BMW is among the leading lights in crash-prevention technology, but the firm’s latest patent might be taking the idea in a sure-footed direction. It shows BMW has been working on a set of stabilisers for motorcycles.
The patent comes from the pen of Josef Seidl, one of BMW’s leading motorcycle engineers, and shows a pair of side-mounted legs that work as crash protectors, sidestands and centrestands, all wrapped into one. You can ignore the drawings of the generic bike the side supports are attached to – it’s not representative of a particular model. But the twin sidestand-style structures are quite a serious idea.
The thinking is that both the stands will be motorised either using electric servos or hydraulics, and it will be possible to move them independently into three different positions (see image down below). The patent shows one version with wheels on the ends of the supports, allowing the bike to be moved around while in its stable mode, as well as a version that looks more like a conventional stand.
Because they’re motorised and fitted on both sides, the supports will be able to hold the bike upright on uneven ground, and of course even the heaviest of tourers could be brought up onto its centrestand at the touch of a button.
With a new Honda Goldwing due soon, BMW might well be considering the sort of attention-grabbing technology it could fit to its next generation of large-capacity touring bikes. Don’t be surprised if an electronic stand system like this is among that tech.
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Three positions
1. Up
In the up position, the supports are braced against existing crash protectors so if the bike should topple, simply activating the electric stand will bring it back upright again.
2. Halfway
A second mode extends one side support halfway down, doing the same job as a conventional side stand. This way the rider can chose a left - or righthand stand.
3. Both
And in the third position, both sides are brought all the way to the ground, supporting the entire weight of the bike and replacing the centrestand altogether.