Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles (Codified Version)
Date: 2003-03-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: approval, codification of EU law, marketing standard, technical standard, two-wheeled vehicle, vehicle parts

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 28.3.2003
COM(2003) 147 final

2003/0059 (COD)

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles

(Codified Version)

(presented by the Commission)

1.

2.

3.

4.

1

2

3

4

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In  the  context  of  a  people’s  Europe,  the  Commission  attaches  great  importance  to
simplifying  and  clarifying  Community  law  so  as  to  make  it  clearer  and  more
accessible to the ordinary citizen, thus giving him new opportunities and the chance
to make use of the specific rights it gives him.

This aim cannot be achieved so long as numerous provisions that have been amended
several times, often quite substantially, remain scattered, so that they must be sought
partly  in  the  original  instrument  and  partly  in  later  amending  ones.  Considerable
research work, comparing many different instruments, is thus needed to identify the
current rules.

For  this  reason  a  codification  of  rules  that  have  frequently  been  amended  is  also
essential if Community law is to be clear and transparent.

On  1  April  1987  the  Commission  therefore  decided1  to  instruct  its  staff  that  all
legislative acts should be codified after no more than ten amendments, stressing that
this  is  a minimum requirement and that  departments  should  endeavour  to  codify  at
even  shorter  intervals  the  texts  for  which  they  are  responsible,  to  ensure  that  the
Community rules were clear and readily understandable.

The  Conclusions  of 
the  Edinburgh  European  Council
(December 1992) confirmed this2, stressing the importance of codification as it offers
certainty as to the law applicable to a given matter at a given time.

the  Presidency  of 

Codification  must  be  undertaken  in  full  compliance  with  the  normal  Community
legislative procedure.

Given  that  no  changes  of  substance  may  be  made  to  the  instruments  affected  by
codification, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have agreed,
by  an  interinstitutional  agreement  dated  20  December  1994,  that  an  accelerated
procedure may be used for the fast-track adoption of codified instruments.

is 

this  proposal 

to  undertake  codification  of  Council
The  purpose  of 
Directive 93/31/EEC of 14 June 1993 on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles3. The
new  Directive  will  supersede  the  acts  incorporated  in  it4;  this  proposal  fully
preserves, the content of the acts being codified and hence does no more than bring
them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification
exercise itself.

COM(1987) 868 PV
See Annex 3 to Part A of the Conclusions.
Entered in the legislative programme for 2002.
Annex II, Part A of this proposal.

2

                                                
5.

The codification proposal was drawn up on the basis of a preliminary consolidation,
in  all  official  languages,  of  Directive  93/31/EEC  and  the  instrument  amending  it,
carried out by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, by
means  of  a  data-processing  system.  Where  the  Articles  have  been  given  new
numbers, the correlation  between the old and the new  numbers  is  shown  in  a  table
contained in Annex III to the codified Directive.

3

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC (adapted)

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of […]

on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular
Article (cid:2) 95 (cid:3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval
of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles1,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee2,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty3,

Whereas:

(1) 

Council  Directive  93/31/EEC  of  14  June  1993  on  stands  for  two-wheel  motor
vehicles4,  has  been  substantially  amended5.  In  the  interests  of  clarity  and  rationality
the said Directive should be codified.

(cid:1) 

1

2

3

4

5

OJ  L  225,  10.8.1992,  p.  72.  Directive  as  last  amended  by  Directive  2000/7/EC  of  the  European
Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 106, 3.5.2000, p. 1).
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ  L  188,  29.7.1993,  p.  19.  Directive  amended  by  Commission  Directive  2000/72/EC  (OJ  L  300,
29.11.2000, p. 18).
See Annex II, Part A.

4

                                                
(2) 

The  internal  market  comprises  an  area  without  internal  frontiers  in  which  the  free
movement  of  goods,  persons,  services  and  capital is  ensured.  The  measures  required
for that purpose need to be adopted.

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Recital 1

(3)  With  regard  to  their  stands,  in  each  Member  State  two-wheel  motor  vehicles  must
display  certain  technical  characteristics  laid  down  by  mandatory  provisions  which
differ  from  one  Member  State  to  another.  As  a  result  of  their  differences,  such
provisions constitute a barrier to trade within the Community.

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Recital 2

(4) 

These  obstacles  to  the  operation  of  the  internal  market  may  be  removed  if  the  same
requirements are adopted by all Member States in place of their national rules.

