![5 Causes your motorcycle could tip over](https://d29c80i09kxy2a.cloudfront.net/custom/blog-post/original/5-causes-your-motorcycle-could-tip-over-615fe859a04f0.jpg)
Did you just drop your bike? Do you know why you dropped it, or are you at a loss for words? Are you afraid of dropping your bike? If so, then this is also a list for you. Here are 5 possible causes why your motorcycle’s side could or have kissed the asphalt.
You may have a hard time handling the weight of an adventure bike, or you might have missed the extremely long travel of your cruiser’s side stand. Either that or your sportbike’s clutch is more than you can handle at the moment. Either way, here are some reasons that you can reflect upon.
Did you park it on soft ground?
![Royal Enfield Interceptor 650](https://d29c80i09kxy2a.cloudfront.net/custom/blog-post-photo/gallery/royal-enfield-interceptor-650-615fe949d3f10.jpg)
In case you’re out adventuring or you’re in a place that doesn’t have a solid surface to park on, then it’s likely that your side stand dug into the ground and tipped the bike over. It’s common for most motorcyclists to buy a side stand enlarger which adds a little peace of mind for people parking on the pavement and is almost absolutely necessary for bikes that see dirt trails often.
You didn’t deploy the side stand properly
This is probably something that you could have avoided. Perhaps your side stand spring isn’t allowing it to deploy and spring into position. Either that or you don’t have a spring on your stand in the first place. It could also be because your side stand is a little rusted and catching a little too much on the hinge.
Either way, whenever you deploy your stand, make sure that it is all the way out before stepping away from your motorcycle. There is nothing more embarrassing than putting down your side stand and thinking that your bike will stand up only to have it fall at the same time that you get off.
You forgot to put the side stand up
![Standing Motorcycle](https://d29c80i09kxy2a.cloudfront.net/custom/blog-post-photo/gallery/standing-motorcycle-615fe8fd2886b.jpg)
Conversely, if you forget to put up your side stand, set off, and turn a little bit to the left, then you’re in for a shock that could tip your bike over. Most modern motorcycles come with a side stand kill switch which will turn off the engine if the side stand is still down and the first gear is engaged, but other bikes and their respective owners like in the case of some cafe racers. Might be in for a bit of a fright.
You pulled the front brake while turning slowly
![Braking properly on a motorcycle](https://d29c80i09kxy2a.cloudfront.net/custom/blog-post-photo/gallery/braking-properly-on-a-motorcycle-615fe8e3310f3.jpg)
It should be common knowledge among experienced riders for the rear brake to be used while executing slow-speed maneuvers. Pulling the front brake could upset the bike’s balance especially when it is tipped over and turning. Scuffles like these are quite common, and beginners should learn to use the rear brake and balance the throttle.
You stalled
Sequential gearboxes in motorcycles are not so difficult to master, but there is a learning curve. Beginners may flub a few shifts or fail to feather the clutch well enough during a low-speed maneuver. You may also forget what gear you’re in and stall your engine trying to get it up to speed at the wrong speed and at the wrong gear.
You could also stall out because of your clutchwork. Most likely this is the root cause of a stall. Perhaps your clutch release was a little too abrupt for your motorcycle, or perhaps you weren’t giving it enough throttle. EIther way, your bike’s engine is stalled and on the ground. All you’ll need to do is pick it up, brush it off, and start again.
Related Articles
-
Motorcycle jackets 101: leather versus textile / Featured Article
Motorcycle riders are often faced with the decision of whether to get a leather or textile jacket. Read on to learn more about these jackets.
-
Make sure you do these 3 things before getting your first big bike / Tips & Advice
Here are three things you must do before pulling the trigger on a new big bike.
-
How does a slipper clutch in a motorcycle work? / Featured Article
Slipper clutches are awesome as they make for more forgiving downshifts and a lighter clutch lever. Let’s take a closer look at them and see how they work.
-
Do adventure bikes really need to have big engines? / Featured Article
Adventure bikes are commonly associated with big engines and a hefty stance. Does it really have to be this way?
-
Make sure to check or replace these 6 things on a used motorcycle / Tips & Advice
Here’s a list of 6 must-check maintenance items on a used motorcycle, especially if it’s a bit higher in terms of mileage.
Latest Features
-
Motorcycle jackets 101: leather versus textile / Featured Article
Motorcycle riders are often faced with the decision of whether to get a leather or textile jacket. Read on to learn more about these jackets.
-
Here’s why the new Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX is the perfect beginner-friendly adventure bike / Featured Article
Suzuki recently debuted the V-Strom 250 SX. Here are a few reasons why this bike is an excellent beginner-focused ADV.
-
5 things we love about the Kawasaki Z650RS / Featured Article
Kawasaki’s new Z650RS offers the versatility of a modern naked bike with dapper, retro looks. Here are a few things to love about it.