I use the stock Honda filters, and currently am using Motul 300V full synthetic. Next oil change though, I am swithing to Royal Purple synthetic.

 

Is it ok to switch to synthetic oil with just 50 miles on the bike?

 

There are mixed thoughts on that.

I changed the oil at 75 miles, 250 miles, 500 miles and then changed to synthetic at 1000.

 

Actually, my 2005 F4i manual does not specify any RPM limits. It only says to avoid full throttle starts and rapid acceleration for the first 300 mi.

 

Avoid redline in the beginning. Even if you ride easy, visit redline at least once in a while after, it keeps all the wear areas wearing the way they are supposed to, things stretch a little at piston accel/decel we'll see. I doubt that a modern motor (with modern metals and lubes) will see any wear at all in 600 miles so the thought of breaking it in hard from the beginning seems a little alarmist, but if you never see 14,000 rpm for 10,000 miles, the first time that ring sees a new part of the cylinder it could be trouble.

When I was a kid my old man had two identical Mustangs, one had a 'loose' motor, and one was 'tight', my guess is that it came down to break in procedures. Not beating on a motor once in a while is almost as bad as beating on it all the time.

 

I agree with fishfryer. Just avoid going nuts at the beginning and you'll be fine. Woogie is also right about what it says about break-in in the F4i manual. Kawasaki, on the other hand, has strict RPM limits listed in their manuals and the bikes even have a sticker on the gas tank to the same effect.

I just don't buy that "run it hard as soon as possible" philosophy that some people espouse. Just because someone sets up a website (mototuneusa) doesn't mean anything they say has any basis in reality. Hell, the Apollo moon landings were faked--this website proves it.

 

To the nay-sayers:

April 2006 issue of Motor Cyclist, pages 154 + 155.

A great article about prepping a new bike and proper breakin procedures. They cite the head tech for a japanese manufacturer who is responsible for prepping all of the test bikes, and he said that a hard break in is best. That revving it up under load helps the rings seat better, and to just ride it and put it through it's paces without abusing it. He also said that it is ok to slowly take it to redline during this time period.