"V Care Bikes" - Way better than Authorised service centers To all die hard bikers,Do you guys love your bikes so much?? Then stop
servicing your bikes at the authorised services centres!!!!!!
They service large number of bikes each day and will not be able to service each bike with care. Its just a wash and polish job that all service centers do. They have targets and are racing to get the work done. How can they give individual attention? Do you know why they dont allow you to watch your bikes being serviced? Have you ever thought about this? I have..
Here is my true story.
I brought a HH Ambition way back in January 2003. I chose this bike primarily because it gave me some individuality compared to the pulsars
and others. I used to ride a 1990 model RX 100 before. Moving to a 4
stroke was initially hard to digest. I was zero on my knowledge about 4stroke technology. All I knew was how 2stroke worked. Hence the service people started taking me for a ride. I just
filled my bike and rode on. Later I learned a lot about 4stroke
technology.I saw that service center guys were not doing the services as it was supposed to be done.
My bike ran about 40000kms. It is giving me 55kms to the litre (something unheard of on HH Ambition).Of late, my bike started becoming rough. Engine noise, vibrations, bad suspensions, low pickup, clutch wear etc. I started combing Chennai city for a good mechanic. Incidentally my friend Jacob suggested a person to me. V care bikes was the name. I visited the center. I was surprised to see no bikes standing there. It was practically a residencial area. Behind the trees, I saw a sign board that said "SERVICING BY APPOINTMENT". I thought to myself, what is going on here??The gates were locked, I shook the gates and the owner, Vincent Raj came and invited me to come in. I spent about 2 hours with him since he was free. He showed his menu card. Hold your breath....RS I780 for servicing my bike.He explained in detail how he would do the service step by step. I fixed an appointment with him and went away. He said that I need to be there by 6am and need to be with him through the full service.
Heres an account of what happened on that day...
5:50am - I set out from my home to V care Bikes
6:15am - I am at his place
6:20am - My bike is in the wash area
6:25am - 9:45am - Vincent raj and his team of 3 helpers start off. My bike
is stripped to the last nut and all the parts except the engine and gear box are fulled washed in diesel and other cleaning liquids. A lot of care was taken to remove parts without damaging them and carefully removed of all dust,grease and rust.The engine oil was replaced when still hot cause as per him, oil is more thinner when hot and full removal is possible only when hot.My engine is flushed with a special liquid to remove any carbon deposits or dust. Fuel tank was emptied and cleaned.(Believe me, there was about a litre of water in it)The fork tube oil was replaced after cleaning the springs. I have never replaced the oil in 40000kms.(or never
was suggested by the service center). He opened the race bearing to see that the specified number of ball bearing were not present.42 is the number. Hero Honda factory has just put 40 ball bearing on my race bearings.He said that I am lucky to have atleast 40. He has seen 38 on many splendors.This was the reason for the wobling on the front wheel from day one.
9:50am - The frame is on the ramp for assembly.
9:55am - 7:45pm - Painstaking 9 hours of assembly, breaking only for 30 minutes in between. Each nut is lubricated with special grease before it is fitted. All the components are refitted with great detail and care. The Carb was already cleaned with special liquids and fitted with utmost care.The frame and rusted portions were combed with steel wool and painted. The swing arm was totally dismantled and its inner moving parts replaced and lubricated. So much that I cant explain here was carried out.
7:45pm - The bike was fully assembled. Time to check the valve clearance and tune the carb. To my horror,Vincent showed me that there was absolutely no valve clearance at all. Both valves were tighted to the max by the authorised service center guys. I was lucky to have not blown the valves. He set the valve timing and tuned the carb.
8:05pm - Bike was down from the ramp and Vincent went for a test ride.
8:15pm - My observations:
1. The bike was much smoother than
before
2. Both suspensions were working
better
3. Braking ability improved
4.My cables were much free than before
5.My headlight were brighter cause the
reflector was well cleaned.
6.There was no rust on any of my parts, it was sparkling like new,especially my rims and handle bar.(My wife asked me whether I changed the rims and the handle!!!!!)
8:20pm - Settled the bill. It came to Rs 2450 inclusive of Rs 750 of spare parts.I rode off happyily. Vincent asked me to be back in 5000kms to repeat the same process but without replacing any spares.
Guys from Chennai, If you want your bike to be in ship shape, rush your
bikes to V care bikes. But be sure to fix an appointment or you may get
disappointed.
Last edited by mail4ajo : 3rd May 2006 at 19:00.
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