I have been using a Hero Passion Plus for the last 19 years, and it is still in excellent condition. I recently purchased a Hero Xpulse 210 and intend to keep it for as long as possible. Could you please share some maintenance tips to keep the bike in good condition?

Autocar India

•1d

Within your budget, depending on the type of bike you prefer, the Hero Xpulse 210, TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Bajaj Pulsar N250 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V are good options to consider. If you want a good all-rounder street naked, then the Apache and Pulsar are the way to go. Expect good fuel efficiency and and handling but the pillion comfort will only be good for short distances. If you'd like a neo-retro machine, the TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and base variants of the Bullet 350 (with a rear drum brake and single-channel ABS) are available within your budget. Pillion comfort will be best on the Ronin and Bullet, and all three will happily go touring as long as you stay below 100kph. These bikes will be fun to ride but in a different way than a sporty machine, if that's your cup of tea, then you should proceed with these. Last but not least, the Xpulse 210 is a wonderful do-it-all motorcycle on a tight budget; although if you are of short stature, its tall seat will be something to consider. Take a test ride of all these machines before you make up your mind. And before you do that, evaluate which sort of bike is best suited for you.

Autocar India

•1h

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.

Autocar India

•1h

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.