was sold to a rubber plant that made the rubber not stick when it was made and that stuff was pretty slick. Make sure you scrub that slick stuff off the new tires
Hey John I’ve actually seen a couple techs spray brake cleaner on new tires before the test ride(wiping off the tires first of course). They’ve said it helps remove that mold release gunk. Not sure if there’s any merit to it but they do it on our work bikes when we get new rubber put on. Great info and awesome channel brother. Keep up the good work!
Hey John I always wondered if we're supposed to drive soft for 50 miles why the final assembly guy runs and guns on Dyno testing at York before shipping. Hard short shifting etc. High revs.? In theory wouldn't that be the first strain right from the factory. Just curious?
I picked up a Road King Special a few months ago. Is it normal to have difficulty finding Neutral on the MKE 8 while breaking the motorcycle in? I find it perfectly while doing a rolling stop, but while idling it seems impossible. Either way, good video!
8:30..... I know we're talking about bikes here but my wife popped in my head. Anyway, for the first 1000 miles I like to ride diferente road speeds that requires different gears, that way I give all the gears a well all round chance to break in. We all know first gear it's practically useless, but 15 miles and below always use 1st, in your 20mph roads use 2nd, 30s 3rd, 40s 4th, so on... Depending on where you live, but here in Florida I'm riding on 5,6 most of the time, so I try to put myself in situations where I need the lower gears. And I believe that's a good way to break things in.. I also try slowing down with the engine sometimes so I can give the brakes a break from braking 👨🏻🔬 and that also give the engine/clutch a chance to adapt to various riding styles.
A Dunlop guy said it's not mold release (silicone) but that it's the tire. The tire needs at least 1 heat cycle to finally "cure" thus completing the vulcanization process. (Using college words) Either way go slow get heat into the tires by riding and voila the slick stuff goes away.
Them some smooth rpms, at those speeds lol. My new iron is a bit different! But I just passed 500 on the 3 day of ownership. The bike had 404 already on it. Harley did the last oil change, bikes tight to spec, and she's purrin! But I'm a highly trained unprofessional as well out of Phoenix Arizona John. Love the videos, and tips man. Makes Harley tech a bit easier 😉💪🏽
Good stuff John, your channel is an excellent resource for all, even older ....I mean experienced Harley riders like me.😉 Appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos, Keep up the great work!
I just bought my last Harley. (Lol if I say that maybe I'll be wrong!) I've put all the miles but 1 on it. So, hopefully John Maxwell can keep my bike running great!
Awesome video. I'm surprised you didn't mention not lugging the bike, which IMHO is way worse than higher RPM's. Harley has a very safe and conventional way of breaking bikes in but if you have some experience and knowledge I personally believe your rings will seat better with a more aggressive approach and engine braking, the engines are already heat cycled from the factory. This subject is like asking which oil to use lol.
I always say first 50 do it like John says that’s real good advice ,, now for me personally I ride it like I stole it , or how does the old adage go “Grip it and Rip it”. Because of cylinder pressures, the higher cylinder pressure will seat your rings better and if you were to do it Harley’s way for 1000 miles and then do it the way I do on the exact same engine then disassemble the 2 engines you will find a lot more carbon build up on pistons etc.. on the engine that was broken in Harley’s way.. the higher the cylinder pressure the better the ring seat,, the better the combustion better performance.. less carbon also adds to longevity also... but this advice is for throttle Jockeys such as myself , not for novice riders .. if you are new to riding johns advice is spot on.. for the rest of us “Twist the wick” and get that cylinder pressure up and. The bike will perform and last longer ... but that’s just my personal opinion....
I do the same. Have done so for all my motorcycles with no ill affects to any of them. I had a 2007 Daytona 675 that I purchased new with 12 miles. I rode it hard from the beginning, and I clocked in well over 74,000 miles on the motor in four years with zero issues. A very important detail....I did ALL the required maintenance per the owners manual to the letter.
Hey John, I just read something about a recall on the 2017 & 2018 touring models and some others. Something about a clutch problem. Can you talk about that, and explain what needs to be fixed, and any riding concerns. if you can. Thanks for the time, love watching and learning a lot.