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Recital 3

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Recital 4 (adapted)

(5) 

It is  necessary  to  draw  up  harmonised  requirements  relating  to  stands  for  two-wheel
motor  vehicles  in  order  to  enable  the  type-approval  and  component  type-approval
procedures  laid  down  in  Directive  92/61/EEC  to  be  applied  for  each  type  of  such
vehicle. (cid:2) That Directive will be replaced by Directive 2002/24/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council6 with effect from 9 November 2003. (cid:3)

(6) 

Given  the  scale  and  impact  of  the  action  proposed  in  the  sector  in  question,  the
Community  measures  covered  by  this  Directive  are  necessary,  indeed  essential,  to
achieve the aim in view, which is to establish Community vehicle type-approval. That
aim cannot be adequately achieved by the Member States individually.

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Recital 5

(7) 

This  Directive  should  be  without  prejudice  to  the  obligations  of  the  Member  States
relating  to  the  time-limits  for  transposition  into  national  law  and  application  of  the
Directives set out in Annex II, Part B,

(cid:1) 

6

OJ L 124, 9.5.2002, p. 1

5

                                                
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC

Article 1

This  Directive (cid:2) shall  apply (cid:3)  to  stands  for  all  types  of  two-wheel  vehicle  as  defined  in
Article 1 of Directive [92/61/EEC.]

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC (adapted)

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC

Article 2

The procedure for the granting of component type-approval in respect of the stand for a type
of two-wheel motor vehicle and the conditions governing the free movement of such vehicles
shall be as laid down in [Chapters II and III of Directive 92/61/EEC].

Article 3

Any amendments necessary to adapt the requirements of Annex Ito technical progress shall be
adopted 
in  Article  13  of  Council
Directive 70/156/EEC7.

in  accordance  with 

the  procedure 

laid  down 

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC (adapted)

Article 4

Member  States  shall  communicate  to  the  Commission  the  texts  of  the  main  provisions  of
national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

(cid:1) 

Article 5

Directive 93/31/EEC, as amended by the Directive specified in Annex II, Part A, is repealed,
without  prejudice  to  the  obligations  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the  time-limits  for
transposition into national law and application of the Directives set out in Annex II, Part B.

7

OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

6

                                                
References  to  the  repealed  Directive  shall  be  construed  as  references  to  this  Directive  and
shall be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex III.

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in
the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 6

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Article 5

Article 7

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament
The President
[…]

For the Council
The President
[…]

7

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC Annex

ANNEX I

1.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Directive:

1.1.

1.2.

1.3.

1.4.

1.5.

1.6.

2.

2.1.

2.2.

2.3.

«stand» means a device that is firmly attached to the vehicle and is able to maintain
the vehicle in its vertical (or almost vertical) parking position when left unattended
by its driver;

«prop stand» means a stand which, when extended or swung into the open position,
supports the vehicle on one side only, while leaving both wheels in contact with the
supporting surface;

«centre stand» means a stand which, when swung into the open position supports the
vehicle  by  providing  one  or  several  areas  of  contact  between  the  vehicle  and  the
supporting surface either side of the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle;

«transverse  tilt  (tt)»  means  the  gradient,  expressed  as  a  percentage,  of  the  actual
supporting  surface,  the  intersection  of  the  median  longitudinal  plane  of  the  vehicle
and  the  supporting  surface  being  perpendicular  to  the  line  of  maximum  gradient
(figure 1);

«longitudinal  tilt  (lt)»  means  the  gradient,  expressed  as  a  percentage,  of  the  actual
supporting surface, the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle being parallel to the
line of maximum gradient (figure 2);

«median longitudinal plane of the vehicle» means the longitudinal plane of symmetry
of the rear wheel of the vehicle.

GENERAL

All two-wheel vehicles shall be fitted with at least one stand in order to keep them
steady  when  stationary  (e.g.  when  parked)  but  not  held  in  a  static  position  by  a
person  or  external  means.  Twin-wheel  vehicles  need  not  be  fitted  with  stands  but
must  meet  the  requirements  set  out  in  6.2.2  when  in  a  parking  position  (parking
brake applied).

The stand must be of either a prop or a centre type, or both.

Where  the  stand  swivels  about  the  lower  part  of  or  below  the  vehicle  the  outer
edge(s) of that stand must swing to the rear of the vehicle in order to attain the closed
or travelling position.

8

3.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

3.1.

Prop stands

3.1.1.

