I bought a Kinetic Zing this January. All started well with good performance, great looks, comfort ride, 3 free services etc. but, only for the first 7 months.
The longest ride on my Zing had been of 40 Kms but it is comfortable. The instruction booklet clearly states that the bike requires 2% 2T oil with every litre of petrol. I religiously follow all instructions in the book, take the bike for servicing every 3 months (as required). The only problem it gave me was with the headlights, which I had to change twice.
During the rains, suddenly my bike failed to auto-start and then, to start at all. I discovered that there was water in the carburetter and the spark plug isn’t as efficient anymore because of water splashes and the bike doesn’t have proper shields against splashing water. So, the design needs improvement.
Last week, during my 4th servicing, the mechanic discovered that the battery is very low on charge and asked me to bring it for a replacement if it gives me further trouble. He also told me to put 4% 2T instead of 2 because premix Petrol uses poor quality of 2T. Also, they charged me a (whooping?) 495/- whereas TVS and Suzuki charge a decent 200/-.
Yesterday, my bike refused to move more than a metre without hicccuping! I dragged it to the Servicing center where they happily inform me that the bearings, crankshaft, box kit and some other darned parts are damaged and they need to be replaced and THIS is going to COST me a 1750/-
It is not even a year that I have bought the bike and it costs me about an extra 2k!!!
That apart, if it is 4% 2T that’s required, pray why does the booklet and the sticker close to the filling duct of the bike display an amount of 2%?! Maybe it is just a problem in Hyderabad but it happens to be authorized Kinetic Servicing Center.
I am sure I will have to shell out the money but as a first time bike owner, I feel harrassed and fooled. I rate the bike as average because it drained my pockets.