Rear suspension structure for motorcycle

• US 6,691,814 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Toyoda, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/158,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/227, 280/284-286, 280/288, 280/275
• US Class Current: 180/227
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/283 for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism

Abstract

A left arm portion and a right arm portion which extend in the front-rear direction are provided on the left and right sides of a swing arm with a window portion for passing a rear shock absorber unit therethrough provided between the left arm portion and the right arm portion. A shock absorber-fitting beam is provided like a bridge between the left arm portion and the right arm portion with a swing arm side fitting portion of the rear shock absorber unit fitted to the shock absorber-fitting beam. A whole part or a part of the window portion is closed with the shock absorber-fitting beam. The swing arm can be reinforced with the shock absorber-fitting beam with the flexural rigidity and torsional rigidity of the swing arm being enhanced. Moreover, since the upper end of the shock absorber unit is fitted to the swing arm side, it is unnecessary to provide, for example, a fitting portion for the upper end of the shock absorber unit on the vehicle body frame side, so that an increase in weight can be restrained.

Claims

1. A rear suspension structure for motorcycle comprising:

a swing arm having a first end swingably fitted to a pivot shaft provided on a vehicle body side;

a wheel fitted to a second end of said swing arm;

a shock absorber unit having an upper end fitted to said swing arm with a lower end of said shock absorber unit connected to the vehicle body side;

arm portions extending in the front-rear direction are provided on a left side and a right side, respectively, of said swing arm;

a window portion for passing said shock absorber unit therethrough is provided between said arm portions; and

a cross beam is provided between said arm portions, said upper end of said shock absorber unit is fitted to said cross beam, and a whole section of said window portion adjacent to the upper end of said shock absorber is closed with said cross beam.

2. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said cross beam is trapezoidal in shape in a front view, and said upper end of said shock absorber unit is fitted to an upper side of said cross beam.

3. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein a fitting of said upper end of said shock absorber unit to said swing arm and a fitting of said lower end of a rear shock absorber unit to the vehicle body side are, respectively, spherical sliding bearings.

4. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 2, wherein a fitting of said upper end of said shock absorber unit to said swing arm and a fitting of said lower end of a rear shock absorber unit to the vehicle body side are, respectively, spherical sliding bearings.

5. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said cross beam is disposed a predetermined distance relative to the first end of said swing arm for enabling said shock absorber to compensate for movement of said wheel.

6. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said cross beam is a reinforcing member for enhancing the flexure rigidity and torsional rigidity of the swing arm.

7. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said cross beam includes a first base portion secured to said left side of said swing arm and a second base portion secured to said right side of said swing arm, a first inclined portion extending upwardly from the first base portion, a second inclined portion extending upwardly from the second base portion and a fitting portion connecting upper portions of said first and second inclined portions, said upper end of said shock absorber being mounted on said fitting portion.

8. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 1, and further including a tubular case mounted on said cross beam, an outer ring being operatively mounted within said tubular case and an inner ring being positioned for angular movement within said outer ring, said inner ring being secured to said upper end of said shock absorber for permitting limited movement of said shock absorber relative to said cross beam.

9. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 8, wherein said outer ring includes a concave surface and said inner ring includes a spherical surface for permitting relative angular movement therebetween.

10. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 8, and further including a fixing bolt for securing said inner ring relative to said upper end of said shock absorber.

11. A rear suspension structure for motorcycle comprising:

a swing arm having a first end swingably fitted to a pivot shaft provided on a vehicle body side;

a wheel fitted to a second end of said swing arm;

a shock absorber unit having an upper end fitted to said swing arm with a lower end of said shock absorber unit connected to the vehicle body side;

arm portions extending in the front-rear direction are provided on a left side, and a right side, respectively, of said swing arm;

a window portion for passing said shock absorber unit therethrough is provided between said arm portions; and

a cross beam is provided between said arm portions, said upper end of said shock absorber unit is fitted to said cross beam, and a part of said window portion adjacent to the upper end of said shock absorber is closed with said cross beam.

12. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said cross beam is trapezoidal in shape in a front view, and said upper end of said shock absorber unit is fitted to an upper side of said cross beam.

13. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein a fitting of said upper end of said shock absorber unit to said swing arm and a fitting of said lower end of a rear shock absorber unit to the vehicle body side are, respectively, spherical sliding bearings.

14. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein a fitting of said upper end of said shock absorber unit to said swing arm and a fitting of said lower end of a rear shock absorber unit to the vehicle body side are, respectively, spherical sliding bearings.

15. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said cross beam is disposed a predetermined distance relative to the first end of said swing arm for enabling said shock absorber to compensate for movement of said wheel.

16. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said cross beam is a reinforcing member for enhancing the flexure rigidity and torsional rigidity of the swing arm.

17. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said cross beam includes a first base portion secured to said left side of said swing arm and a second base portion secured to said right side of said swing arm, a first inclined portion extending upwardly from the first base portion, a second inclined portion extending upwardly from the second base portion and a fitting portion connecting upper portions of said first and second inclined portions, said upper end of said shock absorber being mounted on said fitting portion.

18. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 11, and further including a tubular case mounted on said cross beam, an outer ring being operatively mounted within said tubular case and an inner ring being positioned for angular movement within said outer ring, said inner ring being secured to said upper end of said shock absorber for permitting limited movement of said shock absorber relative to said cross beam.

19. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 18, wherein said outer ring includes a concave surface and said inner ring includes a spherical surface for permitting relative angular movement therebetween.

20. The rear suspension structure for motorcycle according to claim 18, and further including a fixing bolt for securing said inner ring relative to said upper end of said shock absorber.