I got a PM questioning how i broke in my bike. Great question, thought I'd share.
Break-in is is about piston ring seal. The pro's and crew chiefs I've met around track days use a dyno for an extremely hard break in, and have explained it happens within the first few miles of the bike running. Many tell me after a puff of smoke during the up and down RPMs they stop, because it was at that point it sealed. Since the methodology works so well for them, my C14 (like every new bike i buy) was broken in
HARD right from the dealership parking lot.
To load my seals on all my new bikes, I used the common methodology (that I see so many folks say will grenade a new motor) of short bursts of hard acceleration. Let me reiterate VERY hard but smooth acceleration (careful not to "beat" on the bike, but hard and smooth). Not to the rev limiter but beyond what the manual suggests. Immediately let of the gas for a fast engine brake back down, and do it again. And Again. And again. They key is to NEVER allow the bike to hold the same RPMs, its either being loaded or unloaded.
I'm not suggesting anyone do this. For me its worked for every bike I buy for the track, the ZX14 before drag racing it, and the Connie before high miles.
Plan is I'm riding this C14 to 200K on this break-in methodology, and then parting it out on the fleabay. As hard as i run this bike 24/7, its amazing me its still going