Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof a connecting member is mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and being capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is made possible.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting member is mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and is capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is made possible.

Abstract: According to the present invention, with a motorcycle in which only the front frame banks and the main frame is prevented from banking, the connecting shaft, between the front frame and the main frame, is arranged and provided under a line connecting centers of the front and rear wheels so that a rotating center of the front frame for banking may be located in a lower position to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A front-wheel-drive motorcycle includes a main frame supporting a rear wheel with a rounded tread tire mounted thereon and also supporting a saddle seat, and a front frame supporting a front drive wheel with a flat tread tire mounted thereon. The main frame is coupled to the front frame by a joint shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and is angularly movable about the joint shaft.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting member is mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and is capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is possible.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly supporting a power unit, which is disposed between front and rear wheels, for driving the rear wheel. The frame assembly comprises a front frame supporting the front wheel and a rear frame supporting the rear drive wheel. The front frame is coupled to the rear frame and is swingable with respect to the rear frame laterally of the frame assembly. The rear wheel has a substantially flat tire for suppressing banking movement of the rear frame. The front wheel has a round tire for allowing banking movement of the front frame. The motorcycle also includes a rider's seat mounted on the front frame. A damping device is disposed between the front frame and the rear frame for damping banking movement of the front frame.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting means mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and being capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is made possible.

Abstract: A motorcycle exhibiting improved cornering clearance has its front and rear wheels mounted to a fixed frame portion via front and rear suspensions. A moveable frame portion including the motorcycle seat is moveably mounted to the fixed frame portion and moves under control of the rider further inside a corner during cornering in order to shift the effective center of gravity of the motorcycle further inside the corner and thus further increase the lean angle of the entire motorcycle. Movement is provided via a pivot, slidable shaft, or a pair of parallel linkages. The moveable frame portion may include only the motorcycle seat or may include the tank, seat, and entire motorcycle fairing.

Abstract: A motorcycle having a swingable front frame, a stable, non-swingable main frame, a front cowling supported by the main frame and covering a forward part of the motorcycle and an extension projecting laterally outwardly from each side of the front cowling. An air stream rectifier is provided in each laterally projecting extension of the front cowling.

Abstract: A rear suspension system in a motorcycle having a body frame and a rear wheel. The rear suspension system comprises a rear wheel supporting member swingably pivoted at its front end to the body frame and pivotably supporting at its rear end the rear wheel, a damper pivoted to the body frame, and a progressive link mechanism having first and second pivot points pivoted to the damper and the rear wheel supporting member, respectively. The progressive link mechanism progressively transmits the movement of the second pivot point to the first pivot point, and is disposed substantially above the rear wheel supporting member. Auxiliary devices such as a muffler and a stand can be effectively disposed below the rear wheel supporting member and at the same time a required bank angle is attained.