My Bullet - The Phoenix

Saturday, 28th April, 2012

Built Like A Gun. Runs Like A Bullet

The Bullet has risen once again. After a long hiatus. I can't remember when the Bullet had gone silent and when I sent it to Dilip but after an inordinately long time Dilip has finally managed to revive the Bullet. Or at least so I think.

Went for a ride this morning to the Lake with Monisha - 5x2 km. Meter reading is 23785 when I filled in 7 lit of petrol for Rs 500. The tuning needs some tweaking perhaps but otherwise it starts just fine. One remarkable thing that I notice about the bike - the electrical system has really been improved. With the headlight on I can blow the horn properly. This was unthinkable before the bike went to Dilip.

Monday, 30th April 2012

On Saturday Monisha called up to tell me in the office that petrol is dripping out of the bike. I asked her to check if the tap was vertical or horizontal. She said vertical. I said turn it horizontal. I wished she would be able to pull the bike up on the main stand but that would perhaps be asking for too much. But the closing of the oil tap stopped the dripping. I must have lost a few litres of oil. However, it is now running fine. It has still not reached reserve. I have decided to do two things. Always park the bike on the main stand and never leave the oil tap on when the bike is parked. I think that should solve the dripping problem.

On Sunday the three of us - Mampu, Monisha and I - went on a local ride in the afternoon. Mampu claims that she has never ridden a bike. Actually I feel too scared to take her on the bike. On Monday, that is today, Monisha and I went to the Lake and came back. The bike starts generally on first kick. Otherwise, in the morning one can use the choke lever to start the bike.

Saturday, 12th May 2012 - Odo reading 23925 km

The Bullet is running fine. This morning took it to Dalhousie and came back via the Lake. Total 25 km. No hitch except one inexplicable jerk near Victoria. Couple of nights ago fished out the old insurance papers and road tax token. Both had expired in March 2011. Given Govinda-da (a very dependable Beltala Motor Vehicles department's middle man 9831175165) - the original documents to get it regularised. He said two year's tax to be paid and one year's tax as fine. The total, including insurance, will be Rs 2500. He will give me all the papers on Wednesday, he said.

I was under the impression that the road tax was paid for five years. But that was for the car actually. For old bikes tax has to be paid every year.

One funny point worth mentioning here. For vehicles that need to regularise third party insurance the rule is a surveyor will have to come, certify that the vehicle exists, take photographs and then only will the insurance company issue a policy. When you go through Govindada no such fancy requirements. You just pay him the official fees and his commission and things get done.

Last week I had gone to get the "Pollution Under Control" certificate from the pump near our office. They said my bike has failed and will need to be tuned properly to pass. Went to Dilip who said, "even new bikes fail. Don't worry. Leave the bike with me for a day with the original blue book. I will get it done." I have never had this problem before. My bike never failed a pollution control test. I think I will go to another pump to cross check.

The bike is running fine. Starts on one kick even in the morning and without choke. I don't push it very hard and never take it beyond 60 kmph.

The bike needs the following upgrades.

Rear shock absorbers; front shock absorbers; tyres; tank; painting. I am in two minds about the rear shocks. There is a new gas filled variety from this company called Endurance which is supposed to give you a great ride. However, if you fit that you need to change the main stand to something that's bigger. Otherwise the rear tyre will touch the ground. I am not too sure I want to change the authenticity of my old bike. I think I will stick to the old system.

Monday 14th May 2012 - Odo 23980 km

Went to Mukulda's house yesterday to clock some more distance on the odo. On the way back came via Ekbalpore Nursing Home to see Samarda. No problem during the ride except one sudden jerk when the rear wheel sort of got locked for a split second. This happened on the way up near Rashbehari but nothing afterwards. This had also happened on Saturday on the way back from Maidan near Victoria. Hit reserve at 23960 on the Park Street flyover while coming back. Filled in 5 litres from India Trading for Rs 350. Nearer home got Dilip to tighten the chain and brake. Dilip feels probably the rear wheel's bearing is broken. I think the brake shoe/pad should also be looked into. But as I ride the bike more such issues will get revealed and hopefully sorted.

Wednesday 16th May 2012 - Odo 24016 km

The bike was not used on Tuesday due to Monisha's indisposition. Even this morning we didn't go out for our morning walk. I decided to give it a run. Went on what turned out to be a 30 km round trip. Went via Elgin Road to Prinsep Ghat > Strand Road > Eden Gardens > Victoria > Exide > Rashbehari > Southern Avenue > Gol Park > ITI > Gol Park > Mannar Khabar > Home.