Prop stands must:

3.1.1.1. be able to support the vehicle in such a way as to provide its lateral stability whether
the vehicle is on a horizontal supporting surface or on a slope in order to prevent its
leaning further too easily (and in so doing does not rotate about the point of support
provided by the prop stand) or is moved too easily into a vertical position and beyond
(and in so doing does not swing over to the side opposite the prop stand);

3.1.1.2. be able to support the vehicle in such a way as to maintain stability when the vehicle

is parked on a slope in accordance with section 6.2.2;

3.1.1.3. be able to swing back automatically into the retracted or travelling position:

3.1.1.3.1. when the vehicle returns to its normal (vertical) driving position; or

3.1.1.3.2.  when  the  vehicle  moves  forward  as  a  result  of  deliberate  action  by  the  driver

following the first contact of the prop stand with the ground;

3.1.1.4. notwithstanding  the  requirements  set  out  in  section  3.1.1.3,  be  designed  and
constructed in such a way that they do not close automatically if the angle of lean is
altered unexpectedly (for example, if the vehicle is pushed lightly by a third party or
by a gust of wind arising from the passage of a vehicle):

3.1.1.4.1. once in the extended or parking position;

3.1.1.4.2. the vehicle being leaned in order to bring the outer extremity of the prop stand into

contact with the ground;

3.1.1.4.3. the vehicle being left unattended in its parking position.

3.1.2.

The requirements set out in section 3.1.1.3 do not apply if the vehicle is designed in
such a way that it cannot be propelled by its engine when the prop stand is extended.

3.2.

Centre stands

3.2.1. Centre stands must:

3.2.1.1. be  able  to  support  the  vehicle  with  either  one  or  both  wheels  in  contact  with  the
supporting surface or without any of the wheels being in contact with that surface in
such a way as to confer stability on that vehicle:

3.2.1.1.1. on a horizontal supporting surface;

3.2.1.1.2. in a leaning position;

3.2.1.1.3. on a slope in accordance with section 6.2.2;

3.2.1.2. be able to fold backwards automatically into its retracted or travelling position:

9

3.2.1.2.1. when the vehicle moves forward in such a way as to raise the centre stand from the

supporting surface.

3.2.2.

The requirements set out in section 3.2.1.2 do not apply if the vehicle is designed in
such  a  way  that  it  cannot  be  propelled  by  its  engine  when  the  centre  stand  is
extended.

4.

4.1.

4.2.

5.

5.1.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Moreover,  vehicles  may  be  fitted  with  a  tell-tale  that  is  clearly  visible  to  the  rider
when  seated  in  the  driving  position  and  which,  when  the  ignition  is  switched  on,
lights up and remains so until the stand is in its retracted or travelling position.

All  stands  shall  be  provided  with  a  retention  system  which  holds  them  in  the
retracted or travelling position. That system may consist of either:

– 

two  independent  devices  such  as  two  separate  springs  or  one  spring  and  one
retaining device such as a clip,

or

– 

a single device which must be able to operate without failing for at least

– 

10 000 normal-use cycles if the vehicle has been fitted with two stands,

or

– 

15 000 normal-use cycles if the vehicle is fitted with only one stand.

STABILITY TESTS

The following tests must be carried out in order to determine the capacity for holding
the vehicle in a stable condition as specified in sections 3 and 4:

5.2.

State of the vehicle

5.2.1.

The vehicle must be submitted at its kerb mass.

5.2.2.

5.2.3.

The tyres must be inflated to a pressure recommended by their manufacturer for that
state.

The transmission must be in neutral or, in the case of an automatic transmission, in
the «parking» position where such exists.

5.2.4.

If the vehicle is fitted with a parking brake, it must be applied.

5.2.5.

The steering shall be locked in position. If the steering is able to be locked when it is
turned to either the left or the right the tests must be carried out in both positions.

10

5.3.

Test pad

5.3.1. A flat, horizontal pad having a hard surface that is dry and free from grains of sand

may be used for the tests referred to in section 6.1.

5.4.

Test equipment

5.4.1. A parking platform must be used for the tests referred to in section 6.2.

5.4.2.

5.4.3.

The  parking  platform  must  have  a  rigid,  flat,  rectangular  surface  which  is  able  to
support the vehicle without perceptible flexing.

The  surface  of  the  parking  platform  must  possess  sufficient  anti-skid  properties  to
prevent the vehicle from sliding across the supporting surface during the tilt or lean
tests.

5.4.4.

The parking platform shall be designed in such a way as to be able to assume at least
the transverse tilt (tt) and the longitudinal tilt (lt) required by section 6.2.2.

6.

TEST PROCEDURES

6.1.

Stability on a horizontal supporting surface (test for section 3.1.1.4).

