Brake system for a motorcycle, and motorcycle incorporating same

A motorcycle comprising

• a body frame;
• an engine body mounted on said body frame;
• said engine body having a cylinder head connected with an exhaust pipe;
• said exhaust pipe extending downwardly from said cylinder head;
• an operating amount detector for detecting an operating amount of a brake operating element;
• a fluid pressure-generating unit operable to generate a fluid pressure independent from an operation of said brake operating element;
• a pressure-regulating unit interposed between said fluid pressure-generating unit and a wheel brake for regulating an output fluid pressure of said fluid pressure-generating unit and applying the regulated fluid pressure to said wheel brake;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the operation of said pressure-regulating unit based on a value detected by said operating amount detector;
• wherein said fluid pressure-generating unit is disposed on said body frame between the engine body and said exhaust pipe.

In combination a motorcycle and a brake system for said motorcycle, comprising

• a head pipe;
• a body frame having a pair of left and right frame members extending rearwardly downwards from said head pipe;
• an engine body mounted on said body frame;
• said engine body having a cylinder head connected with an exhaust pipe;
• said exhaust pipe extending downwardly from said cylinder head;
• said exhaust pipe having an inclined portion extending forwardly downwards from a front surface of said cylinder head, and a curved portion curved from a lower portion of said inclined portion toward the lower side of said engine body so that a substantially triangular-shaped space, when viewed in a side view, is formed between said exhaust pipe and a front surface of said engine body;
• an operating amount detector for detecting an operating amount of a manually operable brake operating element;
• a fluid pressure-generating unit operable to generate a fluid pressure independent from an operation of said brake operating element;
• a support member for supporting said fluid pressure-generating unit, said support member being supported by said engine body and said pair of the left and right frame members through a plurality of elastic members;
• a pressure-regulating unit interposed between said fluid pressure-generating unit and a wheel brake for regulating an output fluid pressure of said fluid pressure-generating unit and applying the regulated fluid pressure to said wheel brake;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the operation of said pressure-regulating unit based on output detected by said operating amount detector;
• wherein said fluid pressure-generating unit is disposed in said substantially triangular-shaped space formed between said exhaust pipe and said front surface of said engine body.