Bike Shifting in Akshayanagar

The night before

Park the bike where it can get out. That sounds obvious, but after a late ride home it's natural to slot it into whatever gap is left. On the last evening, put it at the end of the row, facing out, with nothing in front of it. If that means parking a few houses down where there's room, do that.

Have a word with the neighbours whose cars usually sit beside it, the ones who come home late are the ones most likely to box it in again. Most people are happy to leave a gap for one night if they're asked, and a car owner who knows the bike is being collected at seven won't pull in tight against it.

Take the cover off before the crew arrives and shake it out. A street cover collects dust, leaves and the odd bird dropping. Fold it and keep it, as you'll want it at the new place.

Then empty the seat box. Street-parked bikes often carry a lock, a chain and a spare cover in there, and all of that should come out.

Where the carrier stands

Some of Akshayanagar's inner streets only take a smaller vehicle, and even where a carrier fits it can't stop in the middle of a lane while people try to get to work. So we agree a standing spot beforehand, usually on a wider road nearby or the main road the lane opens onto, and the bike is ridden or pushed there.

If the bike won't start after a few nights in the open, it can still be moved as long as it rolls and steers. Tell us at booking so the crew comes expecting to push.

Early is better here. The inner streets are quietest just after dawn, before school vans and office cars start backing out of every gate, and BG Road is still moving. A carrier loaded by half past seven gets out of the area with very little fuss.

Why the condition photos matter more on the street

A bike that lives outdoors collects marks a garage bike doesn't. Scratches from car doors, a scuffed mirror from a passing scooter, faded paint on the side that faces the sun. None of that is unusual, but it all needs to be on record before the trip.

Before any wrap goes on, the crew walks round the bike taking pictures. Stand with them and point out what you know about, especially anything low down or on the side facing the kerb, which is easy to miss. Ask for the photos on your phone before they leave.

Give it a quick wipe the evening before as well. Street dust hides fine scratches, and photos of a clean bike are far more use if you ever need them.

Scooty shifting from an Akshayanagar street

Scooters are the street-parked bike in a lot of homes here, since they're the one that does the school run and the shopping and gets left wherever there's a gap. They're light enough to lift out of a tight spot, which helps a lot when one car owner can't be found at seven in the morning.

If the scooter has had a cover tied over it with a rope for months, check the mirrors and the mirror stems underneath. Ropes and covers can loosen them, and it's better to tighten them with a spanner before the move than wonder afterwards whether the trip did it.

Once it's out, a scooty is protected like any two-wheeler, the handlebar and mirrors cushioned, wrapped in layers and strapped standing, and it's usually a bit cheaper to send than a motorcycle. Clear out the seat box first, street-parked scooters often keep a chain lock and a spare cover in there.

Bike and two wheeler transport out of Akshayanagar

Whatever direction it's going, a bike leaving Akshayanagar ends up on Bannerghatta Road, and that road's morning slowdown arrives on schedule every working day. That's the main reason for an early start. Local moves, over to Arekere, Hulimavu or Begur, are short once you're out, and done the same day.

Out of Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad see carriers all the time and Kerala is a steady route. A smaller destination is still possible, it just takes longer to find a vehicle going there, which we'll tell you when we quote. The delivery date is agreed with you before loading.

Let the fuel run low near the end, since the tank is drained before the bike goes on. The trip needs copies of your registration and ID card, with the originals kept at home. The price comes after a free survey and stays the same on the GST invoice. If the household is moving too, see the Akshayanagar packers page for the house itself.