Actual Cost of Owning a Bajaj 400: The DIY Approach.

I recently came across a fellow enthusiast sharing ownership costs based on their visits to the Authorized Service Center (ASC). However, if you’ve owned a few vehicles, you’d know those figures often don’t reflect the real picture. To provide some clarity, I’m sharing the actual costs of DIY maintenance for the same motorcycle. Since I service my motorcycle entirely on my own—right from DAY 1, skipping ASC services and the warranty—I’ll detail both the cost of consumables and my maintenance intervals. My intervals are much shorter than manufacturer recommendations, and that’s intentional to keep the bike in top shape. Here's a breakdown: **Consumables and Costs** * **Engine Oil:** ₹750 per liter * **Oil Filter & O-Ring:** ₹85 * **Air Filter:** ₹211 * **Spark Plug:** ₹155 * **Front Tyre:** ₹5,500 * **Rear Tyre:** ₹6,500 * **Chain Set:** ₹3,150 **Maintenance Schedule** I currently clock **2,000 km per month**, translating to an estimated **25,000 km per year**. Here's the breakdown of expenses based on my DIY maintenance routine: 1. **Oil Changes:** Every 3,000 km. That’s 8 oil changes a year, using 2 liters per change. * **Total:** ₹12,000 (oil) + ₹680 (filters) = **₹12,680** 2. **Air Filter:** Changed every 5,000 km, resulting in 5 changes annually. * **Total:** ₹1,055 3. **Spark Plug:** Replaced every 15,000 km. * **Total:** ₹155 4. **Chain Set:** Replaced once a year. * **Total:** ₹3,150 5. **Tyres:** I go through 2 rear tyres for every 1 front tyre, and a Rear Tyre lasts me barely 10,000 km. For 25,000 km, that’s **3 rear tyres and 2 front tyres**. * **Total:** ₹30,500 Adding it all up, the annual cost of maintenance (excluding fuel) comes to **₹47,540**. **Fuel Costs** Based on my mileage logs in Fuelio, I average **₹4/km for fuel**, which adds up to **₹100,000 annually** for 25,000 km. **Grand Total** Factoring in maintenance, fuel, and third-party insurance, the total yearly cost of owning and running my motorcycle comes to roughly **₹1.5 lakh**. I understand my service intervals might be too frequent for some, so feel free to compute your expenses using the spare part prices shared above to suit your maintenance preferences. Cheers! :)