Can a person sit on a bike with the side stand engaged? Is there any problem if done occasionally?

Autocar India

•17m

Yes, every once in a while, you can sit on a bike that’s on its side stand, but do it with care. The side stand is made to hold the bike’s weight at a lean and not to take extra load over and above that. If you sit often or put a lot of weight or sit in a way that puts a lot of weight on the stand, the stand itself or its mount can bend and crack over time, and the bike can tip over if enough force is applied to a crumbling side stand.

If you must sit, keep it short, do it on flat, hard ground, turn the handlebar fully to the left, and keep the bike in gear so it does not roll. Keep your feet steady on the ground. Avoid rocking the bike or having more than one person sit on it. Don’t do this on a slope, soft mud, wet tiles or hot tar that can let the stand sink into the surface. If the stand’s foot is small, place a flat stone or something large and flat under it to increase its surface area. For longer waits, use the centre stand if your bike has one. Or just find another place to sit, realistically you should be able to find a bench or some waiting area nearby, it’s much safer.

More questions on similar bikes

Shailesh G

•6d

I want to purchase a scooter and am confused between TVS and Suzuki. My priority is a comfortable ride in both city and highway conditions. I need a good suspension scooter to handle bumpy roads and a comfortable riding position. Mileage is not a concern, and neither are looks, pickup, or power. I usually ride at speeds between 40-50 km/h and am not looking for a sporty ride. Please suggest, as I am confused between the Jupiter, Access, Ntorq, and Avenis.

Autocar India

•47m

For the best ride comfort, we'd recommend you choose between the TVS Jupiter 110 /125 and Suzuki Access models. Both have very good seating and suspension comfort but the Jupiter's larger 12-in rear wheel helps it round off bigger bumps a little better than the Access. The Jupiter's rear monoshock also has a handy winged preload adjuster which makes tailoring the suspension easier depending on the load you're carrying. The Access' upside is, that its seating position is more spacious and will serve taller riders better and its suspension composure is on par with the TVS. Take a test ride of both scooters to see which one suits you better and then make your decision.

TVS Jupiter 125

Suzuki Access

Rahul Kashyap

•6d

I currently own a Triumph Speed 400 (since 2023). Since buying it, I have mostly used it in the city and have only taken it out for short highway rides 3-5 times. Recently, my city commute has increased after switching jobs, with a daily travel of around 32 km (16 km each way). I am now planning to switch to the Ultraviolette X47 (please suggest the most practical variant). I am confused about whether I should sell my Speed 400 and replace it with the UVX47 for easier riding without heat and gear shifts, or buy the X47 alongside the Speed 400. I live in Bengaluru, have limited parking space, and realistically, I have not gone on long-distance tours since buying the Speed 400. Many thanks for your advice.

Autocar India

•1h

Since you've mentioned that parking is a hassle and you rarely venture beyond the city's confines, the logical move would be to swap your Triumph Speed 400 with an Ultraviolette X-47 for your extended daily commute. Specifically, the Original Plus variant would be our recommendation because it has enough range for your use case and comes with an on-board charger which means you don't need to lug around the bulky charger with you wherever you go. While this is certainly the logical thing to do, you should still keep a couple of trade-offs in mind. You will lose the sensations, sound and character of a petrol engine and the ability to do a long, last-minute ride without planning charging stops. Also, Ultraviolette’s service and charging network is still smaller than established brands, though being in Bengaluru helps as the brand is headquartered here.

Triumph Speed 400

Ultraviolette Automotive X-47

Ashok

•5d

I want to purchase a bike for daily commuting of around 60 km, and my budget is ₹1.5 lakh. Kindly suggest which bike to purchase.

Autocar India

•1h

In your budget, we'd suggest considering either the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160 for your use case. Both bikes have refined, punchy engines, good seating and suspension comfort and will also return good fuel economy when you ride sensibly. One point to bear in mind is that if you're a taller person, the Apache's seat-to-footpeg distance can feel a little cramped, in which case opting for the more spacious Pulsar will be our recommendation. If the sporty look of these two doesn't appeal to you and you want a simpler, more affordable machine then the Honda Unicorn is a tried and trusted option that's very hard to go wrong with. We'd recommend taking a test ride of all three before you make your decision to understand each one's strengths and weaknesses.

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V

Bajaj Pulsar N160

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