Garage 52: Work and play

As a biker you’re bound to be attached with your motorcycle. It isn’t much of a surprise though as you tend to spend most of the time on it or always looking for an excuse of going for a weekend ride so that you get to spend more time on the saddle. The motorcycle no longer remains a piece of machine but a buddy with whom you converse and have some great moments. Owing to these factors you try to pamper it also as much as you can and get it serviced on a timely basis so it’s always in the pink of health. It is during this time that as a biker you think of servicing the motorcycle on your own as apart from adding to your skill set, it adds to the connect between a rider and his bike. But when it comes to actually working on the bike, most of them bail out reasoning that they don’t have the tools or the expertise to work on bikes. To address this issue, a bunch of bikers have started a shop in Mumbai Garage 52. Before pondering into further details let me first introduce the men behind this initiative.

Garage 52 is a joint effort between Mario’s garage, JcMoto and Helmet Stories. Mario Pereira has a working experience of over 35 years and has worked on numerous vintage and classic bikes in his lifetime. From basic servicing to complicated mechanical work Mario handles everything with aplomb. While Helmet Stories is an adventure travel company that organises motorcycle tours across some of the most scenic locations in the country and is run by two-wheeler aficionados Vir Nakai and Harsh Man Rai. They also organise group tours and corporate tours and if you’re planning a ride with your buddies but don’t know how to go about it, well  you should drop by their office at Garage 52. Last but definitely not the least is Joshua Crasto an ex-auto journo, qualified pilot and the man behind JcMoto. Joshua is renowned for his restoration work, custom motorcycle builds and made to order parts. 

Garage 52 is located in a quaint lane in Chium Village, Khar and it looks no different from any other garage from the outside. But step inside and one is welcomed by walls adorned with some beautiful motorcycle paintings and a neatly laid out workspace with some gorgeous classic bikes getting a helping hand. Apart from fixing bikes, Garage52 also hosts MotoGP screening, motorcycle art displays and DIY workshops during weekends and for updates keep an eye on their Facebook page. Garage 52 also rents out its ramps for a nominal fee, we thought we should put to test this feature and landed at their doorsteps. But unlike the various classic motorcycles, 2-stroke screamers or a performance motorcycle that normally enters Garage 52 we rolled in our 110cc commuter bike – the TVS Star City+. I had apprehensions on how the guys at Garage 52 would react to the commuter bike but they treated me like any other customer and the Star City+ as any casual motorcycle. I was wearing my riding gear and Joshua asked me to keep them in the Helmet Stories office and proceed to the ramp.

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Before we could start working on the bike, I told him that I had never fiddled with a motorcycle and a complete novice. He gave me some basic tips on how the ramp works and what all stuff I need to do for a basic service. Once the bike was clamped on the ramp, it was time to get my hands dirty and start working on the motorcycle. I got stuck on various occasions during the service but Josh patiently explained me the solution every time, this despite the fact he himself was busy working on a bike.

Another aspect that struck me was that Josh only directed me the instructions and he never worked on my bike and let me commit a few mistakes so that I could learn from them. It took me around two hours to get the bike fixed and I have to admit that time just flew. Even though what I did was a basic service one does feel good about himself that you have personally worked on your motorcycle. The cost for renting a ramp is Rs 650 for one sitting which is almost twice the labour charge that you shell out at a normal garage for basic servicing. But I personally feel for that extra money you get a great opportunity to learn a few basic tricks in fixing and nurturing your motorcycle.

Garage 52 also organises basic tutorials where for a nominal fee they teach bikers the basic skill sets in fixing a bike which will be of great help especially while touring and look out on their Facebook page for future updates. Apart from being a great place to get your bikes fixed, Garage 52 is a place where you get to mingle with like minded bikers. So if you are among the many hordes of bikers who always dreamt of working your own bike, well, what are you waiting for?