Abstract: A method of enhancing corrosion resistance of a hollow vessel. The method includes providing a hollow vessel including a wall defining a cavity, providing a coating tank filled with a liquid coating having charged coating elements, submerging the hollow vessel into the liquid coating, allowing the liquid coating to pass into the cavity through at least one aperture of the wall, coating the exterior surface of the wall with a portion of the coating elements, coating the interior surface of the wall with an additional portion of the coating elements, removing the hollow vessel from the coating tank, draining the liquid coating from the cavity, heating the hollow vessel in an oven, and curing the portion of the coating elements on the exterior surface and curing the additional portion of the coating elements on the interior surface.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steering head, a steering assembly pivotably coupled to the steering head, at least one longitudinal frame member extending rearwardly from the steering head, and a rear frame member coupled to the longitudinal frame member. The rear frame member includes a mounting portion having a mounting surface, and first and second walls extending from the mounting surface at an oblique angle to the mounting surface. The motorcycle also includes a support coupled to the rear frame member. The support includes a coupling portion having a coupling surface, and first and second walls extending from the coupling surface at an oblique angle to the coupling surface. The first and second walls of the mounting portion are wedged against the first and second walls of the coupling portion, respectively, to substantially prevent rotation of the support with respect to the rear frame member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion. The fuel cap further includes a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.

Abstract: A luggage rack and passenger seat combination for a motorcycle includes a luggage rack assembly configured to mount to the motorcycle. The luggage rack assembly has a support member operable to support cargo on a support surface thereof, the luggage rack assembly including a first engaging feature and a second engaging feature. A passenger seat assembly includes a movable mounting member and a fixed mounting member. The movable mounting member is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The movable mounting member is engageable with the first engaging feature and the fixed mounting member is engageable with the second engaging feature to removably couple the passenger seat assembly to the luggage rack assembly to support a passenger of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame and an engine and transmission assembly coupled to the frame. The engine and transmission assembly includes at least one cylinder head assembly having a cooling port and defining a cooling passageway in fluid communication with the cooling port and passing through at least a portion of the cylinder head assembly. The motorcycle also includes a conduit coupled to the cooling port and a fan in fluid communication with the conduit and operable at an operating speed to draw air from the cooling passageway, and move air through the cooling port and through the conduit.

Abstract: A reverse drive assembly for a motorcycle that includes a transmission assembly having a main shaft and a counter shaft. The reverse drive assembly includes a first drive member configured to be coupled to an opposite end of the main shaft, a second drive member configured to be coupled to a second end of the counter shaft, and an engagement member operatively positioned between the second drive member and the counter shaft. The engagement member is movable between a first position out of engagement with the second drive member and the counter shaft, and a second position in engagement between the second drive member and the counter shaft to drive the counter shaft in a reverse direction. In some constructions, the engagement member is operatively positioned between the first drive member and the main shaft.

Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, two wheels mounted for rotation to the frame with at least one of the wheels operably coupled to the engine, a rack coupled to the frame, and a storage case. The storage case including a body and a latch. The body defining a cavity and an opening that provides access to the cavity, and the body including a base that has a recess shaped to receive a portion of the rack. The latch is movably coupled to the base and is movable between an open position that provides access to the recess, and a closed position that inhibits access to the recess. The storage case is movable between an attached position where the portion of the rack is positioned within the recess and the latch is in the closed position, and a detached position where the latch is in the open position and the portion of the rack is positioned outside of the recess.

Abstract: A footboard assembly configured to be coupled to a motorcycle supported in a vertically upright position. The footboard assembly includes a footboard and a footpeg arm. The footboard is configured to couple to the motorcycle and to support a foot of a rider. A top surface of the footboard defines a foot support plane. The footpeg arm includes an attachment portion pivotally coupled to the footboard about a pivot axis that is not parallel to the foot support plane. The footpeg arm includes a footpeg portion spaced from the attachment portion. The footpeg arm pivots about the pivot axis between a stowed position, in which the footpeg portion defines a first height and a deployed position, in which the footpeg portion defines a second height higher than the first height.

