Saturday was the day I was ready to spoil my mood and even pay for it...!
The day was none other than my Pulsar 220 DTSi's first service day

I went to the Kothrud PBK, they said "sir we are full and you can go to our FC road service station"
Seeking no other option left, I went to the FC road showroom.
I told them about my problems and they noted them down (mentioning to change the oil in front of me)

They asked me to collect the bike after 4:30 pm (first service..nothing much to do but they need more than 6 hours for it to get done)
I roamed around and went back at around 4.. (though never wanted to leave, coz I never trust them, but since I was accompanied by one of my friends, I did)

All I saw was my bike standing afresh from a bath (without being wiped), some brand new machines getting heavy rippings from the mechanics etc

After seeing me, they got the bike inside the service bay, opened the nut and here comes the engine oil flowing out...


After sometime, all I could see was around 800-900 ml of oil...(from a bike which should have letout at least 1100-1150 ml of oil)
Now can a new bike eat up 250-350 ml of oil in 750 kms of its running..?
Or the new bike came with less oil....?

I asked them the reason and they had some fantastic reasons to explain (which have become a part and parcel of my Bajaj service facing life)

In my whole stint at the PBK, I asked 3 servicemen about the brand name of the oil they put in Pulsar 220 DTSis...and I got 3 different brands as answers...!
1- MAK
2- HP
3-Motul


My second issue was that the fairing vibrations issue; I asked them about it and they said, one of our guys have tightened all the screws and your fairing would not vibrate! I believed them...(rather I had to as I had to leave)
Coming back from the service station ensured that the fairing still vibrates!

My third issue was that both the beams are pointing upwards and need a lower revision
They started doing some googling putting their arms inside
5 mins......no gain
10 mins.....no gain
second person....no gain
in came the 3rd person....and buluppppppppp....here goes the lower bulb....!
I went back and sat down (all in anger and vain) probably knowing their intentions as well

then came the person (whom I felt like killing) who told me
Guy: "sir aapka kaam ho jaega"
Me: "Hoo jaega ?.....kab tak ho jaega..?
Guy: "sir bulb change karna padega"
Me: ......"...........do whatever, resolve my isse"...
Guy: SIr bulb 350-400rs ka aega"
ME: " So..........what should I do...?"
Guy: "Aapke bill me aaega"....
I stood up, put my hand on his shoulders and explained him a few things....obviously declining to pay a single penny for their misdoings...!

Not arguing much he went somewhere and I came back on my seat, dreaming of the day when my free services would get over...!

In he came near the bike and started putting a bulb in my bike...and I stopped him
The bulb was not a new one....!
They persuaded and cribbed and even showed me a just-out empty box

Giving up, I asked them to do whatever they had to......but be fast...

He put that in and after sometime, they had to pull off the tank, panels, seat etc....just to bring that beam down....
After a hard fought battle (that is what it was for people of their caliber for this sort of a minuscule job)

Now was the time to pay for owning a Bajaj (just becoz of their service)
Billing time:

I was handed over a bill of Rs 290, just for the engine oil change
Contents:
1) Engine oil: Rs 224
2) Free service: Rs. 75 (not charged)
3) Battery care : Rs. 10
4) Tidbits (I forgot the word) : Rs. 20
5) Rest was service tax

I asked them about charges 3 and 4
For charges 4, they said..."Sir wo thode chote mote nut bolts badalte haai, uske charges hai"
I asked them about the nuts and bolts and screws which they have changed...?

For 3:
They said
"Sir company ka hi battery wala hai, he takes care of your bikes battery and blaa blaaaaaaaaa blaaaaaaaaaaa........"
ME: Isnt the battery under warranty...?
Guy" Sir wo to charges sabse lete hai....!

Than I showed them point no 15 (or 16) from the service book that, all this needs to be taken care in the service and is free....
Seeing this scenario, a supposedly senior guy jumps in and told them
"Inki bike free service me hai to ye charges kyu laga rahe ho...?...Hata do ye charges"


I came back home happy and gay paying Rs.260 (which included paying for tax on the labour charges which was free...)
and the bill read something like this

1)OIL : 224
vat (12.5%) -28

parts total = 252

2) 1st free service - 75 rs (Free)
Labour charges at 10 % - Rs. 7.5
Edu cess ---0.3

Total - Rs. 260

After the service, my bike is running a tad harsh-er than before, gearing has become harder!





PS: Words from a guy who has been owning Bajajs since 97, which included 5 fantastic products, all marred by a pathetic service of Bajaj...and included 6 or 7 service centers in 2 cities of India...!