[riteshritesh]

Originally Posted by akshaykakkar

how about the after-sales-support of Yamaha?

The aftersales in Mumbai is top notch. There is hardly any waiting to prepare the job card etc and the service is normally over in 2~3 hrs flat.
The main reason could be due to low sales volume or also could be because of the fact that people get their bikes serviced from local mechanics, rather than authorised after sales service.
My After sales is from Kamla Yamaha at Sewri, Mumbai.

[yikes6633]

Originally Posted by akshaykakkar

Dear @yikes6633 - firstly hats off to you for the most detailed review of Yamaha Ray on the internet. I haven't read a more detailed one yet anywhere after 15 days of online research.

@Arkesh, @riteshritesh,@yikes6633,
I am seriously considering going in for Ray-Z this week or the next. Just one small issue at the back of my mind - how about the after-sales-support of Yamaha?
I am based out of Hyderabad & have read a few positive & few negative reviews.
I am aware that you guys aren't from Hyderabad, but your experience would give me a heads up at least.
For example, from what I have read & heard, Honda is bad pan-India & is panned for its shoddy service across the country.
I hope Yamaha does a better job on this front.

You will love the Ray with every Km you ride. The after sales service experience has been complaint free so far and I the scooter is treated well at every service.

You will never regret your decision. Take the plunge.

Yikes

[yikes6633]

Originally Posted by AltoLXI

Yamaha is recalling 56000 units of Ray to fix a problem with the vehicle's handlebar. If anyone gets a call, please update. I will check with my dealer today.

Link below:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/21194239.cms

Originally Posted by riteshritesh

Check if your Ray is affected.

http://www.yamaha-motor-india.com/ra...amp/index.html

Good to know that Yamaha proactively is taking corrective action to replace the non compliant handle/part. I am happy with their decision and would always want to be part of a product company that comes forth to make their product better/more durable and defect free.

We have seen Bajaj come forward to replace defective parts on the pulsar, Honda come forth to replace defective parts on the CBR 250 and the Activa and many more. The SIAM stats show over 2,00,000 vehicles have been recalled in India alone to replace defective parts.

The recall by Yamaha has so far been the largest in the 2 wheeler industry. Proud of you Yamaha for coming forward to address the issue after having sold over 63,000 scooters in FY12 alone and to take up a FOC replacement for over 56000 scooters.

I did check my Chassis number, in the link provided above, to see if my Ray is one of the affected products with a defective handle and it does qualify. Will follow up with the Yamaha dealership and update the experience in a couple of days.

[yikes6633]

I called up the service supervisor at Perfect Riders, Bangalore this morning and he asked me to bring in my Ray for the replacement of the defective part as part of the Yamaha refresh program (Yamaha Ray recall).

Reached the service station at 12.30 noon and a job card was opened immediately and my scooter was taken in. I requested the service supervisor to let me watch the technician replace the defective part and he obliged.

So into the work station I went and watched them work on my scooter. The front panel was taken off, mirrors were off, followed by the handle console, the entire plastic body in the foot well (front of the seat), followed by the speedometer console, the brake levers, accelerator and the hand grips. The binding wires holding the cable were stripped off and then the handle was removed.

A new handle was brought and the technician showed me the older one and the new one and pointed out that the new handle is built much thicker and better welding to give it the much needed strength to absorb the large Indian potholes.

To my eyes both the handles (old and new) looked exactly same except that the new one was silver and the old one had a golden tinge.

Then the technician fixed the new handle, fixed the brake levers, twisted the cables and wires around and replaced the binding wires on them. The speedometer console was fitted, followed by all of the plastic body parts. The handle consoles were fitted after the handle grips and accelerator was fitted, finally the mirrors were fitted back and my bike was ready.

On checking all of the electricals, it was noticed that the brake light was not working, so the technician stripped off the rear grip bar, removed a little body panel at the rear and replaced the brake light bulb.

I was asked to sign a whole lot of paperwork and certain marks were made with a permanent marker under my seat to confirm that my scooter had completed the replacement of the handle bar.

I was charged nothing for the handle replacement, however had to pay Rs. 50/- for the replacement of the brake light bulb.

The scooter was delivered to me and I rode it away at 1.45pm. The Ray does not feel any different and rides just like the way it did before replacing the handle.

There was one glitch that I noticed after the handle was replaced and that is the panel gap between the speedometer and the front handle console has increased 4mm - 5mm

The technicians were not very sure in explaining what the actual defect of the older handle is and what improvement has been made in the new one, anyways Thanks Yamaha for ensuring the best materials are on each and every Ray.