6.1.1. With the vehicle on the test pad the prop stand is extended or moved into the parking

position and the vehicle is brought to rest upon it.

6.1.2.

The vehicle is moved in order to increase by three degrees the angle formed by the
median longitudinal plane and the supporting surface (by moving the vehicle towards
the vertical).

6.1.3.

This movement must not cause the prop stand to return automatically to its retracted
or travelling position.

6.2.

6.2.1.

Stability  on  an  inclined  surface  (tests  associated  with  sections  3.1.1.1,  3.1.1.2,
3.2.1.1.2, 3.2.1.1.3).

The vehicle is placed on the parking platform with the prop stand and, separately, the
centre stand in the extended or parking position and the vehicle is allowed to rest on
the stand.

11

6.2.2.

The  parking  platform  is  shifted  to  its  minimum  transverse  tilt  (tt)  and  then,
separately,  to  its  minimum  longitudinal  tilt  (lt)  in  accordance  with  the  following
table:

(cid:1) 2000/72/EC Art. 1

Tilt

Prop stand

Centre stand

Moped

Motorcycle

Moped

Motorcycle

tt (left and right)

Downstream lt

Upstream lt

5 %

5 %

6 %

See figures 1a, 1b and 2 below.

6 %

6 %

8 %

6 %

6 %

12 %

8 %

8 %

14 %

(cid:1) 93/31/EEC

6.2.3. Where a vehicle  on a tilted parking platform rests  on  the  centre  stand  and  just  one
wheel  and  may  be  maintained  in  that  position  with  the  centre  stand  and  either  the
front  or  the  rear  wheel  in  contact  with  the  supporting  surface,  the  tests  described
above must be conducted solely with the vehicle resting on the centre stand and rear
wheel provided that the other requirements set out in this section are met.

6.2.4.

The  vehicle  must  remain  stable  when  the  parking  platform  is  tilted  by  each  of  the
required amounts and the above requirements have duly been met.

6.2.5. Alternatively the parking platform may be tilted by the required amounts before the

vehicle is moved into position.

12

Figure 1a
Traverse tilt

13

Figure 1b
Traverse tilt

14

Figure 2
Longitudinal tilt upstream

Longitudinal tilt downstream

15

Appendix 1

Information document in respect of stands for a type of two-wheel motor vehicle

(to be attached to the application for component type-approval where this is submitted
independently of the application for vehicle type-approval)

Order No (assigned by the applicant): ……………………………………………….

The  application  for  component  type-approval  in  respect  of  stands  for  a  type  of  two-wheel
motor vehicle must contain the information set out under the following points in Annex II to
Council Directive 92/61/EEC

– 

Part A, sections:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.1

0.2

0.4 to 0.6

2.1

2.1.1;

– 

Part B, sections:

– 

1.3.1

16

Appendix 2

_____________

17

(cid:4) 

ANNEX II

Part A

Repealed Directive with its successive amendment
(referred to in Article 5)

Council Directive 93/31/EEC

(OJ L 188 of 29.7.1993, p.19)

Commission Directive 2000/72/EC

(OJ L 300 of 29.11.2000, p. 18)

Part B

List of time-limits for transposition into national law and application
(referred to in Article 5)

Directive

Time-limit for
transposition

Date of application

93/31/EEC

14 December 1994

2000/72/EC

31 December 2001

14 June 19951

1 January 20022

_____________

1

2

In conformity with the third subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Directive 93/31/EEC:
"From the date mentioned in the first subparagraph Member States may not, for reasons connected with
the stands, prohibit the initial entry into service of vehicles which conform to this Directive".
In conformity with Article 2 of Directive 2000/72/EC:

"1. With effect from 1 January 2002, Member States may not, on grounds relating to stands:
refuse to grant EC type-approval for a type of two-wheel motor vehicle; or
prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of two-wheel motor vehicles;

– 
– 

2.

if  the  stands  of  those  vehicles  comply  with  the  requirements  of  Directive  93/31/EEC,  as
amended by this Directive.
With effect  from 1 July 2002, Member States shall refuse to  grant  EC  type-approval  for  any
new  type  of  two-wheel  motor  vehicle  on  grounds  relating  to  stands  if  the  requirements  of
Directive 93/31/EEC, as amended by this Directive, are not fulfilled."

18

                                                
ANNEX III

CORRELATION TABLE

Directive 93/31/EEC

This Directive

Articles 1 – 3

Article 4(1)

Article 4(2)

–

–

Article 5

Annex

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

–

–

Articles 1 – 3

–

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Article 7

Annex I

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Annex II

Annex III

_____________

19