Reverse drive assembly for a motorcycle

A motorcycle comprising:

• a transmission assembly including
• a transmission case,
• a main shaft rotatably coupled to the transmission case, the main shaft having an input end and an opposite end, the input end configured to be rotatably driven,
• a counter shaft rotatably coupled to the transmission case, the counter shaft having a first end adjacent the input end of the main shaft and a second end opposite the first end,
• a support plate supporting for rotation the opposite end of the main shaft and the second end of the counter shaft, and
• a plurality of gears coupled to at least one of the main shaft and the counter shaft and positioned to the inside of the support plate, the plurality of gears configured to selectively allow the main shaft to drive the counter shaft in a forward direction, the plurality of gears positioned substantially within the transmission case;
• and
• a reverse drive assembly including
• a first drive member positioned to the outside of the support plate and coupled to the opposite end of the main shaft,
• a second drive member positioned to the outside of the support plate and coupled to the second end of the counter shaft, the first drive member drivingly coupled to the second drive member for rotation therewith, and
• an engagement member operatively positioned between one of the first drive member and the main shaft and the second drive member and the counter shaft, the engagement member movable between a first position out of engagement with the one of the first drive member and the main shaft and the second drive member and the counter shaft, and a second position in engagement between the one of the first drive member and the main shaft and the second drive member and the counter shaft to drive the counter shaft in a reverse direction.

A method of converting a transmission assembly of a motorcycle to include a reverse drive assembly, the transmission assembly including a transmission case, a main shaft rotatably coupled to the transmission case, a counter shaft rotatably coupled to the transmission case, and a plurality of gears coupled to at least one of the main shaft and the counter shaft, the main shaft having an input end and an opposite end, the input end configured to be rotatably driven, the counter shaft having a first end adjacent to the input end of the main shaft and a second end opposite the first end, the opposite end of the main shaft and the second end of the counter shaft being supported for rotation by a support plate, the plurality of gears configured to selectively allow the main shaft to drive the counter shaft in a forward direction, the plurality of gears positioned substantially within the transmission case and to the inside of the support plate, the method comprising:

• providing a first drive member, a second drive member, and an engagement member;
• coupling the first drive member to the opposite end of the main shaft at a position to the outside of the support plate;
• coupling the second drive member to the second end of the counter shaft at a position to the outside of the support plate;
• and
• movably coupling the engagement member to one of the main shaft adjacent to the first drive member and the counter shaft adjacent to the second drive member to drive the counter shaft in a reverse direction.