Brand new bike engine break in, what I do, KPX, KPM, KPV, KPR ,Ghost,Thunder,

[@rickrogers2649]

Hi Herbie, I recently found your channel and subscribed. I'm an old retired mechanic who is not quite ready to hang up the helmet yet but I'm looking into smaller , lighter bikes. I recently bought a Honda Navi and I love it but I miss shifting. I'm thinking seriously about a KP mini to add to the garage. I watched your excellent assembly video recently. I've seen other videos where the bikes are put together with a crescent wrench and a pair of pliers 😵. Based on watching your video I'm guessing you make your living with tools. The new KP Mini with fuel injection looks really sweet. I've been on the Venom website a lot lately. I'm also looking at the X-20 based on the low price. Sorry for the long winded comment but I just wanted to thank you for the time and effort you put into the channel. Best wishes, Rick

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@rickrogers2649 Hello Rick, wow thank you for the great comment! Yeah I do a little wrenching for my profession as well, but I’m winding that part of it down 😁 I enjoyed my KP mini a lot, it is a pretty powerful 150cc and the fuel injection probably makes it that much better. I don’t know anything about the x20 though. The Kpm 200 is my personal favorite. The Lifan bikes seems to be a step above on the quality in my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide, and thank you for subbing, I do appreciate every single person that comes here 👍🏻

[@tk421upgrade3]

Great advice. I did something very similar to my kpx250. Also. Motor Oil Geek would totally agree with your oil change assessment.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Thank You! I appreciate that

[@JerryHawk250]

Good information. This is the most important thing to do on a new engine.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@JerryHawk250 Thanks Jerry, I agree

[@DogMania]

Another Fantastic Instructional Video Herbie!! Keep up the great work!

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@DogMania Thank you my friend!

[@carl2591]

Great info. Have heard others say to change oil before starting and use rotella T4 or actual breakin oil. But they may be using better oil from factory. The first oil & filter change/ clean at 35 miles or less is key to lon g life. ❤ Wonder if changing the filter to pleated at breakin would be helpful to catch more stuff?

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@carl2591 It would probably be best to put a pleated filter in at the initial start or at 35 miles imho

[@herbiesgarage681]

Thank you also!

[@howardhamaker2708]

Herbie as your internet friend...I think you have a problem...you are buying too many motorcycles. Just kidding. LOL

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@howardhamaker2708 Did my wife put you up to that? 😂

[@flexconca]

Another great video Herbie. I have the Thunder 125 and just did my 1st oil change, where do I find the oil screen ?

[@herbiesgarage681]

Thank you! The thunder is a little different from the others whereas it doesn't have the external accessibility to the oil screen. I would assume and don't know for a fact because I haven't had it off yet, but it is probably like some of the older Hondas, behind the clutch cover. You would have to remove the clutch cover to access it, it would be a flat plastic rectangle with a screen on it. But again, I haven't been inside of the engine yet and I believe that it won't need servicing for a long time.

[@robertcampbell5485]

Looks like your brake line on the Kpx 250 in the front is ran on the outside of the fork. Pretty certain it should be ran inside to prevent sticks or whatever from grabbing it and ripping it off.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@robertcampbell5485 I see what you’re saying and I can see the reason for running inside. But I prefer to have it on the outside to keep it away from the wheel, I don’t do much off-road riding

[@robertcampbell5485]

@@herbiesgarage681 i see

[@Haven_wayRBLX]

You use heavy duty diesel engine conventional oil in the Kpm? Wouldn’t that hurt the bike in some way performance wise since you’re running gasoline. What would you recommend that isn’t diesel oil and is conventional + easy to get online. I also live in Florida…hot weather.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@Haven_wayRBLX Shell Rotella T4 and T6 are rated for diesel engines but if you look at the T6 which is a synthetic it has a picture of a motorcycle on the front of the container. Both T4 and T6 are Jaso MA/MA2 certified for wet clutch applications which means motorcycles. I’ve been a part of many different forums for many years and lots of people has used these oils for lots of years and most recommend it. The diesel oil isn’t something that I came up with myself it’s been used by many others. Oil brands and types has been a point of contention forever and people will argue to death what they believe is right. If you were to go to a motorcycle forum and bring up oils it will cause a lot of comments and most serious minded and good mechanics won’t even delve into the discussion. With all that said just use whatever oil you like that is motorcycle wet clutch applicable Jaso Ma/ma2 certified and you will be fine.

[@Haven_wayRBLX]

@ oh okay. I can’t find the one with the mortcycle on the front but have found a one in particular however it says it’s for a 4 stroke motorcycle engine. Is the kpm a 4 stroke…?

[@herbiesgarage681]

@ Yes it is a 4 stroke engine, Walmart sells quarts of motorcycle specific oil, I believe it’s a valvoline motorcycle oil

[@Haven_wayRBLX]

@okay awesome. Yeah that’s the brand I’m looking at on Amazon.

[@DominatingMoose]

Maybe I missed this in a video, but I notice my throttle handle on my KPV150 seems a little loose. I've adjusted the throttle and it snaps back tight, but the handle itself jiggles around a bit before engaging the throttle. Do you find this happens with your KPV?

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@DominatingMoose It should be a little loose, if it’s excessive then if you adjusted all you can at the throttle then you can adjust it on the other end at the throttle body. Mine feels normal to me. It should have about 1/8 of free play on the throttle

[@DominatingMoose]

@@herbiesgarage681 thank you! I'll give it a good look over when I get home today.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@ okay, good luck with it, your welcome

[@nomoreblahblah]

I dumped the oil that came with my Lifan Xpect after about 11 miles, Then added T4 till I reached 50 miles and dropped the oil, then I think every 250 miles changed my oil until it reached 1000 miles. I still run T4 in my Lifan Xpect. Change about once a year, or more depending on miles and how hard I'm running. As you know the Lifan Xpect is air-cooled so sitting at idle other than a red light or initial warm up isn't a good idea. Also starting an engine over the winter and idling it and not riding it isn't a good idea. The last two sentences are for newbies. You can chime in if you have other ideas. I don't claim to be a biologist.

[@herbiesgarage681]

The only thing I would add is that if you do start an engine in the winter it needs to run long enough to burn out the condensation but your right it's best to winterize it and leave it until the weather breaks. Unless you live in a climate that is warm in the winter of course and can ride year round.