The Yeager's Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Engine Break-in Log
2005 Ninja 250R
Break-in Procedure
September, 2005
Engine Break-in Period Begins
- 0 miles -- Dealer brought engine to operating temperature.
Checked for leaks etc. Engine allowed to completely cool.
- 0 - 5 miles -- Dealer did gentle run to inspect motorcycle.
Checked for leaks etc. Engine allowed to completely cool.
- 5 - 35 miles -- Four 6 to 7 mile runs down a farm road keeping
engine RPMs varied and piston rings loaded to allow proper engine
heating and piston ring setting without glazing cylinder walls.
Engine loading was kept light and RPMs under 5000 on first run. A
gradual progression to medium engine loading and 9000 RPMs during
the final run of this group was undertaken. Engine allowed to
completely cool between runs.
- 35 miles -- Oil and filter change (Castrol 10W-40).
- 35 - 101 miles -- Several more 6 to 7 mile runs down a farm
road keeping engine RPMs varied and piston rings loaded to allow
proper engine heating and piston ring setting without glazing
cylinder walls. Engine loading was kept medium with maximum RPMs
during heavy engine loading (WOT) kept to 8000 to 10,000 on the
fifth run and progressed to short bursts at WOT to near 12,000 to
13,000 RPM by the eighth run. Engine loads were then gradually
decreased to medium as the motorcycle was taken back to the garage
to rest. Engine allowed to completely cool between runs.
- 101 miles -- Oil and filter change (Castrol 10W-40).
- 101 - 392 Miles -- Began to ride bike to work (64 mile round
trip) keeping engine RPMs varied and piston rings loaded. Engine
loading was kept medium with maximum RPMs under 8000 until engine
fully warm then the engine was periodically taken to near 12,000
to 13,000 RPM for short bursts at WOT.
- 392 miles -- Oil and filter change (Kawasaki 10W-40), checked
valve clearance, check head bolt torque, and "500 mile" check all
done by dealer.
- 392 - 678 Miles -- Continued riding bike to work (64 mile
round trip) keeping engine RPMs varied and piston rings loaded as
described above.
October, 2005
- 678 Miles -- Inspected and lubed chain. Checked tire air
pressure.
- 678 - 1308 Miles -- Took the 250 on a trip to Austin for a
meeting of the Texas K-12 CTO Council keeping engine RPMs varied
and piston rings loaded until the 1000 mile mark was passed.
Engine Break-in Period Completed
2008 Ninja 250R
Break-in Procedure
After
living with and breaking-in a Ninja 250, doing some reading, and listening to a number of
fellow Ninjette owners; I have come to the conclusion that I broke-in the
2005 too gently and waited too long to begin using synthetic motor oil.
I was going to approach the break-in of the '08 a little differently.
Each run allowed engine to obtain operating temperature before WOT and high RPM
accelerations gradually reached.
March, 2008
Engine Break-in Period Begins
- 0 - 1.9 miles -- Dealer did gentle run to inspect motorcycle.
Checked for leaks etc. Engine was allowed to completely cool.
- 1.9
- 7.1 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Trenton and back
home. Keeping engine RPMs varied and piston rings loaded to allow
proper engine heating and piston ring setting without glazing cylinder
walls. Engine loading was kept light and RPMs kept 3000 to 5000.
After the engine warmed it was discover that the idle was
set high and the engine would try to idle at about 4500. I used
the brakes and kill switch to keep the RPMs varied. Engine allowed to
completely cool. After consulting the shop manual the engine idle was set to about 1250.
- 7.1 - 17.4 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Trenton and back down FM 815 to Texas 78 and back home. A
gradual progression to medium engine loading and 7000 RPM. Engine allowed to
completely cool.
- 17.4 - 27.8 miles --
Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Trenton and back down FM 815 to Texas 78 and
back home. Low to medium engine loading. 4000 to 10,000 RPM
range with a few medium throttle accelerations to 12,000 RPM using 1st
through 3rd gears once engine warmed. Engine allowed to
completely cool.
- 27.8
miles -- Oil and filter change (Castrol 10W-40) while engine was warm.
Some visible fine metal shavings deposited on the filter cover.
Engine allowed to
completely cool.
- 27.8 -
41.8 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Texas 78 to FM 981 to US
69 to Trenton and back home. Medium to high engine loading.
5000 to 12,000 RPM range with a few
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM using
1st through 3rd
gears. The engine was allowed to
completely cool.
- 41.8 -
59.0 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Trenton and FM 814 to Texas
160. Turn around back to Trenton and down FM 815 with a turn
around at Texas 78 and
back home. Medium to high engine loading. 5000 to 12,000
RPM range with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the12,000 to13,000 RPM using
various combinations of 1st
through 3rd
gears. The engine was allowed to
completely cool.
- 59.0 - 82.1 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Texas 78 then south on FM 981 with a turn around at FM 1526 and
back home via same route. Medium to high engine loading. 6000 to 12,000 RPM range
with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM using various
combinations of 1st
through 4th
gears. The engine was allowed to
completely cool.
- 82.1 - 94.4 miles --
Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Trenton and back down FM 815 to Texas 78 and
back home. Medium to high engine loading. 6000 to 12,000 RPM range
with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM using various
combinations of 1st
through 4th
gears.
- 94.4
miles -- Oil and filter change (Castrol 10W-40) while engine was warm.
The engine was allowed to completely cool. Very little in
the way of metal shavings, some metal "dust". It seemed
reasonable to assume the "course sandpaper" had done its job and now the
finishing polish was needed -- longer trips and less radical acceleration. Engine allowed to
completely cool.
- 94.4 - 117.5 miles -- Tiger Lane to FM 815 to Texas 78 then south on FM 981 with a turn around at FM 1526 and
back home via same route. Medium to high engine loading. 6000 to 12,000 RPM range
with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM using various
combinations of 1st
through 6th
gears. Some varied RPM riding in 5th and 6th gear. The engine was allowed to
completely cool.
- 117.5 -
169.4 miles -- Fortunately I live near a good twisty and hilly road.
The natural tendency to hold the revs higher, accelerate harder,
and use full off throttle while down-shifting makes such a situation
ideal. From Trenton to FM 151 through downtown Whitewright to FM
697, and back to Trenton. Medium to high engine loading. A
very spirited ride down FM 697. 5000 to 12,000 RPM range
with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM
using various
combinations of 1st
through 3rd
gears. Varied RPM riding in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. Engine allowed to
completely cool.
- 169.4 - 222.2 miles -- FM 697
and back to Trenton as described above. Medium to high engine loading. 5000 to 11,000 RPM range
with several
medium to WOT accelerations to the 12,000 to 13,000 RPM using various
combinations of 1st
through 3rd
gears. Varied RPM riding in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears.
- 222.2 miles -- Oil and filter change (Rotella T 15W-40). Very little metal "dust". Engine allowed to
completely cool.
After re-reading NTNOA Engine Break-in
and
Break-In Secrets
it seems reasonable to consider the purposeful, time limited break-in
of the engine completed. While care will be taken to assure that
the engine just doesn't drone on at the same RPM for the next few
hundred miles both sources indicate one has only the first 200 miles
or less to get the piston rings properly seated.
Engine Break-in Period Completed
Recommended Engine
Break-in Sources
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Yeager's Kawasaki Ninja 250 Site
The
Yeager's 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250
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