I called my dealer for clutch cable adjustment when I got to about 500-600 miles and they said not until 1,000 miles. Just as I past 1K my cable disconnected from the basket or so I believe it did, I couldn't get a straight answer from the dealer what happened but thank god I just finished a group ride, was parked and ready to go home and the clutch lever was moving freely without effort. This was a 2021 Street Bob FXBBS, I had to get a flatbed home then the dealer picked it up after the weekend and fixed it.
I just hit 500 miles yesterday on my 2018 Road King. When I bought it last week it had 164 miles on it with a dealer installed stage 1. I hope the previous owner took it slow, LOL. Although I typically don't ride hard it is difficult to not occassionally want to open it up.
Really enjoy watching the videos. How about more videos on Sportsters. I have an 08 XL883C and love it. Many people tell me I need to graduate. I guess if I did I would just go to the 1200 or do a 1250 on my current bike. Been thinking about dressing up the engine a little and using the EMD primary cover, but don't know much about the company. The cover has an awesome old school fin look, and they have a match for the right side too.
Words of wisdom! 5,500 miles on my Heritage Softail. I rode it like I stole it! Err what oh yes. Isn't that what you said? I am confused. Seriously, good job on the video. To bad I am beyond help.
Thanks John Under 3k for 500 with no sidecar is how I broke in my 2001 heritage softail after we took it to a 103 and gear driven cams. Rubber side down and let the miles roll on.
I never run my MC & shut it down I always go for a ride at least 30 minutes, dont set at an idle longer then 1 minute if I can help it..but my sweetglide is my baby...thanks for the video..
John, I saw a video by Jerry Paladino (ride like a pro) in which he clearly stated that motorcycle clutches are designed to be used in the friction zone much more so than a car would be for slow speed maneuvering. Would you concur with that and if not, why not? Thank you. Also, I'm sure you know that the term for the strands of wire put together is wire rope. Just fyi
I run aviation 20w50 dino it runs super smooth Phillips 66 x/c it's high in zinc FAA approved. A case of 12 qts on ebay $96. Free shipping a incredible deal...
My 2000 ultra classic went through break pads like water through a sieve. Parts guy told me I was breaking to hard and bike was so heavy it's just part of owning that model. I told him that the pads must be defective because no other bike I owned ever was that bad, and I have owned a few. After market Kevlar pads and years later same pads. I bought 3 sets and changed front and rear and still have the 3rd set never used. Before that it was about every 6000 miles. These have 50,000 on them I bet. Worth HD KCMO I hate being lied to, never went back and the shop was only a mile from the house. Been riding for over 50 years; What Harley seems to do is deny when they have a problem until it's undeniable.
Great video bud, i just got a 2020 iron 883 and for the first 60 miles I haven't really followed what you recommend in this video, I've been a little rough per say I'm glad i watched this video. Do i still have time to correct what I've been doing wrong or do you think I've caused damaged to the bike by shifting high rpms and speeding?
Just got a 2019 Street glide and I'm just about 500 miles didn't take it that easy on her I crack her open and take her to about 4500 rpm a good bit but ain't that worried about it
I just broke my 18 Ultra Limited Shrine in. for the most part I kept it under 3500 rpm, but once or twice I might have gone over just a bit. I always varied my speed though. No burn outs, etc. Now i'm slightly worried about the 3500, dealer didn't mention it.
I'm an old-timer so I'm just curious if the way we used to break Motors in is still acceptable. We used to put it in 3rd gear and we take it up 60 miles an hour full throttle and then let go of the throttle and repeat that 5 times. A logic was expansion of the piston rings to the cylinder under load and then during deceleration. I did that on my other Harleys and it never burn to drop off oil and always ran great. How's that apply to today's motorcycles engine
John, thanks for the video. I just bought a new 2018 Road Glide Ultra and have 922 miles on it. Me and my bros are taking a trip this weekend and I will probably have approx 1,300 miles before I have the chance for my first (1,000 mile) service. Anything in particular I need to be concerned about?
Could you talk about hydraulic clutches (touring) why they are not adjustable and why harley does not offer adjustable levers. Mine does not engage until the lever is almost all the way out.
Yep the way corporate tells you. Just to help cover their own ass. The corporate way is nearly never the best way. Talk to an independent shop that doesn’t have a biased opinion and no one breaks in a motor that way.
