[vaasu]

Originally Posted by Gansan

My second renewal was in Feb 2020. I think thereafter an amendment has been made to the MV act, which allows only two renewals for new private vehicles after the initial 15 year period, and only one renewal for commercial vehicles.

So I don't think I can renew once it runs out in 2025.

Hi Gansan,

Would you have a link to article for this MV act amendment?
I tried searching on Google, but am unable to find any reference to it.

Thanks.

[Gansan]

Guys, the Splendor has a problem. A major refurbishment was done during January to replace the worn out wheel rims, spokes, drums, brake shoes, wheel bearings, chain and sprockets - everything. Bike was good afterwards and 5000 Kms have passed . But for the past few days there is a problem.

There was a Tak-Tak-tak sound from somewhere around the chainguard while braking/opening the throttle. This was more pronounced while riding double. I thought the chain was coming into contact with the chain guard. There was also a clunk while releasing the clutch after engaging gears. So I thought there might be an issue with the wheel dampers/sprocket bearing too.

My mechanic has been attending for the past three days. First he removed the wheel and chain/sprockets, cleaned everything and fitted back. We took the bike for a ride without the chain cover in place but the noise still came. Then we replaced the sprocket bearing but still no luck. Then he said probably the chain/sprocket set has failed within 5k km, and replacing with a new set will solve the problem. So I bought him an entire new set - chain/sprockets/sprocket bearing/Wheel bearings and brake shoes. Everything was fitted this afternoon. But when I took the bike for a spin with a pillion, the sound had increased.

Now there is a "tak" sound during initial moving off. Then there is the continuous "tak tak tak" sound while braking. Apart from these, now there is a continuous "Kark-kark-kark" noise as if something is rubbing somewhere. It speeds up when I speed up, and slows down when the bike slows down. All these are very pronounced while riding double, and not so noticeable when riding alone. The rear shock absorbers were also replaced in January.

The mechanic is at his wits end. He says the next option is to open the gear box. But I am not very convinced. The noise seems to emanate from somewhere between the gear lever and the rear wheel. Tomorrow I am going to have the chain guard removed and ride again to check it out. Any ideas? The noise is so annoying I am thinking of scrapping the bike. Could it be a gear/clutch issue?

About a week ago a Bullet mildly banged the bike from the rear during stop and go traffic. I felt a jolt. My wife was seated in the pillion and said it's front wheel hit her side footrest, but not her foot. I have a feeling this issue might have started after that. Is that possible?

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by Gansan

About a week ago a Bullet mildly banged the bike from the rear during stop and go traffic. I felt a jolt. My wife was seated in the pillion and said it's front wheel hit her side footrest, but not her foot. I have a feeling this issue might have started after that. Is that possible?

Almost 15 years ago, I was in a similar situation although in the Bullet's position.

A Super Splendor braked aburptly and I hit my bike's front wheel into its chain guard. The front wheel slipped between his rear wheel and saree guard and hit the chain guard although there wasn't any major visible damage. Thereafter, the Splendor guy got a similar tak tak sound when he tried to take off. The chain cover had deformed and was hitting the chain.

Try removing the chain cover and ride it for some distance. I feel that should fix the problem.

[Gansan]

^^ I have already done that before replacing the chin/sprocket set today. After which the sound has increased. Tomorrow I plan to remove the chain guard and ride again.

But in my case the Bullet definitely did not hit the chain guard. The sari guard cum pillion footrest projects well behind the chain guard. There is no gap for a Bullet wheel to go in. I think it didn't hit the rear wheel either, because then the mudguard would have broken. My wife says it hit the sari guard cum pillion foot rest and she felt the shock in her foot.

[Gansan]

^^ I forgot to update this thread! The issue was the rear axle. Both wheel rims,spokes, hubs, brake shoes, damper rubber, chain and sprockets, shock absorbers were replaced during the refurbishment, except the axles themselves. I took the bike to another specialist mechanic who listened to the history, then just replaced both axles with new ones, and the sound disappeared!

The odo is nearing 2 lakh km, 92k km done since the engine refurbishment done during 2012. In recent times I have been hearing some extra abnormal noise from the engine. Thought perhaps the tappets needed adjustment, but it was too loud to be tappet noise. Took it to the same friendly neighborhood mechanic and he said it was far more serious, that the noise was coming from the connecting rod. Said since 92k km has passed, it was time for another engine job. The estimate was 12k for spares, 5k as his fees and another 2-3k miscellaneous. About 20k total approx. Recommended not to ride the bike too far from home till it was done.

Now I was in a dilemma. I had been planning to retire the bike and buy an Ev two wheeler as and when another major job came up. I took a couple of days to decide about and sleep on it!

Borrowed my BIL's ola and rode for a while. Tried a friend's Icube. Went to see the Chetak, but they did not have a test vehicle ready. Visited an Ather showroom and extensively tested a Rizta as well as a 450. I was blown away by the rush of the 450 in warp mode! But still was undecided about an Ev. Somehow they felt like toys to me. I couldn't feel a "connect" with them. Probably because there was no petrol tank to hug between my knees, I felt I was sitting on a stool. I didn't hear the "that's it, buy it now!" inside my head.

While riding the Splendor back home, a young rider approached and stayed near my bike, giving it a look over. He noted the short silencer, remarked about the distinct beat and enquired what model year it was. I jokingly quipped it was from an year before he was born, it was exactly Y2k model. He laughed and said he too was the same model, born in Y2k. He asked if I wanted to sell the bike!

