we dont need break-in like you would 50 or even 30 years ago
True! But we still need break-in.
New twirling and spinning parts are always going to have microscopic 'high' spots which, when the motor is running, become hot spots.
And the timeless age-old prime objective of a good break-in remains:
The mating of the piston rings to the cylinder bore.
On/off throttle helps. This is why you're asked not to hold a fresh engine at a steady RPM.
On-throttle compresses the piston rings and presses them against the cylinder bore.
Off-throttle relaxes them, and the vacuum within the combustion chamber will suck some motor oil up past the piston rings.
This both flushes any microscopic debris and cools the rings.
Pure low-RPM operation is not such a good thing during break-in. 'Lugging' any motor is always bad.
Sure, keep the revs down - but never apply wide-open throttle in a high gear at low RPM.
Likewise, banging off the redline with a fresh motor and getting it screaming hot is not the ticket either...
Operation around the engine's torque peak is the 'sweet spot'. On/off throttle. Spinning not too fast, not too slow.
Ride a bit, then shut it off. Don't get it crazy hot.
At 500+ clicks you're starting to get beyond most of this...
But here's the thing.
You can 'diagnose' how things are going thusly:
Take a good pull on third gear up to 8-9 grand or so. Chop the throttle closed.
Look for a puff of exhaust smoke. Oil smoke is kind of bluey-grey.
All new bikes should display a bit of smoke! But it will eventually stop (or decline 95%).
Some bikes continue to puff smoke after 1000, 2000 clicks... not good.
Some bikes stop at around 500 clicks... bingo. You have achieved break-in.
Keep an eye on your riding buddies' exhausts next time you're out.
A tiny puff when they close throttle is normal... but it should be hard to see.
If it's not hard to see - if it's quite apparent - then the rings are either still breaking in...
Or (in a mature motor) the rings are struggling. This might be because they have never achieved a good seal.
Or maybe of course, their best has already come and gone (in a well-worn old motor)!
Not too low; not too high; not too hot. On/off throttle.
That is a description of today's brief break-in period right there...
Hope this helps somebody. Anybody!