I read that book "that no one ever reads" for the sole purpose of finding a part number for the oil filter i was changing. After all, i do want to do it right. After finding part numbers for everything like funnels, drain pans and wrenches that Harley sells, i realized they really don't wanna share important part numbers, like filters, with me. So.... Screw Harley parts. I bought a bike there, but other than that I'm done with em. That, and I trust myself working on my bike way more than a money hungry stealership.
Is there a life span of a clutch cable (as such). Can a cable stretch too much for the outer sheath and then in turn limit the movement of the clutch pack. Giving the effect of and causing clutch drag ? Cheers for the informative vid. Not sure why I missed this one way before haha 😁👍
Whats up with the Saftey recall on the Secondary Clutch Actuator Piston Assembly on new bikes.........and how hard of a fix is it.......part numbers 37200131 and 37200131A...Learned a lot from your vids keep them rollin....
Hey John, just heard on local news that “THUNDER BEACH RALLY” will be held in Pensacola, FL @ Casino Beach. They will hold the rally Nov. 7 - 11, 2018 this one time. All money and proceeds will be donated to Bay county, FL in Panama City for the Hurricane relief fund. Won’t be a big crowd but, hopefully some riders, vendors and some good bands will still show up to raise some money for the fund....ride safe all !!!
Reading manual hard.....
Watching John Maxwell easy.....
Nice comment so True ! GODBLESS
Got my new Twisted Cherry Road King one week before a vacation with my family at the end of June...Spent the first 2 days pool side and sitting on the beach reading my new owners manual cover to cover! A first for me to be sure. That's what joining the Harley family can do to you!....and dealing with separation anxiety leaving your new Harley home! Thanks for all you do John, SO MANY of us need your vlogs, and look forward to them...always worth the wait. Be safe.
I know exactly how you feel... I just bought a 2018 Hard Candy Road King Special and I am for sure dealing with separation anxiety every time i walk away from it. Hell I find myself waking up at 2am just to go down to the garage and admire it for about 10 min... then back to bed. Is that weird? Lol!!
We can't be the only two! ... It's like admiring a fine piece of art, ya gotta look at it! NOT weird, I'm sure John also goes out to the Harley trailer whenever he can.
All the time!
John your timing is perfect, I just got my brand new 2019 Street Glide today. Thanks for the info!
Congrats!
I'd still like to know what 3500mph(2:07) feels like lol. Great video John
It blows your mind. Literally.
This actually helped me a lot. I bought a new heritage and ive always felt like cruising over 2300-2500rpm was a little high so ive just kept around there.
Too bad the dealers down here do test rides and you're actually encouraged to "test out what it can do" by the salesman. I dont know too much about harleys, I ride sportbikes, but bout to get me a harley here. Love the videos! One of the Best motorcycle vlogs out here!
We were taught in mechanic school that the break-in period is about the rider getting used to the bike and not about actual breaking in. All engines got dyno'd at full RPM before the bike comes out the factory. Of course that's only the engine stuff.
Finally bought a new M8 bike (Low Rider ST), so reviewing this. Miss your content, bro.
Good stuff John. You unconfused people and that's why you ROCK!
Some really good points that rarely get mentioned in "break in" discussions.
I don't think "mold release" on tires is still used in modern manufacturing, but rubber works best once it gets up to temp. Probably best not to push any tire if it hasn't had time to warm up.
correct, but don't forget they dust the tires with carbon black so they tires don't stick together , I have loaded n unloaded a few loads of semi tires in my years as a over the road trucker, id say give the tires maybe a dozen miles or so to run off most all the carbon black, so you are making a better rubber to road contact, n making full use of those new tires once the rubber is stickier, or just wipe them off with bleach lol, no no bleach that makes them sticky due to a chemical reaction but may ruin the tire !!!!
I'm one of those odd ducks who reads the manuals and refers to the manuals. Always been that way, VCR manuals, military tech manuals, what ever, I always read em. As usual, John another good video. Always look forward to viewing your videos.
The look you gave after saying NOT to do burnouts with your new clutch, made me instantly flashback to a Biker Build Off with Indian Larry and his suicide shift bike... he torched the rear tire all the way to 6th gear. :-P
It's a jockey shift with a suicide clutch no such thing as a suicide shift .........not trying to be a Dick am just telling you the proper terms. .......RIDE SAFE!
