Proper Way To Break In A New Pocket Bike
When you first get your pocket bike, it can be exciting and it is normal to want to take it for a ride right away. But there are proper breaking-in procedures that should be followed to ensure maximum longevity of the bike's engine. Otherwise you risk reducing the engines effective life by almost half and that means money on maintenance much earlier than necessary. There are two most popular strategies to breaking in a new bike.
To break in your pocket bike with the heat cycling method you first start by idling the bike or just above idle for five to ten minutes. After the five to ten minutes are up the engine will be a little warmed up but still below normal operating temperature. At this point you want to cool the engine to cool down, turn it off and let it cool off. Then warm up the engine again by turning it on to just above idle for ten minutes, and then turn it off to cool back down. Turn the engine on then off to cool down for a total of four cycles.
Once that is done and the engine has cooled for the final cycle, it is time to take the bike for a cruise. It is important not to rev the engine or speed up on this run because you don't want to put too much stress on the engine. Just take it for a ride at a very easy pace for an entire tank of gas. Once the tank of gas is used up, you can refill and the bike will be ready for riding at normal speeds.
The second method is less used but some people think it is more fun since you actually get to ride the bike. Begin warming up the engine by letting it idle for about five minutes. After the five minutes is up, slowly and gently bring up the throttle to where the clutch engages. This will keep the bike from lurching and throwing you off if you apply too much throttle while riding.
When you take the bike for the ride, slowly break in the tires by running a lap at a very slow speed. On the second lap, speed up the bike and try to focus on hitting as wide a range of RPMs as possible by accelerating and decelerating frequently.
Do this for about fifteen minutes but make sure the engine is warmed up enough before beginning. It is important not to ride the bike too hard or too slowly during the fifteen minutes, just keep the clutch from engaging completely or it will burn. If the clutch is fully engaged you will know by feeling for it on the bike or by hearing its effect on the engine.
There are other methods of breaking in the pocket bikes but these two are the most common and standard. Once the bike is properly warmed up you are ready to hit the tracks, just remember to follow safety rules and wear proper safety gear when riding.