Rear suspension attaching structure of motorcycle

• US 6,722,461 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• 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: Gogo, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/102,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/227, 280/283-286, 188/321.11
• 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

An interval between an attachment portion of a rear shock absorber on a side of a swing arm and an attachment portion thereof on a side of a vehicle body can be reduced with the present invention. When the rear shock absorber is attached between the swing arm and the vehicle body side, a new space can be formed at an area surrounding an end portion of the rear shock absorber. One end of the swing arm is swingably attached to a pivotal shaft provided at a power unit. A rear wheel is attached to other end of the swing arm. A side face of a cylinder portion of the rear shock absorber is attached to the swing arm via an attachment member and a lower end of the rear shock absorber is attached to the power unit.

Claims

1. A rear suspension attachment structure for a motorcycle having a vehicle body, said vehicle body including a rear wheel and a power unit, said rear suspension attachment structure comprising:

a swing arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being swingably attached to a pivotal shaft provided on said vehicle body and said second end being attached to said rear wheel;

a rear shock absorber having a cylinder and a lower end, said cylinder including a side face, said lower end of the rear shock absorber being connected to the side of the vehicle body; and

an attachment member, said side face of said cylinder of said rear shock absorber being attached to the swing arm via said attachment member.

2. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a male screw being formed at the side face of the cylinder; and

a female screw being formed at the attachment member, said female screw being screw-coupled to the male screw.

3. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 2, said rear shock absorber further including

a cylinder portion having a cylinder,

a piston rod being attached to a piston movably contained in the cylinder portion,

a lower end attachment portion being provided at an end portion of the piston rod, and

a suspension spring being interposed between respective sides of the cylinder portion and the lower end attachment portion.

4. A rear suspension attachment structure for a vehicle comprising:

a swing arm, said swing arm having a generally trapezoidal shape with a middle portion, a first swing arm end and a second swing arm end;

a rear shock absorber having an upper end and a lower end;

at least one upper bracket for said swing arm, said upper end of said rear shock absorber being attached to the middle portion of the swing arm at said at least one upper bracket;

at least one lower bracket for said swing arm; and

a link mechanism being attached to said swing arm by said at least one lower bracket.

5. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 4, said rear shock absorber further including

a cylinder portion having a cylinder,

a piston rod being attached to a piston movably contained in the cylinder portion,

a lower end attachment portion being provided at an end portion of the piston rod, and

a suspension spring being interposed between respective sides of the cylinder portion and the lower end attachment portion.

6. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 5, further comprising a cylinder attachment member coupled to a side face of the cylinder portion.

7. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 6, wherein said cylinder attachment member is swingably attached to the at least one upper bracket of the swing arm.

8. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 5, further comprising a lower end attachment portion of said shock absorber being attached to the swing arm through the link mechanism.

9. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 7, further comprising upper attachment bolts forming a swing shaft of the cylinder attachment member.

10. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 9, further comprising a lower end attachment portion being attached to the swing arm through the link mechanism.

11. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 5, said link mechanism further including a first link and a second link, said first link having a triangular shape and swingably attached to the at least one lower bracket of the swing arm.

12. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 10, said link mechanism further including a first link and a second link, said first link having a triangular shape and swingably attached to the at least one lower bracket of the swing arm.

13. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 11, said second link including a first end swingably attached to the first link.

14. The rear suspension attachment member according to claim 6, said cylinder attachment member including a circular ring portion being provided at a center portion thereof and arm portions extending from the circular ring portion.

15. The rear suspension attachment member according to claim 14, said circular ring portion being coupled by screws to a side face of the cylinder portion, and said arm portions being attached to the at least one upper bracket of the swing arm by upper portion attachment bolts.

16. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 15, the cylinder attachment member being formed with a female screw portion and a large diameter hole having a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the female screw portion.

17. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 16, further comprising:

a male screw portion being screw-coupled to the female screw portion; and

a collar and a needle roller bearing rotatably attached to the upper attachment bolt by the at least one upper bracket, wherein an end portion of the collar is inserted into the large diameter hole.

18. The rear suspension attachment structure according to claim 17, the needle roller bearing including an outer ring and a plurality of needle rollers being provided on an inner side of the outer ring.

19. The rear suspension attachment member according to claim 5, said rear shock absorber including a plurality of spanner lands, a hexagonal hole, and a lock nut.