[Arkesh]

I checked the website of Yamaha for ray refresh program. I entered the chassis no of my ray and found out that I need not go for changing the handle bar. I am happy not to visit the service as I am not very confident about removing and refitting of fiber panels. My ray has developed many rattles post first service. Will get it checked sometime. The test ride vehicle also had many rattles. Do other owners feel so about it?

[yikes6633]

Originally Posted by Arkesh

I checked the website of Yamaha for ray refresh program. I entered the chassis no of my ray and found out that I need not go for changing the handle bar. I am happy not to visit the service as I am not very confident about removing and refitting of fiber panels. My ray has developed many rattles post first service. Will get it checked sometime. The test ride vehicle also had many rattles. Do other owners feel so about it?

I have covered about 6000kms on my Ray and it still feels like the way it did when I rode it out of the showroom.

I initially had an issue with some vibrations and irritating sounds which I started managing and resolving on my own.

The Ray is a very easy scooter to strip down to each of its parts, which is amazing.

I have watched my Ray being stripped twice and then being reassembled, it does make me skip a beat, however the scooter has given me the confidence that anything and everything on it can be easily fixed.

Good to know that you do not need to replace the handle under the refresh program.

Happy Riding!

[akshaykakkar]

Just got my Ray Z this morning.
Regal red colour.
Still drooling over it. It has been a very pleasurable ride back from the showroom to my home.
Did 20 kms only today - but enjoyed those 20.

Just like I am head over heels in love with my Honda City, I experienced similar feelings for the Ray Z
Once I do a decent run, I'll try to contribute my two cents through a review.
But for now, I'll enjoy the ride & again thank @yikes6633 whose thread built a lot of confidence in me & I chucked the other options where I had to wait for 3-4 months to take delivery.

[riteshritesh]

Originally Posted by akshaykakkar

Just got my Ray Z this morning.
Regal red colour.
Still drooling over it. It has been a very pleasurable ride back from the showroom to my home.
Did 20 kms only today - but enjoyed those 20.

Just like I am head over heels in love with my Honda City, I experienced similar feelings for the Ray Z
Once I do a decent run, I'll try to contribute my two cents through a review.
But for now, I'll enjoy the ride & again thank @yikes6633 whose thread built a lot of confidence in me & I chucked the other options where I had to wait for 3-4 months to take delivery.

Congrats on your Ray Z. Post some pictures. I too was drooling when I saw a Ray Z at the Yamaha Service Centre. I was wondering if the owner had changed the decals and repainted the scooty.

[yikes6633]

Originally Posted by akshaykakkar

Just got my Ray Z this morning.
Regal red colour.
Still drooling over it. It has been a very pleasurable ride back from the showroom to my home.
Did 20 kms only today - but enjoyed those 20.

Just like I am head over heels in love with my Honda City, I experienced similar feelings for the Ray Z
Once I do a decent run, I'll try to contribute my two cents through a review.
But for now, I'll enjoy the ride & again thank @yikes6633 whose thread built a lot of confidence in me & I chucked the other options where I had to wait for 3-4 months to take delivery.

Congrats! You will drool over this scooter with every km you ride on it.

Yesterday, I rode a friends Activa and I personally feel that it doesn't compare with the pleasurable ride of the Ray. The handling and stability of the build of the Yamaha Ray is just unbeatable.

[akshaykakkar]

Thank you guys @riteshritesh & @yikes6633.
I will surely come up with a ownership report & my findings on this wonderful scooter.

Also, just for the people in Hyderabad(I am only posting this because I had too many questions on the dealership), I would let them know that I purchased from Sree Venkatesha motors & to say the least, it was a smooth experience.

By the way, I worked from home today. When my wife came back home, she got an auto to the nearest point from our home, from where it's a 3 minute walking distance.
I told her not to walk the way - instead I took the ray for a spin to get her back home. ). Loving the drive right now! )

So far so good, more in my report.

[yikes6633]

Over the last 10 days, (last 2 refills of fuel) I have been getting a mileage of 36kms/ltr. on my Ray. This has been haunting me and with all possible alterations in riding styles and patterns there has been no improvement.

The next service is due on 18th August, however due to the low mileage I decided to leave it for service this morning. I informed the Service advisor that the Ray has been returning a low mileage. He said that he will look into it and requested me to come back in 2 hours.

After 2 hours at the Service center, my Ray was kept ready. I was informed that the air filter/air element had been replaced as it was clogged causing the low mileage. I was taken by surprise because the Yamaha Maintenance schedule advises that we replace the air filter/air element at 15000kms.

The Service advisor showed me the air filter and it was clogged. I asked him that he should have cleaned it instead of replacing it, to which he said that the air filter in the Ray is oil soaked and it would not serve the purpose if he had to just blow clean it and fit it back. He assured me that the mileage would have improved (I still need to check and confirm that).

