[ebonho]

Originally Posted by contact.nitin7

Ebonho - how much have you ridden till now?

sorry lately I could not keep up with T-Bhp and the posts, and a little more on the new version KTM's too

Around 6000 kms. Hopefully with the rains done and the riding season about to get off, that should improve. Plus I also have my 500 to do justice to and post a lot of new stuff, she is rocking (touch wood!).

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Around 6000 kms. Hopefully with the rains done and the riding season about to get off, that should improve. Plus I also have my 500 to do justice to and post a lot of new stuff, she is rocking (touch wood!).

Doc - just 6000? I thought you have been doing a lot of riding and would've touched the 5 figure mark by now. Even I am close to 6k and I am not even 10% satisfied - Yeh dil maange more types you know! (as in I yearn to ride more and more!) That's the Duke for you! (and for all of us)

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Doc - just 6000? I thought you have been doing a lot of riding and would've touched the 5 figure mark by now. Even I am close to 6k and I am not even 10% satisfied - Yeh dil maange more types you know! (as in I yearn to ride more and more!) That's the Duke for you! (and for all of us)

Well, its been a busy year workwise.

And to be fair, I've also in the same time clocked another 5000 odd on my Bullet.

So 11,000 kms for a weekend rider in 8 months is bad?

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Well, its been a busy year workwise.

And to be fair, I've also in the same time clocked another 5000 odd on my Bullet.

So 11,000 kms for a weekend rider in 8 months is bad?

Lol! That doesn't count. I have clocked the same on my car.. so can I say 11k on road? ;-)

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Lol! That doesn't count. I have clocked the same on my car.. so can I say 11k on road? ;-)

9,000 kms in the Baleno (office and weekends)

5,000 kms in the Zen (kids school bus and city duty)

Any more?

Exercycle?

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

9,000 kms in the Baleno (office and weekends)

5,000 kms in the Zen (kids school bus and city duty)

Any more?

Exercycle?

Ok doc you Win!! ;-) but I was surprised at 6k. Thought you would've done more. Am glad this thread is so alive.

One Mr. Partha (who is active here) got a bubble on the front tire. He has reported it, let's see how it goes.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Ok doc you Win!! ;-) but I was surprised at 6k. Thought you would've done more. Am glad this thread is so alive.

One Mr. Partha (who is active here) got a bubble on the front tire. He has reported it, let's see how it goes.

At around how many kilometers did the bubble form? Which tyre?

There is someone else I heard who had some issues with the front tyre. But that was an after market fitment on another bike.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

At around how many kilometers did the bubble form? Which tyre?

There is someone else I heard who had some issues with the front tyre. But that was an after market fitment on another bike.

Less that 1k on the odo. Stock tires.

[Parthasarathig]

@Shubz and doc Ive got the bubble as mentioned by Shubz. There is no punctures or no damage or bending of rims etc. Still a bubble has formed.

SVC guys have taken a complaint and told to wait till they hear from the company. Stock tyres, stock bike, stock alloys, first service not yet done, less than 1000kms on the odo, no damage/puncture yet a bubble forms on the tire. :(

Another duker from gurgaon also had his tyre replaced under warranty when the bubble formed. His and mine are the two instances I've heard of till now.

Im waiting for the SVC to call me back.

Thanks Shubz for your quick responses

Sorry forgot to add the pics that have been sent to Bajaj. moderator please join the back to back posts. Thanks.

[ebonho]

Hey thats definitely not safe to ride on bro. Get it replaced asap.

[sriku]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Hey thats definitely not safe to ride on bro. Get it replaced asap.

Agreed, catastrophic failure is just a matter of time on a sidewall-bubble tyre, as the structure responsible for tyre strength is compromised. It is not repairable at all and must be immediately replaced. However, manufacturing defect is not the only way this could happen. Could be caused by impact on under/overfilled tyres as well.

@Parthasarathig, Push for warranty replacement, let us know here and on the FB group how it goes. This kind of thing scares the living daylights out of me, especially if it happens during a ride and you don't notice it. Adding one more item to fuel-break check lists. Coolant, chain tension, electricals, tyre sidewalls!

