Points To Keep In Mind At Your Next Bike Service

To us enthusiasts, bikes are an important part of our lives. We love them, cherish them and pay more attention to them than even ourselves. But, even to an average person, a motorcycle could be a lifeline and its maintenance is an important part of its ownership. The best way to care for your bike is to have a periodic servicing schedule. But just taking your beloved two-wheeler to the service centre and handing it over to them won't necessarily get you the best results. It often happens that service centres fleece the customers into paying more than what is required to keep the bike in good shape. Here are some important things that will help you get the best service for your bike, for the right price.

Before we jump into what should be done or avoided at the service station, here are two important habits you need to inculcate for better maintenance.

I. Keep making notes (preferably on your phone) of the issues that you have been facing with the bike. These can be points like rattling noise from a body panel or a lack in performance or efficiency. These notes will help you remember and resolve all the issues you have faced with the bike.

II. Maintain a service record of the bike. This is as easy as keeping the bills/service records of the bike or storing pictures of these documents on your phone or computer. This will greatly help you calculate your maintenance cost and track whatever parts or maintenance procedures the bike has gone through in the past. A well-documented service history also helps bump up the after-sales cost of the bike.

Now, make sure you follow each of these steps in order to get the best servicing of your bike.

Points to remember

1) Keep a list ready of all the things you need to get rectified in the service. Having a better idea of what work is to be done on the bike reduces the chance of the service advisor treating you as a gullible customer and ripping you off. (Refer to point I)

2) Make a prior appointment with the service centre. Speak to the service coordinator and ensure that all parts that might need replacing are in stock.

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3) Take your bike to the service centre as early as possible. This will most likely mean getting the bike back on the same day and before sunset, a must to properly inspect your bike.

4) Once there, take your time to explain all the problems you are facing to the service inspector. If possible, also talk to the technician who will be working on the bike and explain to him the issues you have been facing. If a part replacement is suggested, do enquire why it is necessary and if it can be fixed without a change. Also, check if the part is covered under warranty.

5) Take pictures of the bike before the service, possibly at the service centre. There have been cases where customers have claimed that their bikes were damaged by the service centre, but were unable to take action as there was no proof to support the claim. Clean images in such cases can go a long way in protecting your interest

6) Keep a tab of the amount of fuel in your bike. Ensure there’s enough to conduct inspections after the service is done.

7) A normal service takes anywhere between an hour or two. Staying in the service centre while the bike is being worked on is highly advisable. If possible keep an eye on the parts which are being replaced and check the older ones for wear. 

8) A lot of parts like the brake shoes/pads, engine oil, air filter, oil filter, throttle/brake/clutch cables, chain and sprocket and wheel bearings, have relatively shorter life than others. Though these parts are replaced often, we recommend you check these parts yourself for wear before replacement.

9) Oil change at correct intervals is the backbone of engine life and performance. Stick to the engine oil grade and change interval mentioned in your user manual. For most bikes, the interval varies from 3,000 to 5,000 km. Some people consider changing to a higher grade or synthetic oil but the additional cost is not worth the gains in performance and efficiency.

10) Once the service is done, discuss the job card with the service technician to verify that all the required work has been carried out.

11) Take a test ride of the bike after the service. Ensure all the issues that had been mentioned have been fixed. Pay only after you are satisfied with the bike’s condition.

12) Take a copy of the job card/bill and keep it with you for future reference. (Refer point II)

Following the above mentioned points will help you get the best possible service for your bike and at the minimum possible cost.

Servicing Images: BMW Motorrad