Bike Shifting in Murugeshpalya

Murugeshpalya is one of the densest pockets off Old Airport Road. Apartment blocks sit close together, internal roads are tight, and the parking under each building is shared by many bikes in a small space. Young professionals rent here in large numbers, and their bikes are often second hand, ridden hard and serviced when something breaks.

One thing those bikes commonly have is a small leak. Engine oil seeping from a gasket. Fork oil running down a fork leg. Fuel dripping from a perished hose or a carburettor overflow. Coolant from a radiator hose on a liquid cooled bike. Brake fluid from a tired master cylinder. Each leaves a mark on the parking floor, and most owners only notice when the society sends a polite message about the stain.

On moving day, a leak matters more.

On a truck, the bike stands close to other goods. Oil dripping onto the bed spreads, and a carton, a mattress or a sofa leg placed next to it soaks it up. Fuel is worse: it smells, it's flammable, and it damages some plastics and finishes. A bike that is tilted slightly during loading or strapping can leak more than it does standing on its side stand.

At the old building, a leak during loading leaves a fresh patch on the shared floor or the driveway, which some societies note in the move out inspection.

So look for it a few days before the move.

Put a sheet of cardboard or newspaper under the bike overnight. In the morning, look at what's on it and where. Dark brown or black near the engine is usually oil. Clear, with a petrol smell, near the carburettor or fuel tap is fuel. Green, pink or blue near the radiator is coolant. Reddish or clear near the forks is fork oil.

Then deal with it. Don't top up oil to hide a leak; it only adds to what drips. Many leaks are quick fixes for a mechanic: a loose drain bolt, a hose clip, a worn fuel line, a gasket. A fuel leak should always be fixed before the bike travels. An oil seep that can't be fixed in time can be managed: wipe the area clean, and tell us, so the crew put a drip tray or absorbent pad under the bike on the truck and keep other goods clear.

Check the chain as well. An over oiled chain flings lubricant onto the rear wheel, the swingarm and the floor, and on a truck it rubs onto the padding and anything beside it. Wipe the excess off a day before, so the chain is lubricated but not dripping.

Look underneath once more on the morning of the move. A leak that seemed small can show more after a ride, and it's better found before the crew arrive than on the truck bed.

Clean the parking floor too. A degreaser and a stiff brush lift fresh oil from concrete. If the society has asked about stains, deal with them before the move out inspection.

Bring the cardboard sheet to the mechanic if you can. Seeing where the drops fell often points straight to the source.

And tell us when you book. A bike with a known leak is loaded last, with a tray underneath and nothing stacked beside it.

Our Murugeshpalya packers page covers using shuttle vehicles to reach blocks where a large truck can't. This page is about the drip that would otherwise travel with them.

Electric scooters don't leak oil or fuel, but a damaged battery can occasionally show swelling or a smell. If you notice either, don't move it until the service centre has checked it. When booking, mention the scooter's maker and whether its pack comes out.