• Start with regular Quaker State 10W-40 Motor Oil ( 20w-50 if you can find it , in the green bottle @ $1.25 per quart - no fancy stuff! ) to full level in the view window.
• Remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over with the bike's starter until the oil pressure light goes out (This occasionally takes a while, a battery charger might come in handy). If the light does not go out, investigate the problem! Replace the spark plugs and perform a final safety inspection.
• Do not start the engine until you are ready to ride the bike, if you wait more than an hour perform the first steps again. 
• Make sure the bike is 100% ready to ride. Including: fresh gas, proper air pressure in the tires, double check the rear axle, and triple check the oil drain plug and oil related fittings (oil cooler, etc.).
• Additionally, ALWAYS use some type of air cleaner and an exhaust baffle. You can ruin your cylinder bore or not hear potential problems( not to mention it is the proper way to ride on the street! ).
• Reset your trip meter and prepare to ride.
• Start the bike, adjusting the idle to at least 1700 to 2200 RPM. Look for oil leaks, if you find a leak turn off the engine and repair the problem. If everything looks good, IMMEDIATELY RIDE THE BIKE. You must gas-load the rings for them to seal properly, do not overload.

Ride the bike calmly at first varying the engine RPM and watching for signs of trouble. If something feels wrong, it probably is, STOP THE BIKE AND TRAILER IT HOME. Within the first several minutes it is not uncommon to have to readjust your idle back down as the rings begin to seat. 

Special Note: If you are serious about this procedure, you should have an oil pressure and a temperature gauge installed. This allows you to actually KNOW if there is a problem. I use a back-lit temperature gauge available from Yoshimura, Street and Competition sells a less expensive version made by Daytona. I made my own oil pressure gauge from parts purchased at NAPA. 

If everything seems to be going well, don't be afraid to get a little aggressive with the gas. Avoid full load, redline rpms. Keep the bike moving, you should avoid heavy traffic and excessive idling or sustained constant RPM on the highway. Try not to allow the bike stay at any certain RPM for very long. 

Ride the bike for approximately 15 miles.

Return and allow the bike to cool completely (over night is best). You may want to remove the drain plug and allow the oil to drain during this time. Inspect the oil for any debris. Re-install the drain plug and replace the oil with fresh Quaker State, its inexpensive, easy and very important. You may wish to recheck the torque on the head gasket nuts, but if you use stock or spring steel type gaskets, I have found it to be a waste of time. This is also a good time to check the valve adjustment and perform a compression and leak-down test on the engine.

Next ride , adjust the idle to its proper position and travel approximately 40 to 75 miles. Once again avoid full load , red line , and long term high RPM running ,but you can be fairly aggressive if conditions allow ( this depends on where you live, I am not endorsing breaking the law!). Then allow the bike to cool again. If there are no signs of oil leaks or trouble, I consider the bike ready to race and install a new filter in conjunction with my favorite race oil ( check with YOUR engine builder for type and quantity). A bit of personal input for budget conscious riders: I have found that the Quaker State out-performs, on the dyno and race track, all other non-synthetic motor oils that I have tested.

This procedure should be considered a general guideline, not the final word. If you feel that these requirements are excessive for your machine, adjust the mileage accordingly, use your best judgment , it is YOUR engine. Remember, Pro-Mods normally don't receive any break-in( unless you count the burn out)and some engine builders put engines through their paces immediately on the dyno. On the other hand, factory recommendations are far less aggressive, even though most machines today are pre-tested before delivery to the dealers. 

I also use a procedure known as heat cycling , but I have found this to be time-consuming and unnecessary for most street applications.

This entire process can be duplicated on any rear wheel dyno. 

I hope this clears up some of the mysteries in this high-performance world of ours!


-Brock