Abstract: An exhaust system of an outboard motor includes: an exhaust passage forward portion including exhaust passages for leading exhaust in the exhaust passage of an exhaust manifold; an exhaust passage reversed portion formed in parallel with the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage forward portion and including exhaust passages communicating with an exhaust passage in an engine holder; and an exhaust passage U-turn portion including an exhaust passage communicating with the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage forward portion and the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage reversed portion. A catalyst for purifying the exhaust is disposed at a junction between the exhaust passages.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes an engine having a substantially vertical cylinder assembly and disposed in a front half of a vehicle body frame, an inverted type rear cushion unit disposed behind the engine in substantially vertical posture, an air cleaner disposed behind the rear cushion unit and below a rider's seat, and an intake air passage connecting air an intake port formed in a rear portion of the cylinder assembly and the air cleaner each other. The intake air passage, i.e., connecting pipe, is arranged so as to be overlapped with an upper portion of the rear cushion unit in a side view of the motorcycle. A cross section shape of the connecting pipe is a vertically long shape in which its longitudinal size is greater than its lateral size.

Abstract: A straddle-type rough-road running vehicle includes a vehicle body frame supporting front and rear wheels, an engine unit mounted to the vehicle body frame and including an engine body and a power transmission case, a straddle type driver's seat, an intake control unit for controlling an air/fuel ratio, and an air-cleaner case for supplying a clean air to the intake control unit. The intake control unit and the air-cleaner case are connected to each other, and the air-cleaner case is disposed above the power transmission case. An engine mounting portion is formed in a frame shape opened such that the engine unit is surrounded from a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction. The engine body, the power transmission case, the intake control unit, and the air-cleaner case are disposed in an arrangement offset from the engine mounting portion in a side view.

Abstract: A straddle type vehicle is provided with a body frame of a vehicle, a bar handle provided in a front portion of the vehicle body frame, a steering shaft transmitting a turning operation of the bar handle to a pair of right and left front wheels, and an electric power steering apparatus mounted in an intermediate portion of the steering shaft for assisting a steering motion of the bar handle. The electric power steering apparatus includes, in a state of the vehicle capable of being traveled, an electric power steering main body including an electric motor, a gear unit, an input shaft and an output shaft, an upper steering shaft in which the bar handle is attached to an upper end portion and an upper end of the input shaft is connected to a lower end portion, and a support member supporting the upper steering shaft.

Abstract: An electronically controlled throttle valve unit includes a valve shaft supported by a throttle body, a throttle valve provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith, an actuator for controlling the valve shaft, and a mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism. The mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism comprises: a valve lever provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith; a cam lever supported rotatably with respect to the valve shaft so as to be directly operated through a throttle operation; and a link lever supported rotatably by the throttle body and transmitting a rotation of the cam lever in a direction of opening the throttle valve to the valve lever so as to rotate the valve lever and the valve shaft in a throttle valve opening direction with a predetermined rotation angle characteristics.

Abstract: A straddle type all terrain vehicle is provided with a chain guide for covering an outer peripheral edge of at least an engaged portion of a driven sprocket with a drive chain from outside in a radial direction inside a chain cover. A rear axle housing is formed with upper and lower flange portions extending upward and downward at opposite end portions in the vehicle width direction of the rear axle housing. The rear axle housing is coupled to a rear end portion of the rear swing arm for swinging forward and rearward about mounted portions of the upper flange portion. The chain cover is mounted on the swing arm side and the chain guide is mounted on the rear axle housing side, respectively.

Abstract: A straddle type vehicle with an electric power steering apparatus includes a vehicle body frame, a bar handle disposed in a front portion of the vehicle body frame, a steering shaft transmitting a turning operation of the bar handle to a pair of right and left front wheels, an electric power steering apparatus mounted in an intermediate portion of the steering shaft for assisting a steering motion of the bar handle, and an engine unit mounted in a center lower portion of the vehicle body frame in rear of the steering shaft. The electric power steering apparatus includes an electric motor arranged in front of the steering shaft.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a motorcycle having an engine mounted on a front half of a body frame of the motorcycle includes a plurality of first exhaust pipes extending from exhaust ports of the engine, a collecting section at which the first exhaust pipes are collected, a second exhaust pipe including a substantially straight portion connected to a downstream side of the collecting section and disposed under a crankcase of the engine, an expansion chamber connected to a downstream side of the second exhaust pipe and located under a rear wheel suspension arranged behind the engine, an exhaust outlet disposed on a most downstream portion of the expansion chamber, and an exhaust throttle valve and an exhaust gas sensor disposed on the straight portion of the second exhaust pipe.

Abstract: An electronically controlled throttle valve unit includes a valve shaft supported by a throttle body, a throttle valve provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith, an actuator for controlling the valve shaft, and a mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism. The mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism comprises: a valve lever provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith; a cam lever supported rotatably with respect to the valve shaft so as to be directly operated through a throttle operation; and a link lever supported rotatably by the throttle body and transmitting a rotation of the cam lever in a direction of opening the throttle valve to the valve lever so as to rotate the valve lever and the valve shaft in a throttle valve opening direction with a predetermined rotation angle characteristics.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a multi-cylinder engine which includes cylinders longitudinally oriented and vertically paralleled in a cylinder block, a cylinder head arranged at a rearward position of the cylinder blocks, and a crankcase arranged at a forward position of the cylinder block, the cylinder head having an outlet of an exhaust port at one side thereof. An exhaust system for the outboard motor includes an exhaust manifold which communicates the outlet of the exhaust port with an exhaust outlet opening, the exhaust manifold including a first exhaust gas passage extending in a vertical direction for gathering exhaust gas discharged from the outlet of each exhaust port and a second exhaust gas passage extending in a vertical direction adjacently to the first exhaust gas passage, and a catalyst unit is provided on the way of the second exhaust gas passage.

