Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an oil-retaining cylinder block and crankcase (10), a cylinder head (11), a cylinder liner (12) defining the cylinder (13) in which a piston (14) reciprocates, and a crankshaft (15) on which the piston is mounted via a connecting rod (16). The flywheel (17) is mounted on the crankshaft (15) and extends upwardly alongside the base of the cylinder liner (12) whereby the maximum radius of the flywheel is greater than the minimum distance between the rotational axis of the crankshaft and the lowermost position occupied by the base of the piston at bottom dead centre position. Thus there is provided an offset flywheel of low mass but providing a substantial moment of inertia while the overall height of the engine is be reduced without loss of horsepower.

Abstract: Flutter and weave instability of a motorcycle front fork assembly is substantially reduced by achieving an overall lateral stiffness of the fork assembly mounts of at least 1000 lbs./in. This is done by providing an assembly including a pair of fork legs, each having a minimum flexural rigidity of 10.8.times.10.sup.6 lbs.-in.sup.2 ; a pair of rotational bearings attached to the base of each leg, each bearing carrying a suspension link having a minimum flexural rigidity of 3.8.times.10.sup.6 lbs.-in.sup.2 ; a wheel spindle having a minimum rigidity of 1.9.times.10.sup.6 lbs.-in.sup.2 ; and resilient suspension means. The fork legs are substantially parallel to each other and extend downwardly from a steering head. The rotational bearings have negligible radial clearance. The suspension links extend forwardly from the rotational bearings and are mounted to the associated leg of each. The wheel spindle is rigidly clamped and extends between the free ends of the suspension links.