Feb 13, 2013 01:27 AM
47152 Views
Bought Hero X-Sport cycle on Sunday 10-Feb for Rs 4500/- from Bhansali Cycle Store in Alibag, Maharashtra. I did not expect much at this price point, but what I got was totally unacceptable. Here is my account after owning the bike for 50 hrs and riding approximately 70 kms.
On Monday 11-Feb, rear brakes jam up. Luckily there is no one behind me, wheel spokes are not damaged and it happens just outside the housing society. Found the brake assembly is not fitted properly and the brake pads are loose. Push the bike back home and released the rear brakes and adjusted them so as not to interfere with the rear wheel. Rode the bike back to Bhansali without using rear brakes! Mechanic Akbar worked on it and believe me it was like watching a quack.
While at the shop I got a rear view mirror installed. During installation I saw that Akbar had not used a lock washer. So I asked him to use one. His answer was it should be fine and the mirror won't come loose. Guess what? Mirror was loose just after riding 8-10 kms.
I asked them to inflate the tire and I couldn't believe this bike shop doesn't even have a proper hose to inflate tires. The hose had been patched with plastic strips at multiple places and was leaking profusely. No wonder the tires were still soft!
Today Tuesday 12-Feb, I was feeling good and I had planned on going for a long ride (for me 30-40 km). So here I am in the middle of nowhere and my bike starts sounding like a can of nuts and bolts! So I stop and look and find the mudguard to carrier bolt & nut is missing. I can't do anything, so I continued riding until I found a small tire repair shop. By this time the rear mudguard has a nice bent. Got the tires inflated properly and nut & bolt installed. This shop owner didn't have a lock washer too but had the sense to install a lock nut! Then I noticed the gears are not shifting properly, but at least the bike is moving and there are no more hills to climb!
By the time I reached home I had covered over 40 km and I was too tired to ride the bike to Bhansali. Any way what was the use of taking the bike to the same quacks. So I spent 3 hrs adjusting and tightening this 2 days old bike. Major faults I found: rear brake pads again off; rear derailleur not shifting from 6th to 5th and not shifting to 1st gear; steering headset adjustable racer and lock nut were loose; and lots of loose screws & bolts.
Owner Rajan Bhansali is a nice man but he take more interest in how his guys are putting together the bikes and also provide proper tools to his men.