Thanks for the correction. ;-) You know which video I'm talking about right? th-cam.com/video/bt2gHooH6Hc/w-d-xo.html
And where is Indian Larry @ now
@@brianking4685 That's a good question. He died in a motorcycle crash.
John, just wanted to let you know that your videos just keep getting better and better! Thanks, your tips, especially “keep your ride tight” have really helped me being I’m new to Harley’s. I love the straight forward info.
Thanks for the heads up JM, reminded me I need to lube my clutch cable.👍🏾
Grate job!
Thank you for thanking the time to help us out
The ride along was clutch! Thanks buddy
I broke mine in according to the book, no use pushing the issue. Thanks for the vid. Take care, everybody ride safe.
These are my favorite kinds of videos you do. You explaining things. Big dirty thumbs up.
You are correct , I agree totally the first 500 miles reflect on oil consumption we read about so often and taking it easy lets you and the bike get to know each other , HD includes the manual for a good reason
This was super helpful bro. I have only been in the parking lot and up and down a private Road a few hundred feet a few times in my first 25 miles. I was worried I might’ve went past 3500 Rpm but that bit of you driving assured me I haven’t. Thanks a lot man.
I have a 2019 Slim for 3 weeks and have been keeping it 3000rpm and under. About 600 miles now. Doing it for the 1st 1000 miles. I can have fun on backroads no issues.
Great video John! On the engine side, Piston rings to cylinder wall is the most important thing. Rings require opposing forces to seat properly. Always be accelerating or decelerating, and avoid hard Accel/deccel and high RPMs. Avoid cruising (no load on egine, maintaining speed), avoid lugging the engine. Varry the Rpm range, don't just break it in at the same RPMs. This will give the rings the best chance at sealing, giving you higher compression and more power, along with better longevity than an engine not broken in this way. Just my 2¢. Keep up the good work!
John Your very very good But you might like to view a few of Kevin Baxter's videos especially newly rebuilt engines. I'll keep watching you because you cover a wider range of things I need to know. Thanks for all your work. Mike from Maryland
Good stuff John. I broke the FLHTCU M8 in according to the manual and I've been impressed with the bike's performance, 6,800+ miles in four months.
I see all these claims about issues with bikes/cars/machinery and I just wonder how much abuse/modification/or refusal to break them in contributes to those claims.
Living Alaska got a brother-in-law on Augustus someday I got to meet you in Chattanooga love your videos
I actually enjoyed reading my manual and loved breaking in my engine
When I was breaking in my Road King earlier this year I had SO MANY fellow riders tell me to ignore the break-in recommendation. Not only did I find this ridiculous I thought it irresponsible to recommend that to someone else. It just showed ignorance IMHO. Great video and glad I used my better judgement for my brand new $20,000 ride. Ride Safe
Tyres have a silicone material on them for manufacturing and also to try protect the tyres during transport
Big John,,Can you do a video on the "Codes for key "how to change to personal #.instead of HD factory .Thanks Bill K.
When I bought my new Road Glide last fall the salesman told me to take it easy for the first 100 kms (about 62 miles) or so, then ‘ride it like you stole it’. I ignored that gem of advice. With a couple of stops, I had about a 5.5 hour ride home from the dealership. I erred on the side of caution, and babied it for the first 1600 kms (1000 miles). I plan on making this one last a long time, so figured fighting the urge to hammer on that 114 on the ride home was the smart move. Plenty of time to ‘ride it like I stole it’ in the future.
Congrats on being featured in a RevZilla video!
Great info John, I got my street glide new in 2018. I want to have it dyno tuned now.
Good to see u bought a new bike.
John love the channel. Bought my first bike tonight. 114 breakout in twisted cherry! Can’t wait to pick her up tomorrow!!!
congrats!
Thank you! Can’t wait to get her home. Going to be a long winter in Illinois waiting on riding season.
I never knew about the new tires having the film on them before this video.... Thanks for the info
Getting my new Heritage Classic Tuesday! Perfect timing for this vid.. thanks for the info
Tanks! Just got a new road glide special. Tanks for your advice.
