An Italian patent for the manufacture of an electric kickstand for motorbikes and scooters

An Italian patent could bring an unexpected (yet long-awaited) convenience to scooter and motorbike riders. At EICMA, the international motorbike and scooter exhibition opening in Milan on 3 November (and closing on 8 November), the first ‘smart’ electric stand designed for scooters and motorbikes will be unveiled. Named ‘Stop &up’, the system has been developed by Spa (Stampaggio plastica affini), a company based in the Ligurian hinterland (with factories in Rossiglione), specialising in the design, industrialisation and production of thermoplastic components. But that’s not all, as it also has a mechanical department where moulds are made and, indeed, mechanical components are manufactured.

Spa is run by Roberto Candelo, who represents the second generation at the helm of the company (founded in 1967) and is supported by the third generation – his daughters Carolina and Isabella. The company holds the global patent for an electro-hydraulic drive system that allows the vehicle to be lifted and positioned (Candelo assures us it is suitable for bicycles and motorbikes of all engine capacities) simply by pressing a button on the handlebars. In short, the device automates the positioning of the motorbike and makes it easier to handle whilst parked.

One of the system’s distinctive features, says the entrepreneur, “is its ability to adapt to different types of terrain, including uneven, bumpy or sloping surfaces. ‘Stop & up’ automatically raises and stabilises the motorbike in an upright position, compensating for any unevenness in the ground. Furthermore, the greater distance between the support points compared with traditional stands widens the base of support, contributing to the stability of the parked vehicle.”

What has just been described, Candelo continues, is precisely what makes the patent so unique: ‘The idea of creating an automatic kickstand is not new. Other companies had already tried it, with little success. This was because they had simply electrified a rigid stand. The product was immediately withdrawn from the market because the mechanism could not guarantee safety: it was unable to determine whether the vehicle was in a position that allowed it to be lifted by the stand. We have overcome these problems.”

In fact, ‘when the engine is running,’ explains Candelo, ‘the stand can only be extended or retracted whilst the brake is applied and the wheels are completely stationary. The system also incorporates a control that prevents it from being activated when the motorbike is at a lateral angle incompatible with the safety of the device. There is also a locking mechanism for prolonged stops and an alternative manual operating mode. And in the event of a failure of the electro-hydraulic system, the device can be disconnected from the automatic mechanism and used as a traditional stand, in accordance with the configuration specified in the design.”