There was a problem while climbing the Gariahat flyover. The bike sounded like the fuel line was clogging or something. It happend on the way up as well as down. As if the bike was hitting reserve. Either the fuel filter bottle is dirty or there is something stuck somewhere in the fuel line. Will have to inform Dilip when I meet him. The rear wheel lock problem surfaced once again. I don't know if indeed this is a case of the rear wheel being broken. I think I will get it replaced with a new set.

Went to Govindada in the afternoon. Though the insurance, he said, has been done, the papers have not come to him. Due to an oversight the broker left my papers behind. He said it would definitely be done tomorrow and asked me to come tomorrow again. While there went to the parts store Ghai Motors to enquire about the new tank. It has not arrived yet and no one knows when it might come. What a shame. Enquired about rear shocks. Armstrongs are Rs 1000 they said. I think it is available for Rs 800. I must get the rear brake pads/shoes checked for the strange locking problem that's cropping up once in a while. Someone suggested this on facebook. Let me talk to Dilip.

Thursday 17th May 2012 - Odo 24046

Went on a thirty km ride around south Calcutta. The clogging problem is continuing. It happens only on bridges and today I went up the AJC flyover and Gariahat and it happened both the times. Will have to talk to Dilip about it.

Road Tax Paid At Last

Got the road tax paid at last. The next renewal is due on 14th of March 2013. Now only the insurance part is pending. Govinda da said come after a week. Apparently they have stopped doing insurance without the smart card. Gave him a photocopy of my smart card. He took another Rs 1250 from me. The amount of tax paid is Rs 1440.

Am thinking of getting an iridium spark plug fitted to the bike. NGK has a model. Model number BR6HIX. The two NGK authorised distributors in the city don't have them. This fellow asked me to call back after a week - JM Auto Distributors - 9681225074. The other fellow didn't say anything.

Tuesday May 22, 2012 - Odo 24115

Gave the bike to Dilip this morning for getting the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificiate done. Explained the problem of clogging to him. In fact this morning on the Lake Gardens flyover the bike started clogging up when I thought it was hitting the reserve and turned the tap down to reserve. On the return journey opened the tap to "on" position and could quite easily ride home for 5 km. Therefore it had not hit reserve in the morning but was just clogging up. Now I am wondering whether the bike had really hit reserve on the Park Street flyover. Let Dilip take a look. It might well be the carburettor.

Asked him to also change the rear shocks and replace them with the traditional Armstrongs. He was a little reluctant. I said you ride it and see how it is behaving and then decide. He is supposed to bring the bike back to me this evening itself. Keeping my fingers crossed on that.

Checked with JM Auto for iridium spark plugs once again. They still don't have it. And from the fellow's reply it seemed they are not likely to have it in the next 100 years.

PUC Done At Last - Next Change In November 2012

Dilip came to deliver the bike tonight, as promised. He has got the PUC done. Changed the rear bearing and corrected the wheel balance after tightening the spokes. He also changed the rear brake clamp that holds the rod. The bike handles pretty well now. Total damage Rs 800.

He has ordered Ghai Motors to get the Armstrong rear shock absorbers, which they don't have right now. He suggested a complete front and rear change of shock absorbers. I think I will do it. That's a more sensible thing to do. The bike is riding pretty well now.

Saturday May 26, 2012 - Odo 24278

The good news first. Insurance is done. Third party, of course. I am commuting to work every day on the bike. It rides like a charm. Filled in 10 litres of petrol at 24180 the other day. In fact just the day after petrol prices were raised by more than Rs 7. It's now Rs 78 a litre. 

Bought a set of open spanners from Bhanubhai. I think it's 6-22. Whatever it is the range looks comprehensive. Taparia Rs 210. Also bought a wrench for the spark plug for Rs 40. Bought a round rear view mirror from Ghai for Rs 40 for the left hand side. I couldn't take out the existing oval one. Tonight Dilip had come. He said it is wrongly inserted and ultimately broke the yoke trying to take the mirror out. He said he will change it later.

Discussed the engine stalling on bridge issue with Dilip. He is saying down shift to third gear and cross bridges. He feels the problem should go away as the engine sets into the proper groove. Let's hope it does. The idling sound has certainly improved. The clanking sound is much less now.