Bike Service Centers

The primary service that a service centre provides is regularly scheduled maintenance/servicing for your bike. Apart from that, it also handles any replacement of worn out parts and repairs in case of accidental damage. Most authorised service centres will also process insurance claims for said accidental damage. Official company service centres also handle any and all replacement of components to be done under warranty.

The first thing we must check after our bike is serviced is whether it has been washed. A washed bike is easier to inspect for all the work that was done on it. Then it’s necessary to tally all the work done against the job card that was filed when the bike was handed over to the service centre, while getting a run-down from the mechanic-in-charge for the same. It’s also a good idea to ask to see all the parts that were replaced on the bike, such as oil filter, air filter, etc. And before you ride your bike out of the service centre, it’s good practice to check the levels of the engine oil, brake fluid (in case of disc brakes), coolant (for liquid cooled bikes) and also fuel level to ensure there’s enough fuel to either get home or to a petrol pump. Ensure that there isn’t any oil leaking from the engine, suspension or brakes before you ride off.

Generally most scheduled services only take a few hours. In most cases, this means dropping your bike off in the morning and picking it up in the evening. Of course, if there are any major repairs to be done or if some replacement parts aren’t in stock, it might take longer than that.

You might find a slight increase in mileage after your first service. Over time, as various parts, like the oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, etc degrade, your bike’s mileage will slightly reduce. Every service where you replace these parts will likely lead to your bike’s mileage increasing back to its optimum level.

An annual bike service generally includes an oil and oil filter change. The air filter also needs to be inspected and cleaned or replaced depending on its condition. Apart from that, annual service includes inspection of all electricals such as lights and horn, throttle inspection, clutch inspection, checking the condition of chain and sprockets, inspection of brake pads/callipers/discs, checking suspension and tyres, inspection of all critical bearings, and checking the condition of the battery. All fluid levels such as coolant and brake fluid need to be topped up. And depending on the condition, the spark plug/s also might need to be replaced.

A lot of service centres do provide pick up and drop facility. It’s best to call in advance to book an appointment and check if they do provide this service.