Why we give you your old parts back
It started as a way to build trust. It has become the way we work.
Getting through a Kozhikode monsoon
Rain finds weak brakes, bald tyres and tired wiring first.
Between June and August, about a third of the bikes that come into our workshop are here because of the rain. Most of the faults could have been found earlier.
Tyres matter most. The tread grooves move water out from under the tyre; once they are shallower than about 1.5 mm, the bike can slide on a wet road. Check the wear bars inside the grooves, and replace the tyre if the tread is level with them.
Brakes come second. Wet roads need longer stopping distances, and worn pads make it worse. Drum brakes on commuter bikes also collect water and mud; a quick clean and adjustment before the season helps.
Electrics are the third weak point. Water gets into old connectors, and a bike that will not start on a wet morning usually has a corroded connector or a tired battery. We clean and grease the connectors during our monsoon check.
Finally, the chain. Rain washes off the lube. Clean and lube it every 300 to 400 km in the wet, not every 1,000 km as in the dry months.
