The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 long term test bike has just entered the Autocar India fleet, and we've spent a few days riding it in Mumbai. This motorcycle was part of the Press fleet during the first ride experience in Rajasthan, and we received the bike with a little over 800km on the clock. A detailed long-term report as well as road test will be out soon. Meanwhile, in the three days we’ve had the bike, the odometer has already crossed the 1,000km mark, which means it's time for the first service.
. First service costs Rs 2,836
. Oil and oil filter change carried out
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650: first service costs
We called Royal Enfield and the service appointment was given immediately. The first service of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 began with an oil change – draining the old oil, replacing the oil filter and pouring 3.1-litres of fresh 10W-50 fully synthetic oil. The service technician then got down to cleaning the brake pads, which was followed by a clean-up of the air-filter with compressed air. The chain was also checked and the tension was adjusted as part of the first service.
Considering the price of the Super Meteor 650 and the fact that this is the company’s flagship bike, the cost of carrying out the service was pretty reasonable. The cost of oil that went into the engine is Rs 2,012, while the oil filter will set one back by Rs 450. Adding the cost of the chain cleaner and lube, which is Rs 258, the total cost of the parts was Rs 2,720. This is almost the same amount of money that Royal Enfield charges for the Interceptor 650.
Since this was the first service, it was free, and there were no labour charges. However, the service centre charges Rs 118 as “consumable charges for service”.
In all, the company charged Rs 2,836 for the first service of the Super Meteor 650.
Recommended work during service
Over and above these charges, as per our bill, Rs 251 was charged as labour for brake air bleeding. This was done as a precautionary measure to ensure the brakes work optimally, after the abuse they were subjected to at the media test ride. A regular customer will not need to bleed the brakes of their bike at first service.
In addition to this, the dealership also recommended that we carry out wheel balancing inspection and setting. This, again, was done to ensure that the bike is running perfectly post the ride in Rajasthan and isn't required at first service.
That said, they do recommend that the customer checks the wheel balance at every service barring the first, given the abuse that the wheels and tyres undergo while traversing on our less than perfect roads.
The labour cost for the removal, inspection and refitting of the front wheel is Rs 756, but the same process for the rear wheel costs more, at Rs 1,353. That’s because the technician needs to remove the left exhaust in order to take off the wheel.
All said, this wheel balancing requirement is only a recommendation and it is the owner's discretion if they want to get it done.
Tell us what you think of the costs in the comments section.
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
Dinshaw Magol
