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I usually don’t do hate posts. This is one. My boiling blood has to have a vent.
My parents are visiting me. My bike did not have a saree guard which prevented my mom to be pillion on my ride. So I went to the nearest spare parts shop that I know of, Teknik Motors in Sarjapur (outer ring road). They are also authorized enfield service center.

I went in and asked the sales girls sitting there, that I wanted a saree guard for my Standard. One of them went into their storage area and came back with a guard. I specifically asked her, whether it is for a standard, as it did not mention anywhere on its label. She said sure. Meanwhile the manager was sitting there doing some paperwork. I asked the girl whether the service people downstairs could fit it for me. She asked the manager in kannada, who replied in the negative. She said as there were 11 bikes pending those people were busy. Meanwhile the manager even while replying to the girl kept his eyes on his paper. I then asked whether they will spare me some spanners so that I could fit it myself. She again asked the manager in kannada. Manager with his eyes on the papers, so that he could escape seeing me in the eyes, again replied in the negative. Ok..at least could you please give me a cord or something so that I can tie it and take it home. She again asked the mangaer in kannada, and guess what the eyes glued to the paper replied in the negative.The salesgirl was a little disappointed, I guess at their own service. I was really tired of the whole issue..and said just take the money and I will figure something out.

I took the guard and went down to the service area. I showed the guard to the guys working there and again asked..if that would fit a standard. They said yeah sure..just give it to a mechanic and he will fit it. They were helpfull enough to point towards some pieces of cord lying on the road, so that I could tie it to my bike.

And guess what, when I took it a mechanic to fit it..he said that it is the wrong one. The places for the bolts where all wrong. With my blood boiling I went back. And said as calmly as possible. ‘This doesn’t fit my bike.’ Their was a service guy in the spare parts area who know comes and says, that it would need to be cut to fit a standard. The salesgirl know was clueless as how to solve this dilemma. I asked her, who is your manager I want to talk to him. Know the manager took his eyes off the paper, and I looked at me. I had to tell him the story from the start. Hearing which he said something in kannada to the salesgirl. Not one word to me. And the salesgirl took the same pieces of currency (2 500 notes) I had given her 10 minutes ago.

All the best to anyone who goes there. If anyone knows any place where I can get spare parts near Koramangala, please do comment and let me know. I have my mechanic in Shivaji Nagar which is a bit far for getting small bits, accessories etc.

Needless to say one of the most moving documentaries I have seen. More about it here. You can view lots of other good movies there too.

And I rode 2kms with the broken cable held between my fingers. And 3 kms holding it tight with a pair of pliers. Don’t know if I should be happy or sad. Since the cable last broke just 2000 km ago.

Yesterday I kicked at it for almost half an hour. Till my right leg muscles began to cramp. Gave up took an auto to office. These videos helped a lot.

Today morning I was determined I would find out what exactly is wrong. Keys on, right switch on, petrol lever down. And I tried the horn, it did’nt work. Voila, so it was a dead battery. Success at the first troubleshooting I did. I am sharing this with everyone who think of their rides/gadgets etc as black boxes. You input a fuel/energy and it gives back what you need. But sometimes a lil bit of coaxing does help. As I learn more about the bullet in particular I will share it here.

I will start with the very high level modular scheme. A internal combustion engine needs three things to run:

1. Fuel
2. Compression
3. Spark

If the engine gets good quality fuel and it is compressed with the right mixture of air. And at the right moment it gets the spark from the spark plug, the engine will run. So any troubleshooting should be three pronged. First should find out which of these 3 things has the problem. And then go onwards.

Expect more such posts in the future :).

A haiku dedicated to my new ride.

silent grabber
aching right leg
kickstart trouble.

I hope future ones are a tad bit happier.