Running in

It looks like the last post on the topic of running in was 11 years ago, so I hope it’s ok to resurrect it?!

I get it from the posts above that experience suggests that ‘old school’ Guzzis need extra care and time to run in and that such bikes continue bedding in for thousands of miles after the first service. Is the same approach still as relevant for the ‘modern’ engines of the V100 Mandello and the new Stelvio?

……Yes according to the owners manual (1,000 miles of gentle riding, no more than 4,500 rpm, so half the available ‘red line’).

Other recent tests posted online cast some doubt on the value of gentle running in generally - not on Guzzis specifically. Tests run by MC Garage on YouTube (and Fortnine) where two identical Hondas were run in, one gently, one red-lining it after 50 miles, engines dismantled by a professional race garage and piston rings/engines on both showed identical results. Several very experienced friends (police instructors, riding school proprietors etc) also voice doubts for the need for gentle running-in any more, so it has set me to wondering if there are genuine benefits. Sceptics have suggested that gentle running in masks faults and keeps warranty claims artificially low. :thinking:

Personally, I’m a bit cautious and ‘old school’ and would rather do it by the book, but I’d welcome thoughts from other Guzzi owners, especially on two aspects:

  • is the run-in really just for the benefit of the piston rings as YouTube suggests or is the fairly lengthy run-in period of significant benefit to other components (I’m talking 1,500 km per the handbook here).

  • is 1,500km gentle riding still as relevant on ‘modern’ water cooled bikes like the V100 and Stelvio?

Views and recent experiences please!:wink:

Last Brooks saddle I had got nicked after it was run in- about 500 miles

There was a documetary about Ducati’s manufacture recently. The bikes are dyno tested at the factory so run at full whack. If yours has been tested to red line already… just go and use it.