Abstract: A planing boat, particularly of a small size, is provided with an airbag system. The airbag system includes at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body. In a preferred embodiment, the airbag system includes a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat and a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider.

Abstract: An outboard motor is steerably mounted to a hull via a bracket and a steering arm is mounted to a steering bracket unit attached to the outboard motor. The steering arm includes a shift grip as a shift operating unit, a throttle grip as a throttle operating unit and a throttle adjusting knob as a throttle adjusting operating unit. These units are adjacently disposed in the described order in a forward direction of a hull.

Abstract: A snowmobile is provided with airbag systems including airbag bodies expanding from a portion near a steering handle bar respectively, one of the airbag bodies expanding rearward of a handle bar and outward of both the ends of the handle bar, and the other airbag body expanding toward a front side of rider's knees. Another airbag system includes an airbag body expanding from an upper surface of an engine hood on the front portion of a vehicle body frame and blowing up toward a windshield of the engine hood. The respective airbag systems are detachable from the vehicle body, and hence, can be stored indoors.

Abstract: A straddle type motorcycle includes a frame, an engine mounted on the frame and having a substantially vertical cylinder assembly and an intake air passage extended backward from a rear surface of the cylinder assembly, a fuel tank disposed above the cylinder assembly, and a fuel supply device. The fuel supply device includes a fuel pump disposed at a rear portion of the fuel tank, the fuel pump being overlapped with the cylinder assembly in a longitudinal direction of the motorcycle in a side view of the motorcycle, a fuel injector installed on the intake air passage, and a fuel hose connecting the fuel injector with the fuel pump.

Abstract: A sealing jig comes into contact with a cylinder inner peripheral surface as a surface to be processed of a cylinder block and seals the cylinder inner peripheral surface in introducing treatment liquid to the cylinder inner peripheral surface. The sealing jig includes: a sealing member made of an expandable material and having a ring-buoy shape; a lower plate for supporting a lower side of the sealing member; and a seal base disposed so as to face the lower plate and to support an upper side of the sealing member. The sealing member is regulated by the lower plate and the seal base and expanded only in a radial direction to come into contact with the cylinder inner peripheral surface when air is introduced inward.

Abstract: A plating method for pre-plating or plating a cylinder inner peripheral surface to be treated of a cylinder block by introducing treatment liquid to the cylinder inner peripheral surface by using a plating apparatus provided with a sealing jig having a sealing member and an electrode to which the seal jig is mounted includes the steps, which are performed successively: sealing the cylinder inner peripheral surface by bringing the sealing jig into contact with the cylinder inner peripheral surface; introducing the treatment liquid to the cylinder inner peripheral surface; and treating the cylinder inner peripheral surface by applying predetermined charge to the electrode of the plating apparatus and the cylinder block to thereby perform pre-plating or plating process in a state that a liquid to be treated fills a space including the cylinder inner peripheral surface. In the method, the treatment liquid introducing step is performed after confirmation of sealing by the sealing step.

Abstract: A planing boat, particularly of a small size, is provided with an airbag system. The airbag system includes at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body. In a preferred embodiment, the airbag system includes a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat and a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider.

Abstract: A fuel tank of a motorcycle is disposed in front of a rider's seat and above an engine mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel. The fuel tank is formed such that an entire transverse section has a recessed shape viewed form the lower side thereof. The rear half of the fuel tank has a tapered shape toward rearward as viewed from the side. A lower opening of the fuel tank is closed by a bottom plate having a flat portion declining rearward, and a communication hole is formed so as to allow communication between the inside and outside of the fuel tank and insertion of a fuel pump and a fuel gauge, the communication hole being liquid-tightly closed by a lid member. A fuel gauge is fixed to the bottom plate near the front of the communication hole via a bracket, and the fuel pump provided with a fuel strainer attached to the rear end thereof is arranged behind the fuel gauge so as to extend along the longitudinal axis thereof. The fuel pump is mounted and supported on a stay extending from the lid member.

Abstract: An engine includes an engine case split into an upper case and a lower case. A crankshaft and a transmission input shaft are rotatably supported at a mating surface between the upper and lower cases, and a transmission output shaft rotated by the transmission input shaft is supported in the lower case. One side face of the lower case has a circular opening through which the transmission output shaft can be inserted from the outside. An eccentric bearing holder holding a bearing that rotatably supports one end of the transmission output shaft is mounted in the opening in a detachable manner from the outside. The axis of the transmission output shaft deviates from the center of the eccentric bearing holder toward the transmission input shaft. The inner diameter of the opening is larger than the outer diameter of the largest one of transmission driven gears of the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: An engine for a motorcycle includes an engine case, a crankshaft rotatably supported within the engine case and extending laterally, an intermediate shaft being substantially parallel to the crankshaft and being rotated by the crankshaft at the same speed via a primary drive gear and a primary driven gear, a transmission input shaft being substantially parallel to the intermediate shaft and being rotated by the intermediate shaft at reduced speed via a secondary drive gear and a secondary driven gear, a transmission output shaft being substantially parallel to the transmission input shaft and being rotated by the transmission input shaft at changed speed via any combination of a plurality of transmission drive gears and transmission driven gears, and a clutch unit disposed on the intermediate shaft and capable of transmitting and interrupting rotation of the intermediate shaft to the transmission input shaft.