I love watching your videos, but I would love to see longer and more videos every week. Thanks for all you do though.
This video is very helpful John Maxwell I bought a bike a month ago 2012 Heritage Softail classic took it out a Christmas Eve for a couple of hours zipping around town getting used to it. once again very helpful video thank you
Speaking of tires, I worked at a chemical plant and we made one product that was sold to a rubber plant that made the rubber not stick when it was made and that stuff was pretty slick. Make sure you scrub that slick stuff off the new tires
Hey John I’ve actually seen a couple techs spray brake cleaner on new tires before the test ride(wiping off the tires first of course). They’ve said it helps remove that mold release gunk. Not sure if there’s any merit to it but they do it on our work bikes when we get new rubber put on.
Great info and awesome channel brother. Keep up the good work!
I have sent some bikes straight to the wash bay, so that the tires can be cleaned before it gets ridden!
Hey John I always wondered if we're supposed to drive soft for 50 miles why the final assembly guy runs and guns on Dyno testing at York before shipping. Hard short shifting etc. High revs.? In theory wouldn't that be the first strain right from the factory. Just curious?
Having “Watched” All Your most Current Video’s on Your “New Bike”... I’m guessing “You’ve” become a “Windshield” Fan! 😆
I picked up a Road King Special a few months ago. Is it normal to have difficulty finding Neutral on the MKE 8 while breaking the motorcycle in? I find it perfectly while doing a rolling stop, but while idling it seems impossible. Either way, good video!
Having the same experience with my 19 RGU.
8:30..... I know we're talking about bikes here but my wife popped in my head.
Anyway, for the first 1000 miles I like to ride diferente road speeds that requires different gears, that way I give all the gears a well all round chance to break in. We all know first gear it's practically useless, but 15 miles and below always use 1st, in your 20mph roads use 2nd, 30s 3rd, 40s 4th, so on... Depending on where you live, but here in Florida I'm riding on 5,6 most of the time, so I try to put myself in situations where I need the lower gears. And I believe that's a good way to break things in.. I also try slowing down with the engine sometimes so I can give the brakes a break from braking 👨🏻🔬 and that also give the engine/clutch a chance to adapt to various riding styles.
Thanks John waiting for my new sport glide to be delivered
A Dunlop guy said it's not mold release (silicone) but that it's the tire. The tire needs at least 1 heat cycle to finally "cure" thus completing the vulcanization process. (Using college words) Either way go slow get heat into the tires by riding and voila the slick stuff goes away.
Nice info!
Awesome!! Let's see that Dyno room footage on your new bike if possible! Thanks John! Great info, great video. Thanks.
Them some smooth rpms, at those speeds lol. My new iron is a bit different! But I just passed 500 on the 3 day of ownership. The bike had 404 already on it. Harley did the last oil change, bikes tight to spec, and she's purrin! But I'm a highly trained unprofessional as well out of Phoenix Arizona John. Love the videos, and tips man. Makes Harley tech a bit easier 😉💪🏽
Hi John. Just gave you a dirty, filthy thumbs up. Working on my ride n watching you at same time. My thumbs are black with grease
Good stuff John, your channel is an excellent resource for all, even older ....I mean experienced Harley riders like me.😉 Appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos, Keep up the great work!
I just bought my last Harley. (Lol if I say that maybe I'll be wrong!) I've put all the miles but 1 on it. So, hopefully John Maxwell can keep my bike running great!
Curious: how many heat cycles does the MoCo put each engine through before it leaves the factory?
Awesome video. I'm surprised you didn't mention not lugging the bike, which IMHO is way worse than higher RPM's. Harley has a very safe and conventional way of breaking bikes in but if you have some experience and knowledge I personally believe your rings will seat better with a more aggressive approach and engine braking, the engines are already heat cycled from the factory. This subject is like asking which oil to use lol.
I always say first 50 do it like John says that’s real good advice ,, now for me personally I ride it like I stole it , or how does the old adage go “Grip it and Rip it”. Because of cylinder pressures, the higher cylinder pressure will seat your rings better and if you were to do it Harley’s way for 1000 miles and then do it the way I do on the exact same engine then disassemble the 2 engines you will find a lot more carbon build up on pistons etc.. on the engine that was broken in Harley’s way.. the higher the cylinder pressure the better the ring seat,, the better the combustion better performance.. less carbon also adds to longevity also... but this advice is for throttle Jockeys such as myself , not for novice riders .. if you are new to riding johns advice is spot on.. for the rest of us “Twist the wick” and get that cylinder pressure up and. The bike will perform and last longer ... but that’s just my personal opinion....
