Engine support structure in motorcycle

#This application is based on and claims Convention priority to Japanese patent application No. 2013-236770, filed Nov. 15, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference as a part of this application.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an engine support structure in a motorcycle of a type in which a crankcase for supporting a crankshaft and a cylinder head protruding upwardly from a front portion of the crankcase are supported on a main frame extending rearwardly from a head pipe with respect to the forward traveling direction thereof.

#In any event, the present invention will become more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever, which scope is to be determined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like parts throughout the several views, and:

#FIG. 1 is a side view showing a motorcycle equipped with an engine support structure designed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 a fragmentary side view showing, on an enlarged scale, an important portion of the motorcycle;

#A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, noting that the terms “left” and “right” used in the description in this specification are relative terms denoting respective position and/or directions relative to a motorcycle driver or motorcyclist maneuvering the motorcycle to travel forwards.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a left side view showing a motorcycle equipped with an engine support structure designed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein a motorcycle frame structure FR for the motorcycle includes a main frame 1, forming a front half of the motorcycle frame structure FR, and a rear frame 2 forming a rear half of the motorcycle frame structure FR. The main frame 1 has a front end provided with a head pipe 4, and a front fork 8 is rotatably supported by this head pipe 4 through a steering shaft (not shown). A steering handle 6 is fixed to an upper end portion of the front fork 8 and the front wheel 10 is fitted to a lower end portion of the front fork 8. In other words, the front wheel 10 is supported by the head pipe 4 through the front fork 8 and the steering shaft.

#A swingarm bracket 9 is provided at a rear end portion of the main frame 1 which is a lower intermediate portion of the motorcycle frame structure FR. A swingarm 12 is supported for movement in up and down (vertical) direction about a pivot pin 16 fitted to the swingarm bracket 9. A rear wheel 14 is rotatably supported by a rear end portion of the swingarm 12.