@Sibun after changing to DOT 4 the brake bite was good for a couple of days then today the braking has become spongy...the sharp bite is gone...the front brake lever if i apply some extra force it pulls so far that it touches the grip slightly ....i dont think it was like this before...whats wrong here ?

Mobil 10w 40 how much is this oil bro ? how is this oil please share

Looks like the mods managed to trick you. :P Nice initiative though!

Thanks for the tips sibun. And yes, I did go a mechanic and he said he'll be able to remove the screw without any problem. Will get the brake fluid changed for both the discs next and get the brake pads changed for the front to KBX. Although, are Asbestos Free brakes as effective as the Non-Asbestos ones? Are these are the stock brake pads provided with the Unicorn?

But yes, now another issue. After I had sent a mail to Hero, I got a call from the service center to get the carb tuned, I gave the bike and took it back after 5 hours knowing full well that nothing had been done. The AF Screw hadn't moved even 1mm from where I left it. But later, when I switched off the bike and was rolling down a slope, I could feel some rubbing from the back that was being transferred to the footrests at regular intervals. The mech I went to for the brakes said the chain was too tight. Right diagnosis?

Glad to have you back! Please post more DIYs!

Also, I kind of like the new layout, but wondering why it uses only 50% of the screen space available to it. There's lots of space wasted on the sides of the xBHP page!

Okay. Now that I ve done 250 kms with the new oil I shall have an initial impression.

The oil costs Rs. 300 per litre.
For many reasons I feel that 10W40 is the right grade of oil for our rides. Especially if you ride on the highways.
It doesnt make the ride clumsy in the morning (20W40 does) and it keeps things calm and composed on the highway (10W30 doesnt)

As for the oil - its SS. Good but not great. May be it will get better with a few more KMs. (Heard SS oils takes time to be at their full glory)
Its fantastic for short / city / commuter style riding.
Once I get into the highway and do 70-80 for some time it begins to get rough. After some 30 kms of such riding vibes on the footpegs are just too much. (Same as with any other oil)
But the better side is that this oil keeps things cooler. Never overheats even while I was doing close to 100.

Came back from near 600 kms of riding to and fro from gurgaon to chandigarh..
The bike performed really well after the last service on the highway...
Just that the mileage has dropped to the near 37kmpl that too when i was riding it above the speeds of 70 but below 80kmph..
Dont know whether it shud come down to this level after returning 45kmpl in the city at the same speed limits..???

Oil leakage

As sibun and saurabh sir saidThe problem was found as the chain sprocket cover was openedThe mech removed neutral switch and changed its o- ringAnd when he checked oil level it was minimumDid a top up and charged 0 rs for all thisThis was done at another svcSatisfactorily good service this time ...

looks like it needs a lower end (the pad,piston,calliper assy) overhaul and check the disc itself for any wear/thickness. and also bleed the lines to remove any trapped air and lastly maybe change the brake hose pipe.

check whether the piston is leaking pressure.Usually what happens is that when you change the old oil the sludge deposited on the master cylinder piston washes away and thus leaks pressure. Solution for this is to take out the master cylinder piston clean it, check for any damage on the rubber seal of piston and if damaged then go for new piston. If not damaged then fit the piston back and then pour brake fluid in the reservoir (you must be having oil from the can) and pump out air introduced due to opening of piston. Some precaution is to empty the master cylinder before opening the piston, otherwise oil will leak to paint, after fitting piston pour oil and pump to eliminate air and always cover the tank and visor with plastic so that brake oil doesn't fall on it.

This is the reason why i tell that when ever you change oil open the master cylinder piston and inspect for wear and if all right then clean the piston and re-fit. Most of the cases cleaning the piston and re-fitting will restore the braking.
Yes, tightened chain will sound like chain rubbing and minute vibrations and also the engine will feel rough.The pads on unicorn are same pads are ours and non-asbestos. Why do you think that unicorn pads are different, both are non-asbestos and supplied by ANL. The problem with non asbestos pads is that they will wear late and as a results hardens and loose their bite. KBX pads are asbestos pads and change to see the difference. They cost only Rs.140 and will bite like hell. Change the oil to DOT 4 and while changing open the master cylinder piston and clean the piston and re-fit.
Regarding your carburettor tuning just lean the mixture by 1/4th of a turn from present position and set the idling to 1250 rpm when hot. Your mileage will return and pick-up will increase. Since i have not seen your bike but if you want then keep the air screw at 1.60 turns from full tight and set the idling to 1200 when hot. Your all problems will go. Just tune to 1.60 from full tight.

As i told without opening the cover you cannot deduce from where it is leaking. The oil was leaking and dropping from the bolt.

what about milege in this case ??

which engine oil will u prefer for me , completed 65000+ kms

SERVO SYNTH 4T 10W-30 @ 650/-
CASTROL POWER 1 RACING 10W-50 @ 650/-
CASTROL POWER 1 10W-30 @ 350/-

Dude, you might remember that I was fighting a 'war' with Hero a few pages (and a few months) back to get my alloys replaced under warranty. I mailed the local (East zone) offices but no response from them. Then I had to repeatedly call and finally got the work done.
All I want to know is which mail id did you send the mail to? And how on earth Hero did reply to that???

Consider this: Is your average riding speed in city limits = highways?
You should get your answer.

Go for servo. from my experience hero and castrol do not feel nice.If possible get veedol swift 10W 40, the best oil for hero bikes.

I just changed to the KBX pads. Part number was KBXTW035. Cost me 170. Was a direct fit as expected. I managed to get the screw changed at a local mechanic and got it replaced with a flat head screw as you had instructed. But when I came home, I was able to open one screw but not the other. So not been able to change the Brake Fluid yet. Didn't clean the insides of the front caliper. Would be nice if you post a DIY on how to clean the pistons and everything.
Other than that, I think the new pads need to be used for a while before they start showing their true colours because I can't find any significant difference as of now.
As for the carb, have kept it at 1.6 turns now. Will report on the same tomorrow.
Also, part number P7070500 returns a pricing of 995 in the Bosch Spare Parts list. But when I enquired about the same at the service center, they said 2800! :O Are they scamming people or is there something to this I'm missing?
I mailed them here. :P

Reach Us - Query Form

Got a reply from some Sudhakar chap in 2-3 days. :P

Sibun can you please elaborate on that? COz I am facing a similar issue after tightening my chain. The 'rubbing' sound is not continuous but sounds on every one rotation of the chain. I opened the chain cover a number of times to check whether it is rubbing or not but couldn't find anything!! As close as I can describe the sound in words - it feels like after each full rotation, there is some hard friction between the front sprocket and the chain. I checked the freeplay even - doesn't seem to be overtightened.
Any leads?