My 5th Free Service at 6000+ kms has been completed today. The bill reads as below:
Air Element Assembly - 142.00
Yamalube Engine Oil - 215.00
Consumables - 53.00
A total of Rs. 410.00

I rode the Ray away to my work place, since I had to leave it and pick it from service, swapped my car with my wifey today.

Strange things happened on the way to my office. Something made me stop by a crowded temple. I asked someone what was the rush about and he said its Amavasa today. I paid my respect to the Lord and returned to ride away my Ray, when I realized that I had misplaced its key. I looked all over and searched every place I could. To my bad luck, in the crowd it must have slipped out of my jacket pocket.

I took a rickshaw home and located the spare key and took it straight to a Key Maker, who had 3 types of duplicate keys, for the Yamaha Ray. One was priced at 50.00 the edges of which were sharp and material was thin. The next was 80.00 and this was much better and the 3rd one was 100.00. This one looked and felt exactly like the original key of the Ray. So I got the key made and shelled out another 100.00 for my bad.

Off I went to the place I had parked my Ray and was happy that I could now ride it away. Due to the heavy rush, so many people had parked their bikes and cycles as close as possible to my Ray. I noticed that a TVS Scooty parked next to my Ray was touching the front foot/saree fender of the Ray. Unfortunately there were multiple scratches on the front foot/saree fender caused due to the screws protruding out of the crash guards that were fitted all around the Scooty (like a shield with spikes!)

I managed to take the Ray out without further damage and inspected it thoroughly. Nothing but the scratches on one side of the front foot/saree fender of my Ray. Thanks to the pink Scooty.

I rode it straight to a stickering shop on JC road and got a sticker guard pasted on either side of the front foot/saree fender which helped me cover the scratches and also will protect the front foot/saree fender in the future, when parked in madness.

I reached my office at 2.00pm, almost 2 hrs behind schedule. So much for the day, I hope the rest of it is smooth with no surprises and Yes, I will update the mileage of my Ray over the next few days, hoping it returns the usual 40.

Happy Raying!

[AltoLXI]

Originally Posted by yikes6633

Strange things happened on the way to my office. Something made me stop by a crowded temple. I asked someone what was the rush about and he said its Amavasa today. I paid my respect to the Lord and returned to ride away my Ray, when I realized that I had misplaced its key. I looked all over and searched every place I could. To my bad luck, in the crowd it must have slipped out of my jacket pocket.

Happy Raying!

Deja vu !

My wife misplaced Ray's key on Monday and called me from her workplace. I went to my house, took the second key and reached her workplace to hand over the key.

To our relief, after reaching house and emptying her bag, we found that the key was lodged between the cloth and the leather of the bag.

On the way to her workplace I was pondering of the consequnces of losing the key. If a vehicle's key is lost and if the finder knows the owner's vehicle - it is possible that the vehicle might be stolen.

Can we change the vehicle's key set in such cases? Will the keys be different from the previous ones?

[rohan_iitr]

Originally Posted by yikes6633

I took a rickshaw home and located the spare key and took it straight to a Key Maker, who had 3 types of duplicate keys, for the Yamaha Ray. One was priced at 50.00 the edges of which were sharp and material was thin. The next was 80.00 and this was much better and the 3rd one was 100.00. This one looked and felt exactly like the original key of the Ray. So I got the key made and shelled out another 100.00 for my bad.

I couldn't understand why you had to get a duplicate key made immediately when you already had the spare key.

If I were in your situation, I would get the lock set changed ASAP, to be on the safer side.

Rohan

[yikes6633]

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

I couldn't understand why you had to get a duplicate key made immediately when you already had the spare key.

If I were in your situation, I would get the lock set changed ASAP, to be on the safer side.

Rohan

I got another key made because I was scared of misplacing the spare key, just in case, again!

I never thought of changing the lock set, never thought it could have such a severe consequence , besides the cost of changing the lock set may be too high. I will find out. Thanks for the suggestion.

I dried up another tank full over the last few days and thankfully after the service and replacement of the air element the fuel efficiency is back to a normal of 41kms/ltr.

Happy Raying!

[akshaykakkar]

Originally Posted by yikes6633

I got another key made because I was scared of misplacing the spare key, just in case, again!

I dried up another tank full over the last few days and thankfully after the service and replacement of the air element the fuel efficiency is back to a normal of 41kms/ltr.

Happy Raying!

It's a relief to hear that! since I am also nearing a full empty tank & will record the first mileage soon.
Although, I don't expect anything good - especially because it is the first mileage figure.