When is it really broken in?

[TwoPort]

I had my service at 7,000 miles service Friday at BMW SF. It was a good experience.

1. Normal service.
2. Cam chain tensioner recall service - done.
3. Center stand sticking - lubed - they said it was sort of dry...
4. Final drive chain cover leaking - said factory installation was off and the fixed it.
5. "Smell" after riding. They said they tested and nothing was off to them.

Over the past few weeks it has seemed to be "settling in" or perhaps I'm just getting more used to it. But after this service there seems to be two definitive things that have improved:

First, the engine seems smoother and quieter - especially so at the 70mph to 90mph range the engine has much less vibration.
Second, the suspension seems smoother - actually much smoother. The tire pressure is the same as I had it so that did not change. The only explanation I can think of is lubricating the suspension points.

So I wondered if anyone else notices the bike settling into being "really broken in" and at what mileage?

 

[Xian Forbes]

IMO anything after 1,000 or so is broken in. It's the piston rings that need to be seated. Everything else is pretty much dialed well before that. Personally I find that I Want it to run smoother, more efficient, stronger after a service. But I chalk that up to needing some value for money after shelling out a few hundred clams for a service.

 

[TwoPort]

IMO anything after 1,000 or so is broken in. It's the piston rings that need to be seated. Everything else is pretty much dialed well before that. Personally I find that I Want it to run smoother, more efficient, stronger after a service. But I chalk that up to needing some value for money after shelling out a few hundred clams for a service.

I wondered about that. There must be a syndrome for it....

 

[SteveADV]

Car wash effect...

 

[Rifleman3006]

Do you guys really feel that the dealer needs to do the 6 or 7K service?? I have 3400 miles on my GT and frankly I was just going to change the oil myself, probably long before 6K? I already have the Repsol oil and a filter waiting in my garage. Any reason to take this to the dealer??

Thoughts?

 

[wsteele]

Unles you are having any problems with your bike you could skip it, the only thing that could happen is if you develop some thing serious and and it is a warranty issue they might try to get out of it by saying that you didn't do the 6000 mile service, more than likely that isn't going to happen so go ahead and do your own oil change and ride on. P S I assume you had the 600 mile service so you should have had any and all updates so you should be good there and if your bike is a late 2014 model the tensioner should have been done but check that out.

 

[Xian Forbes]

I can guarantee you that BMW will NOT perform any warranty work unless it's had its dealer service. I was an early complainer on the topic of the tensioner. I was without my bike for months and months and it was made very clear to me that the regional tech would not even come out to investigate until the service was done. This was before the recall campaign was official so I got seals and a new clutch, then just last week I got my tensioner.

 

[TwoPort]

The service states:
Engine oil filter
Checking throttle cable freeplay
resetting service reminder
checking chain sag

Inspect brake pipes, hoses, fluid levels.

They lubricated side and center stands, parking brake cable and adjusted basic settings. Checked brake effect.
Steering bearings, coolant level, throttle cable, and chain sag. Function tested engine start suppression.

I could probably change oil - but would not have enough understanding to analyze and do the rest. So I'm stuck with a mechanic.

 

[exavid]

I've done all the work on my bikes for many years but since this GT is the first bike I've ever owned that has a warranty I'll let the dealers skin me until the warranty is over.

 

[yellasei]

i recon they are broken in at about 1000 miles, i ran in till 600 miles then thrashed but felt at it's best from about 1000 miles. it just seems to get better and better with miles though.

 

[JaimeC]

One thing not mentioned... they'll also flash new software upgrades if they're available.

 

[Rifleman3006]

Unles you are having any problems with your bike you could skip it, the only thing that could happen is if you develop some thing serious and and it is a warranty issue they might try to get out of it by saying that you didn't do the 6000 mile service, more than likely that isn't going to happen so go ahead and do your own oil change and ride on. P S I assume you had the 600 mile service so you should have had any and all updates so you should be good there and if your bike is a late 2014 model the tensioner should have been done but check that out.

Wsteele - Yes, the dealer did do the 600 mile oil change etc. My bike is a 2014 and I bought it in March. The tensioner has not been changed but when I put my VIN# in the site checking for recalls etc. it came back as "none" or 0, so I'm assuming my tensioner is okay??

 

[wsteele]

Wsteele - Yes, the dealer did do the 600 mile oil change etc. My bike is a 2014 and I bought it in March. The tensioner has not been changed but when I put my VIN# in the site checking for recalls etc. it came back as "none" or 0, so I'm assuming my tensioner is okay??

You would get a letter from BMW if the tensioner needs to be done I forgot about the flashing reminder light for service which would drive me crazy other people maybe not. As far as I know only BMW is able to reset that annoying light, good way to get you to the dealer, Do as much as you can before going for a service so they don't have to do it and you won't get charged for it.

 

[Rifleman3006]

You would get a letter from BMW if the tensioner needs to be done I forgot about the flashing reminder light for service which would drive me crazy other people maybe not. As far as I know only BMW is able to reset that annoying light, good way to get you to the dealer, Do as much as you can before going for a service so they don't have to do it and you won't get charged for it.

I have 3300 miles on the bike and frankly won't be able to ride much until March/April as the cold weather is setting in. I plan to change the oil in the Spring long before the scheduled service as 5 to 6000 miles seems like a long interval to me. I did not know about the flashing service reminder, thanks for the heads up!!

 

[Xian Forbes]

For modern oils, 5,000 or 6,000 miles is honestly nothing. When we were kids and dad taught us to change every 3,000 or 4,000... Those days are long gone.

 

[justscootin]

As far as the service light goes it can be turned off with the gs911 if you know someone with one (I have one and have now reset the light on my scoot twice now)

I forgot about the flashing reminder light for service which would drive me crazy other people maybe not. As far as I know only BMW is able to reset that annoying light, good way to get you to the dealer, Do as much as you can before going for a service so they don't have to do it and you won't get charged for it.