I do the same. Have done so for all my motorcycles with no ill affects to any of them. I had a 2007 Daytona 675 that I purchased new with 12 miles. I rode it hard from the beginning, and I clocked in well over 74,000 miles on the motor in four years with zero issues. A very important detail....I did ALL the required maintenance per the owners manual to the letter.
Hey John, I just read something about a recall on the 2017 & 2018 touring models and some others. Something about a clutch problem. Can you talk about that, and explain what needs
to be fixed, and any riding concerns. if you can.
Thanks for the time, love watching and learning a lot.
I called my dealer for clutch cable adjustment when I got to about 500-600 miles and they said not until 1,000 miles. Just as I past 1K my cable disconnected from the basket or so I believe it did, I couldn't get a straight answer from the dealer what happened but thank god I just finished a group ride, was parked and ready to go home and the clutch lever was moving freely without effort. This was a 2021 Street Bob FXBBS, I had to get a flatbed home then the dealer picked it up after the weekend and fixed it.
I just hit 500 miles yesterday on my 2018 Road King. When I bought it last week it had 164 miles on it with a dealer installed stage 1. I hope the previous owner took it slow, LOL. Although I typically don't ride hard it is difficult to not occassionally want to open it up.
Good video John. Now I have a question for you. As a tech have you ever seen a problem with a new H-D motor being broken in “the other way”?
No, not definitively. To be honest, these engines are pretty damn tough.
Another good video.. Thx! Oh.. Pipes before bars!!
Really enjoy watching the videos. How about more videos on Sportsters. I have an 08 XL883C and love it. Many people tell me I need to graduate. I guess if I did I would just go to the 1200 or do a 1250 on my current bike. Been thinking about dressing up the engine a little and using the EMD primary cover, but don't know much about the company. The cover has an awesome old school fin look, and they have a match for the right side too.
Words of wisdom! 5,500 miles on my Heritage Softail. I rode it like I stole it! Err what oh yes. Isn't that what you said? I am confused.
Seriously, good job on the video. To bad I am beyond help.
Another great clip! Waiting to hear what you’re doing to your new Heritage! 👍
Gonna install the handlebars in the Dyno room! Nice
You’re really good at these spoilers...
Thanks John Under 3k for 500 with no sidecar is how I broke in my 2001 heritage softail after we took it to a 103 and gear driven cams. Rubber side down and let the miles roll on.
great video always prefer the ones where we learn stuff
I never run my MC & shut it down I always go for a ride at least 30 minutes, dont set at an idle longer then 1 minute if I can help it..but my sweetglide is my baby...thanks for the video..
Amazing vid. Sharing with friends of new rides, new riders, and my commands riders. Thank you again!
As always, great video John.
you do when you do a 128ci build on your Low Rider S with 2000 miles on it
John,
I saw a video by Jerry Paladino (ride like a pro) in which he clearly stated that motorcycle clutches are designed to be used in the friction zone much more so than a car would be for slow speed maneuvering. Would you concur with that and if not, why not? Thank you. Also, I'm sure you know that the term for the strands of wire put together is wire rope. Just fyi
Thx for educating me on REAL breaking in. What I got is It's more than just reaching 600 miles.
I run aviation 20w50 dino it runs super smooth Phillips 66 x/c it's high in zinc FAA approved. A case of 12 qts on ebay $96. Free shipping a incredible deal...
My buddy just told me about your channel. Subbed. Thanks
Solid advice as usual.
Tyvm for this just had mine done (heads)
Another great one John! Thanks
Hey, I ALWAYS read the manual ... well, most of it ... uhhh ... the pictures are nice?
My 2000 ultra classic went through break pads like water through a sieve. Parts guy told me I was breaking to hard and bike was so heavy it's just part of owning that model. I told him that the pads must be defective because no other bike I owned ever was that bad, and I have owned a few. After market Kevlar pads and years later same pads. I bought 3 sets and changed front and rear and still have the 3rd set never used. Before that it was about every 6000 miles. These have 50,000 on them I bet.