Abstract: An ignition and key switch assembly for a motorcycle includes a cover having a front surface, a rear surface, a first cover portion and a second cover portion, an ignition coil located in the first cover portion, the ignition coil being held in the first cover portion by a protective layer, and a key switch received within the second cover portion and being accessible at the cover front surface. A mounting bracket is provided for mounting the cover to the key switch and an aligning feature is provided for aligning the cover to the key switch.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising a rotatable wheel (e.g., three rotatable wheels), a forward drive mechanism including a forward drive motor (e.g., an internal combustion engine), and a reverse drive mechanism. The reverse drive mechanism includes a reverse drive motor (e.g., an electric motor) adapted to move the chassis in the rearward direction, and a reverse drive control programmed to inhibit operation of the reverse drive mechanism when the forward drive motor is off. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a battery for operating the reverse drive motor, and the reverse drive control is programmed to inhibit operation of the motor when a characteristic of the battery (e.g., an output voltage) falls below a threshold. The vehicle can further include a temperature sensor for the reverse drive motor. In this embodiment, the reverse drive control is programmed to inhibit operation of the reverse drive motor when the temperature of the motor exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A torque dampening compensator for a vehicle including an isolator member disposed between an input member and an output member. The isolator member includes isolator elements disposed between corresponding lugs of the respective input and output members. The lugs of the output member have a draft angle, and the isolator elements have contact faces corresponding to the respective lugs with unequal axial depths to induce a moment on each isolator element that counteracts a thrust load between the input and output members initiated by the draft angle. One isolator element of the isolator member is formed to have a size corresponding to the space provided between adjacent lugs of the input and output members and a shape that is dissimilar from the space. The one isolator element is resiliently deformable into the space.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a motorcycle engine including a header having an upstream end adjacent a combustion chamber of the engine and having a downstream end opposite the upstream end. The exhaust system includes a catalytic converter positioned downstream of the combustion chamber and configured to improve the emissions quality of exhaust gases discharged from the combustion chamber. The exhaust system further includes a perforated section at least partially defining an exhaust passageway, the perforated section disposed adjacent the downstream end of the header. A resonator chamber is in fluid communication with the perforated section. The resonator chamber is configured to allow expansion of the exhaust gases in the exhaust passageway through the perforated section.

Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame, a rear wheel rotatably coupled to the swing arm, a rear fender disposed above the rear wheel. The rear fender has a profile shape. The motorcycle includes a belt assembly having a debris deflector attached to the swing arm. The debris deflector forms a profile shape that mimics at least a portion of the profile shape of the rear fender.

Abstract: A rear fender assembly for a vehicle is provided. The rear fender assembly has an outer fender having an inner surface, an inner fender having an outer surface connected with the inner surface of the outer fender, and an upper bracket sandwiched between the inner surface of the outer fender and the outer surface of the inner fender. The upper bracket has an outer surface connected with the inner surface of the outer fender. The upper bracket forms an upper protrusion which extends from the outer surface of the upper bracket through a first opening defined by the outer fender.

Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle includes a main frame assembly having a steering head disposed on a front portion of the main frame assembly, a front fork assembly pivotably coupled to the steering head, a front wheel rotatably supported by the front fork assembly, a rear frame coupled to a rear portion of the main frame assembly, a rear axle assembly coupled to at least one of the main frame assembly and the rear frame, a pair of rear wheels rotatably supported by the rear axle assembly, an engine-transmission assembly supported by the main frame assembly and positioned between the front wheel and the pair of rear wheels, and a body including a first mounting portion directly mounted to the main frame assembly, and a second mounting portion directly mounted to the rear frame.

Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame and an engine and transmission assembly coupled to the frame. The engine and transmission assembly includes at least one cylinder head assembly having a cooling port and defining a cooling passageway in fluid communication with the cooling port and passing through at least a portion of the cylinder head assembly. The motorcycle also includes a conduit coupled to the cooling port and a fan in fluid communication with the conduit and operable at an operating speed to draw air from the cooling passageway, and move air through the cooling port and through the conduit.

Abstract: A footboard assembly configured to be coupled to a motorcycle supported in a vertically upright position. The footboard assembly includes a footboard and a footpeg arm. The footboard is configured to couple to the motorcycle and to support a foot of a rider. A top surface of the footboard defines a foot support plane. The footpeg arm includes an attachment portion pivotally coupled to the footboard about a pivot axis that is not parallel to the foot support plane. The footpeg arm includes a footpeg portion spaced from the attachment portion. The footpeg arm pivots about the pivot axis between a stowed position, in which the footpeg portion defines a first height and a deployed position, in which the footpeg portion defines a second height higher than the first height.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle including a frame, a rear wheel, a swingarm coupling the rear wheel to the frame, and a pivot shaft assembly rotatably coupling the swingarm to the frame. The pivot shaft assembly includes a first shaft having a non-circular outer surface engageable with a corresponding non-circular aperture in the frame. The pivot shaft assembly also includes a second shaft threaded to one end of the first shaft. The second shaft pivotably supports one side of the swingarm with respect to the frame. The pivot shaft assembly further includes a third shaft threaded to the other end of the first shaft. The third shaft pivotably supports the other side of the swingarm with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a first frame having a steering head and a first mount, an engine-transmission assembly coupled to the first frame, a steering assembly pivotably coupled to the steering head, a front wheel rotatably coupled to the steering assembly, a swing arm assembly pivotably coupled to the first frame, a rear wheel rotatably coupled to the swing arm assembly, a second frame having a second mount coupled to the first mount with a threaded fastener, and a suspension component having a first end coupled to the swing arm assembly and a second end coupled to the second frame. Forces exerted by the suspension component on the first frame are directed through the second frame and the second mount.

Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, two wheels mounted for rotation to the frame with at least one of the wheels operably coupled to the engine, a rack coupled to the frame, and a storage case. The storage case including a body and a latch. The body defining a cavity and an opening that provides access to the cavity, and the body including a base that has a recess shaped to receive a portion of the rack. The latch is movably coupled to the base and is movable between an open position that provides access to the recess, and a closed position that inhibits access to the recess. The storage case is movable between an attached position where the portion of the rack is positioned within the recess and the latch is in the closed position, and a detached position where the latch is in the open position and the portion of the rack is positioned outside of the recess.