After The Flood, Don't Forget To Service Motorcycles

Flood victims in the Greater Jakarta area (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Floods that hit DKI Jakarta and its surroundings have resulted in losses for the community. Apart from having to clean dirty houses due to flooding, people also have to bear other material losses such as damage to their motorized vehicles.

VOI reporters also suffered material losses because the motorbike that he used to cover broke down due to being flooded. Repairing to the repair shop is the solution. We also visited a workshop in the area of Jalan Jenderal RS Soekanto, East Jakarta.

Jabodetabek flood victims (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

There, it turned out that there were already more than seven motorbikes in line, some of which were due to flooding. Our automatic motor scooters get the sixth queue of the seven motorbikes that will receive maintenance such as oil changes and other checks. We may have to wait two hours for the scooter to be finished.

While waiting for the check, we walked to the shop in front of the motorbike repair shop and chatted with a number of people who were waiting for their motorbikes to be serviced.

Initially, we chatted with Tommy, who admitted that he had not slept soundly for the past two days because his house in the Pondok Kelapa area, East Jakarta was flooded by about 70 centimeters or waist height of an adult. This flood came after rain hit his house, Tuesday, December 31 to Wednesday, January 1.

"There are two submerged motorbikes. One of these is intentionally turned on first. One service, if the motorbike is already on, then one will be transferred to the garage too," said the 35-year-old man, saying that the estimated cost incurred is around Rp. 300 thousand. to repair the injection engine on the motor.

Even though the motorbike had been placed on the table, this effort could not save it from being damaged. "Even though we have already been on the table, but still, it's late. Just now, at low tide, we tried the starter," he said with a resigned smile.

"Besides, the floods are also at dawn, we are not ready either. The floods are really bad this year," he added.

The working atmosphere of a motorbike repair shop that received a motorbike complaint that was flooded (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

Not long after we chatted with Tommy, Rio (25), who lived with his parents in the Jakarta Plot area, Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, came to us. "It's flooded too, huh?" he said to Tommy when he opened the conversation.

Rio said that in his house the flood was as high as an adult's chest, or about 1 meter. Worse, he did not have time to save the belongings in his house, his three motorbikes were submerged there.

However, one motorbike can be taken to the workshop, while the other two are still at home in a condition that cannot be operated.

"We are still checking what is damaged, it's submerged. There are two more motorbikes at home. We still can't do anything about it, only the carburetor motorbike (carburetor) can be dismantled by yourself. If the injection one doesn't dare to be dismantled," he said, laughing.

After listening to stories from the side of the motorbike owner who was flooded, we tried to talk with one of the repair shop staff on duty. Since the workshop opened, at around 09.00 WIB, he said, there have been more than 8 motorbikes that have entered the 'operation' room due to flooding.

The motor that comes will be examined by the mechanic first. After that, motorbike owners will be notified of problems that prevent their motorbikes from starting. "Later, what will the motorbike owner do? If it is okay to replace spare parts, we will replace it if any," he said as he continued his work.

Reporting from otorider.com, if a motorbike is flooded or forced to brave the flood, there are several things that must be done. The first thing to do is check the vital components of a motorcycle such as oil, air filters and CVT. If water enters the engine part, the owner must clean the water from the motor engine.

Second, after checking, don't forget to change the oil immediately. This is because motor oil could be mixed with flood water. Also, check the motor engine air filter. If the engine part has been checked and oil changed, the last step is not to forget to wash your motorbike immediately to avoid dirt that can cause rust.