Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods New Bonneville America engine break-in questions

Hello Fellow Triumph lovers - I am a new member of this forum, it is my birthday today, and I have a new 2007 Black Bonneville America on order ready to pick-up. I also have a few questions for this forum. I have purchased an AIR kit and it should arrive Monday or Tuesday. I want the dealer to install it with my other accessories before I pick the bike up and they are suggesting that I postpone putting the kit on until the 600 mile service (I know my salesman wants his commission asap). I am worried about the potential bluing of my pipes during the break-in period without the AIR kit. The dealer says that the AIR kit will not prevent bluing of the exhaust pipes. My question is will installation of the AIR kit benefit or hurt the engine break-in and how will it affect the bluing of the pipes.
My next question involves the theory of sealing the piston rings by running the bike hard during break-in as suggested by mototuneusa.com. What are members thoughts on this? Should I baby the engine during break-in as usually recommended or should I wind it out to seal in the piston rings? If so, how do I go about running it hard to properly seal the rings and break-in the engine?
My last question is how do I change my "title" designation in my profile on this forum from "stranger" as I do not want to be a stranger. Thanks for any helpful suggestions. Cheers, Craig

As far as the stranger thing goes, keep posting here's a list of the different titles and how many posts needed to get them

0 stranger
25 newbie
50 journeyman
100 member
200 enthusiast
400 addict
700 old hand
1200 veteran
1600 Pooh-Bah
2500 Carpal Tunnel
5000 Baron
6000 Viscount
7000 Earl
10000 Marquess
15000 Duke

And happy birthday!

Happy Bday

I have broken bikes in both ways,run hard or run easy until about 500 miles. Had same results with both. I would personally do what they say for warranty purposes.

Removing the AI won't hurt anything for break-in.

Hi Cybercraig and welcome.Great b.day present.
Firstly, removing the air induction immediately will do no harm at all to the motor, and will help prevent bluing of the pipes, so tell your dealer that this is wot you want and is not negotiable.
Secondly, re breaking in your motor, I would stick with the recommended system of
dont over rev
dont load, ie lug the engine. (this can do more damage than anything
no sustained high speed.

In other words, dont push the bike where you can feel its straining.

Oh, and enjoy.

and heres a post from me, one more up the ladder!

happy birthday from me too!

sorry Dog
I must've been typing as you answered.

when I got my bike I was wondering about over revving and all that stuff too, how to break in my bike. but once you start driving you can really feel when enough is enough RPM-vise. at least I did.

No need to apologise!

Happy birthday, good luck w/ your new bike.

They said it all, sooooo Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

The air injection system does nothing one way or the other to engine run-in. It squirts some fresh air into the exhaust system just outside the exhaust valve to light off any unburnt fuel that may be there. Of course, this makes the exhaust a bit hotter and heat is what blues the pipes.
I followed the run-in instructions in the owners manual and have had no problems in 4 years. The book says to not exceed 75% max speed (you can go 80 in top gear), no wide open acceleration and don't hold a constant speed any more than you can help for the first 500 miles. For the second 500, ease the bike up to the rev limit once in a while, don't run WFO and, again, vary the speed.

after the first 500 (actually 700 for me because thats when I bought it) I rode it like I stole it.

I suggest you put it in right away, just so it runs better. The blueing of the pipes is not as big of a factor on the Speedy/TBA cause they have shields over the exhaust headers unlike the bonnevilles and thruxtons.

In regards to breakin, I was instructed to ride the bike at all different speeds so that it does not bet broke in at one riding situation...so ride at 35 for awhile, then bump up to 55 and back to 25 and hit it at 75-80 for awhile. I did this for about a week and had no problems.