I am used to complete strangers giving the bike a look over at petrol bunks, while stopped at traffic signals and at the bazar. It sometimes becomes a conversation piece with total strangers. But nobody ever offered to buy it on the spot!

That did it! I decided not to retire the bike! I will refurbish the engine one more time. I will simply retain the Splendor even if I buy an Ev two wheeler, just for nostalgia! Probably proudly display it in the living room if IC bikes become a thing of the past in the near future!

I called the mechanic immediately after reaching home and gave him the green light. He dictated a list of spares over the phone, which I purchased from an authorised Hero dealership. It contains practically the entire engine parts except the gear box. Plus the clutch, chain and sprocket and a litre of 20w40 engine oil. Gave the entire lot to him and left the bike with him this evening. He started dismantling the engine right away. Said I can most probably take it back tomorrow night and start riding the next morning. He will work on it exclusively for the next 24 hours, non stop!

He is working outside in open air because of the summer heat,enjoying the breeze. Engine assembly will take place indoors late night, to avoid dust.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Gansan

My second renewal was in Feb 2020. I think thereafter an amendment has been made to the MV act, which allows only two renewals for new private vehicles after the initial 15 year period, and only one renewal for commercial vehicles.

So I don't think I can renew once it runs out in 2025.

There seems to be no such restriction. I renewed the FC again in February this year for a further period of 5 years. No objections were raised.

[Neversaygbye]

It's great to find another OG Splendor owner and that too someone with a bike that has done 2 lakh kms. I have a Splendor from my college days which will be 28 years old in a couple of months' time and is still going strong. It has only done about 90k kms (85k on the odo and another 5k approx with the odo cable inoperative) and has gone through one engine rebuild but is still going strong and I still ride it as often as I can (usually once a week). These old machines were really built to last, and just like you, I have a standing offer from my long term mechanic in case I want to sell the bike, but I have no intention of doing so. It also helps that there are no parts availability issues despite the model being three decades old.

Here are some pics of my Splendor.









The last photo features my long term mechanic Mr. Lakhsmikanta Bose who has been maintaining my Splendor at his workshop for more than two decades now. He had also done the engine rebuild a decade and more back.

[RD410]

Originally Posted by Gansan

^^

Now I was in a dilemma. I had been planning to retire the bike and buy an Ev two wheeler as and when another major job came up. I took a couple of days to decide about and sleep on it!

Borrowed my BIL's ola and rode for a while. Tried a friend's Icube. Went to see the Chetak, but they did not have a test vehicle ready. Visited an Ather showroom and extensively tested a Rizta as well as a 450. I was blown away by the rush of the 450 in warp mode! But still was undecided about an Ev. Somehow they felt like toys to me. I couldn't feel a "connect" with them. Probably because there was no petrol tank to hug between my knees, I felt I was sitting on a stool. I didn't hear the "that's it, buy it now!" inside my head.

As someone who have trasnsitioned from a Hero Honda Passion Pro to a Honda Dio, let me tell my experience -

• A scooter, whether ICE or EV, no matter how practical it is, no matter how fun it is, will never be able to give the comfort that a motorcycle gives. All the scooters from Activa to Aerox are bad for your lower back. I used to comuter 70 kms daily on Passion Pro without much fatigue, but I don't prefer the Dio for more than 10kms commute. Scooter is good if your commute is low.

• Yours is a Euro 1 Splendor and as I remember, Euro 1 model had 9:1 compression ratio and large 45T rear sprocket which made it very peppy and gave it that crisp exhaust note. My friend had one and it easily used to cruise at 80-85kph. Later models like y2k (millennium edition) and Splendor plus had lower compression ratio, smaller rear sprocket and longer silencer to aid more smoothness and fuel efficiency. Then they again increased the compression ratio in bs3 (9:1), bs4 (9.9:1) and bs6 (10:1). The bs3 & bs4 models are especially peppy and feel similar to Euro 1.

• Once the running in is complete after the rebuild, switch to Castrol power 1 Ultimate 10w40 fully synthetic engine oil. I am using the same in my Dio for last 40k kms and the engine is as tight as it was at 10k kms. No unwanted engine noises, no tappet noise, never needed any tappet adjustment till now and I am not a sedate rider either. FS oil flows much better and performs consistently over a wide range of engine speed and temperature, unlike mineral oil/semi synth oil which do not hold well after 60kph. And this Castrol ultimate series is specifically designed for commuter engines. I wish I had discovered it much earlier, my Passion Pro would've lasted much longer (I used to use 20w40 mineral oil, which used to provide creamy smoothness but was totally useless when it came to engine protection during cold starts)

And lastly, do not sell the Splendor. Among the sea of FE oriented dull motorcycles, Splendor/Passion have always stood out as the more rugged, characterful and complete bikes. That's their appeal, that's the reason for the cult following they enjoy. Add to that, the quality levels have dropped drastically with the bs6 versions.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by RD410

• Once the running in is complete after the rebuild, switch to Castrol power 1 Ultimate 10w40 fully synthetic engine oil.

I bought the Shell mineral 20W40 oil for the initial running in only, since it must be discarded at 1000 km. I will switch to Shell Advance 10W40 after that. The bike was on that oil for 50k Km after the first engine rebuild, post which I switched to Shell Advance 15W50.

I have used Shell synthetic oils for my car and bike for many years.

[dwanderlustdrv]

My Dad still has his 1998 Hero Honda Splendor… a true classic, the bike I learnt to ride on! I’d love to mod it sometime, get in some upgrades and bring it’s performance back to the way it would ride when new!