For all those who own a bajaj pulsar 180 (the non dtsi model), my condolences while trying to get your bike ’’serviced’’ at the authorized service center.
A good water wash for a bike (a thorough one, the friendly down the road service center offers) takes 30 minutes.
To change the gear oil, for the most nimble fingered and super human mechanic takes 10 minutes (for the oil has to drain).
Wheel alignment, from what meagre knowledge I posses, takes 30 minutes.
And if a few of you who love your machines the way I do a good after wash polish takes 45 minutes minimum.
Apart from that, checking brakes, air filter, chain slack and the works that go along with a standard service should take an hour.
You might be wondering where I am going with all this, here it comes. My commute to Jatti motors (the authorized service center) is 30 minutes. I gave my bike for the third service (dubbed as ’’free service’’) at 9:40 AM. I took an auto and reached home at 10:45.
Then the miracle happened, I got a call from the service center saying that the bike was ’’ready’’, at, hold your breaths, 11:15 AM!!!!!!!!!! That?s just over an hour to service a bike completely!!!!!!!!!!!
I go and see my bike, and my poor expensive piece of machinery had not even been washed properly. She (yeah I know I know, its not definitely male) had acquired, miraculously, more scratches as if she had been in a romp. I guess that?s when I lost it I guess, though I used civil language to communicate with a glassy eyed, spaced out. ’’Manager’’, who was as empty with the knowledge of bikes as drying wells in rajastan.
The best part he ADMITTED that nothing could have been done in such a short while except draining the oil and giving her a half hearted wash (which was evident, for I could elegantly scoop muck from the speedometer dial).
For all those who have had a similar experience, please get in touch with me. I am going to the consumer court. No empty threat. But if I have more number of people who experienced a similar issue, please do get in touch with me.
A good bike, sadly pathetic and apathetic dealers and service.