[Parthasarathig]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Hey thats definitely not safe to ride on bro. Get it replaced asap.

Yes doc im on it. Not riding the bike at all till the svc tells they have a solution ready.

Originally Posted by sriku

@Parthasarathig, Push for warranty replacement, let us know here and on the FB group how it goes. This kind of thing scares the living daylights out of me, especially if it happens during a ride and you don't notice it. Adding one more item to fuel-break check lists. Coolant, chain tension, electricals, tyre sidewalls!

Definitely sriku. I would've missed the bubble if I had not gone through my checklist before and at the end of each ride. I wish a solution comes up by tomorrow and its replaced under warranty. Depends on the tyre manufacturer.

To add to the previous points, there are no signs that the tyre underwent severe injuries. If it did atleast the rim would've bent or broken as we have seen in many cases posted on fb or atleast a fork seal damage due to going over a rough patch. If fork gets damaged, that only means that the tyre is also under stress.

But my bike has been ridden carefully. Considering the run in period and what not. The warranty replacement should be given because no other bikes have got this in bangalore after riding in the same roads that I ride. In fact there are four to five dukes in my neighborhood and none of them have had any complaints. Ive seen them ripping the bike from day one etc.

In fact when Shubz pointed out that it was indeed a bubble i was scared too.

Will keep everyone updated on this.

And i really miss riding my bike :(

And my rc book aka smart card hasn't even arrived. Its almost three weeks. Any idea when it arrives ?

[gk01]

Originally Posted by sriku

However, manufacturing defect is not the only way this could happen. Could be caused by impact on under/overfilled tyres as well.

I would need to watch out now. I realized a week after I got my Duke when checking the tyre pressure, the front was set at 39 and the rear 41 - directly from the showroom! I am not sure if this is the case with all the bikes or only mine.

Whatever, it does sound scary.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by sriku

This kind of thing scares the living daylights out of me, especially if it happens during a ride and you don't notice it. Adding one more item to fuel-break check lists. Coolant, chain tension, electricals, tyre sidewalls!

The one thing I always check before riding any of my bikes are the two axle nuts.

[Parthasarathig]

Friends, I shall be getting a replacement tyre from the SVC hopefully tomorrow.

Also tomorrow is my first service. And my bike is just 42kms short of the 1000 mark. Will that be a problem with the MID readings, as the meter still shows 42kms left till first service.

Also what all points do i need to go through during first service ?

I wish the rear shock was a notch or two stiffer. Also i feel a bit of vibration coming from the rear brake. Like when i step on the rear brake pedal, there's a krrrrr sort of vibration on my foot. Although its braking without a hitch, but would still like to get rid of the vibration. It came in after the first chain cleaning btw.

Further there have many an issue of false neutrals betwen 1 & 2 gear and also between 5th & 6th gear. Is this normal ?

Also in heavy traffic, bike heats up a fair bit although the temp indicator doesn't show more than 8 bars most of the time but hot air keeps barbequing my legs into kalmi kababs. Will this ease up after first service ?
Doc have you tried out any new horns? The duke horn just fades when ridden in traffic. Im not able to find a particular horn sound that would suit the Duke. It more than makes up for this shortcoming with its ability to smoke the boy racers

Please also suggest should I go in for synthetic oil right now with winters approaching or after 5000kms service ? Also how is this engine coolant called Engine ICE ?

Also im having a lot of pain at my left carpometacarpal joint i.e the joint of the left thumb and also on my medial surface of the dorsum of my left foot close to the ankle joint. This happens after riding the bike for sometime. Does anyone else have such issues ? Are there any remedies for this ? Can the distance betwen the clutch lever and the handle bar be reduced in anyway so as to prevent excessive stretching of the thumb?

Last but not the least one question to Shubz :- will I be able to "disappear" after first service?

Oh what a joy biking is.

Ride safe. ATGATT.