Bike Shifting in Robertsonpet

Robertsonpet was planned on a grid inside KGF: numbered streets, regular blocks, short distances. The packers page notes how easily a vehicle finds any address here. For a bike, the grid has another effect. It's possible to live here for years riding only a few kilometres a day: to the market, the church, the school and back.

Bikes like that look young. The odometer shows a low figure, and the tyres still have plenty of tread. But rubber ages with time, not just with distance. Sunlight, heat and standing in one position harden it and crack it, even on a bike that barely moves.

That matters when the bike moves somewhere it will be ridden harder: to Bangalore traffic, a highway commute or a long weekend ride. An old tyre can lose grip in the wet, crack at the sidewall, or fail at speed.

So, before or just after the move, check the tyres' real age.

Find the date code. Every tyre carries a code on its sidewall, usually four digits inside an oval: the first two are the week, the last two the year of manufacture. A code reading 2317, for example, means the 23rd week of 2017.

Know the rule of thumb. Tyre makers and road safety bodies commonly suggest having tyres inspected once they're about five years old and replacing them by around ten, whatever the tread. Exact advice varies, so ask a tyre shop.

Look for the signs. Fine cracks in the sidewall or between the tread blocks, a hard, shiny surface, or a slight bulge are all reasons to replace a tyre now.

Ask about brands at the shop. A replacement tyre of the right size and load rating, from a known maker, matters more than the cheapest option. Keep the old tyre's size code from the sidewall when you go.

Decide when to replace. If the bike will be ridden straight after delivery on a long or fast route, replace old tyres before the move, here in KGF, where you know the shop. If it will potter around a new neighbourhood for a while, they can be changed soon after it settles in.

Mind where the bike has stood. A bike parked for years with its tyres in the afternoon sun, or resting on one patch of rubber on a hot floor, ages faster on that side. Rotate the wheel and check the whole circumference, not just the side you can see.

Think about the spare parts box, too. Many long time owners keep a spare tube or tyre in the shed, bought years ago. That spare has aged just the same. Check its date code before relying on it.

Check the tubes and valves too. On older bikes with tubed tyres, the tubes age along with the tyres.

Don't forget the stand and the footrests' rubber. On a bike that sits for years, the side stand spring weakens and the rubber on the pegs and pedals perishes. Neither is dangerous on its own, but both are cheap to replace while the tyres are being done.

The move itself is easy from Robertsonpet. The grid gives carriers straightforward access to most addresses. Give us the street and block number, and a landmark.

Robertsonpet bikes are collected by our crew, who know KGF's townships. The survey ends in one written figure, and from loading to delivery the bike is ours to look after.

Our Robertsonpet packers page covers the grid town and its easy access. This page is about the hidden age of a bike that barely moved on it.

The same logic applies to the battery, the brake fluid and the chain. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over the years, and old fluid can make the brakes feel soft on a long downhill. Low mileage doesn't mean young. A service after the move, before the first long ride, catches whatever time has done.

An electric scooter that has done little mileage still has ageing tyres, and its battery ages with time too. Check both before a move to heavier use. Mention the EV's make when booking, and have its battery health read at a service centre after the move.