Worth HD KCMO I hate being lied to, never went back and the shop was only a mile from the house. Been riding for over 50 years; What Harley seems to do is deny when they have a problem until it's undeniable.
Amazing video, thanks for your effort and enlighten us John 🙌🏻
Another interesting video John
Been watching your videos, just subscribed. Your on point much love from Santa Maria Harley central coast California
Great video bud, i just got a 2020 iron 883 and for the first 60 miles I haven't really followed what you recommend in this video, I've been a little rough per say I'm glad i watched this video. Do i still have time to correct what I've been doing wrong or do you think I've caused damaged to the bike by shifting high rpms and speeding?
Just got a 2019 Street glide and I'm just about 500 miles didn't take it that easy on her I crack her open and take her to about 4500 rpm a good bit but ain't that worried about it
You will be later on when it’s pushing oil past the piston rings due to them losing their temper.
I just broke my 18 Ultra Limited Shrine in. for the most part I kept it under 3500 rpm, but once or twice I might have gone over just a bit. I always varied my speed though. No burn outs, etc. Now i'm slightly worried about the 3500, dealer didn't mention it.
Don't be. Read my other comment here.
More great stuff. 👍🏻 Keep em comin my man.
Great job....
Great video John 🙌
who actually dislikes johns videos i like before i watch
Camden Harbert I do the same thing, because I know I'm going to like it.
I'm an old-timer so I'm just curious if the way we used to break Motors in is still acceptable. We used to put it in 3rd gear and we take it up 60 miles an hour full throttle and then let go of the throttle and repeat that 5 times. A logic was expansion of the piston rings to the cylinder under load and then during deceleration. I did that on my other Harleys and it never burn to drop off oil and always ran great. How's that apply to today's motorcycles engine
Hey John do the dealers no longer give the owner's manual for free? Do buyers have to buy the manuals now?
John, thanks for the video. I just bought a new 2018 Road Glide Ultra and have 922 miles on it. Me and my bros are taking a trip this weekend and I will probably have approx 1,300 miles before I have the chance for my first (1,000 mile) service. Anything in particular I need to be concerned about?
Thanks for the videos John, question please, if I only put slip ons on a new bike, no filter, no tuning, will it effect the motor?? Or no problem...
Could you talk about hydraulic clutches (touring) why they are not adjustable and why harley does not offer adjustable levers. Mine does not engage until the lever is almost all the way out.
Wayne N. Hog Leverage sells the best adjustable levers if you want one.
What happened to break it in like you ride it?
I'm 50 and when I was 16 or 17 and got my first road bike I was told break it in like you ride it ! GODBLESS
That's the way I was always told back in the day.
Certainly a method. Figured as a Harley tech I’d go with the Harley way, though. It’s also how I do it, you know, the Harley way.
Yep the way corporate tells you. Just to help cover their own ass.
The corporate way is nearly never the best way. Talk to an independent shop that doesn’t have a biased opinion and no one breaks in a motor that way.
I understand John has to toe the line since he works at a dealership. I was just messing with him. Everybody breaks their motor in differently.
I read that book "that no one ever reads" for the sole purpose of finding a part number for the oil filter i was changing. After all, i do want to do it right. After finding part numbers for everything like funnels, drain pans and wrenches that Harley sells, i realized they really don't wanna share important part numbers, like filters, with me. So.... Screw Harley parts. I bought a bike there, but other than that I'm done with em. That, and I trust myself working on my bike way more than a money hungry stealership.
Is there a life span of a clutch cable (as such). Can a cable stretch too much for the outer sheath and then in turn limit the movement of the clutch pack. Giving the effect of and causing clutch drag ?
Cheers for the informative vid. Not sure why I missed this one way before haha 😁👍
Hey John, thanks for the great video! Would you have any different suggestions for a Stage 3 M8 with forged pistons?
Whats up with the Saftey recall on the Secondary Clutch Actuator Piston Assembly on new bikes.........and how hard of a fix is it.......part numbers 37200131 and 37200131A...Learned a lot from your vids keep them rollin....
Information out soon! HD says it’ll be the 26th. I should have info out shortly after!