How it works

Kickstand is a small community of people who ride motorcycles. If you have a spare motorcycle, you lend it to other members. For free. And if you have a garage, tools or a lift, you share them on the board.

Free loan under §§ 598 ff. BGB

The motorcycle is lent, not rented. No money changes hands. Legally, this is a loan under §§ 598 ff. BGB (German Civil Code). It follows that:

• The lender is only liable for intent and gross negligence (§ 599 BGB).
• The borrower is not liable for normal wear and tear from riding as agreed (§ 602 BGB).
• If no fixed end is agreed, the lender can ask for the motorcycle back at any time (§ 604 para. 3 BGB). The agreement sets a period of 3 days for this and a latest return date.

The borrower pays for fuel, fines, and parking and toll costs during the loan.

Liability limit

For damage to the motorcycle, the borrower is only liable up to a fixed amount per damage, for example €1,000. The lender sets the amount. It appears in the agreement in figures and in words.

If the damage is smaller, the borrower only pays the actual damage according to the invoice or repair estimate.

The limit does not apply, and the borrower is fully liable, in cases of intent or gross negligence, in particular for:

• Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Riding without a valid driving licence
• Passing the motorcycle on to others
• Racing or riding on race tracks
• Hit and run

Insurance

The motorcycle stays third-party insured through the lender. Third-party liability pays for damage caused to others. It does not cover damage to the borrowed motorcycle itself. That is what the liability limit is for.

Kickstand does not offer comprehensive cover and does not arrange insurance. Check beforehand whether your insurance allows other riders.

Handover with a record

The agreement is made on your phone, right at the handover:

1. Enter the details. The motorcycle’s details are already stored. The borrower’s details come from their profile or are typed in. They don’t need an account.
2. Record the condition. Odometer reading, fuel level and existing damage. Take photos straight with the phone camera, all the way round, including the speedometer.
3. Sign. Both sign with a finger on the screen.
4. Create the PDF. The finished agreement with the record and photo pages is saved as a PDF. Each party gets a copy.

At the return, the record is completed: date, odometer reading, fuel level, new damage and photos. After that, the PDF contains both columns, handover and return.

What Kickstand is not

Kickstand is not a landlord and not an insurer. We only provide the tool for the agreement and the record. The agreement is made between the two members. The agreement itself is drawn up in German, and the German version is the binding one. This page is not legal advice.