Honda patents telescopic side stand

Honda’s blitz on motorcycle patent applications continues with the latest a telescopic side stand.

Instead of a solid, sprung stand you flick out to prop up the motorcycle, this stand is like a telescopic camera tripod.

We can understand the need to make side stands more secure from flicking back and allowing the bike to fall.

Harley-Davidson resolved this years ago with a locking side stand.

Telescopic stand

Honda’s telescopic sand plan is revolutionary, but we’re not sure it is any more secure than current solid, sprung stands.

It also seems complex to deploy as you have push it down and rotate it backwards.

To retract the stand the rider has to push the base forwards, releasing a peg from a slot so a spring retracts the tubes.

We have complained in the past about flimsy side stands and the lack of centre stands on modern motorcycles.

This hardly seems to address either issue.

Honda patents

This is one of a blitz of patent applications by Honda over the past couple of years.

Some are quite weird and impractical, but others may actually make it to market.

We suspect Honda is just trying to dominate intellectual property on motorcycle inventions, rather than planning to put them all into production.

The patents include:

• Goldwing Hossack-style forks on smaller models;
• Bikes that respond to your emotions by adjusting throttle and brakes and suspension;
• Active aero where winglets deploy above a certain speed; 
• Direct injection; 
• A bike with a variable riding position that converts from a sports bike with a crouched riding position to a street bike with an upright position; 
• A small-capacity bike with non-ventilated drum brakes;
• A helmet that integrates with the bike and monitors for of an impending rear-ender;
• A helmet that recognises your face when you put your helmet on and acts as a remote key fob to switch on your motorcycle;
• A rider air-conditioner;
• A “climate seat” that blows hot or cool air;
• A leaning trike; and
• A hydrogen-powered motorcycle.