Motorcycle body cover construction

A body cover construction for a motorcycle includes a body cover having a front mudguard which covers an outer circumference of a front wheel, a front cover covering a front portion of a vehicle body from a front to sides of a headstock, floorboards extending from a lower rear portion of the front cover to below a seat so that rider's feet rest thereon, and underside covers covering sides of the vehicle body lying below and forwards of the floorboards. When the vehicle body is seen from a side, a lower edge portion of a front side surface of the front cover extends in a longitudinal direction and is at a similar level as a lower edge portion of a mudguard side surface of the mudguard. A front upper end portion of the underside cover extends upwards to a position which is a predetermined distance from the lower edge portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a motorcycle body cover construction.

BACKGROUND ART

In a vehicle such as a conventional motorcycle, as a body cover construction which forms a body shape, there is known, for example, a construction which has a front cover at the front of the vehicle, an inner cover which covers a rear portion of the front cover, a front leg shield at a lower portion of the front cover, and a leg shield lower cover at the rear of the front leg shield and has further a center cover which extends from the inner cover to the rear to cover the center of a body frame, side covers which extend from the center cover to the rear further to cover a rear portion of the body frame, and the like (for example, Patent Document 1).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem that the Invention is to Solve

In conventional body cover constructions, the shape of a body cover including, for example, the shapes of contours, ridges, swellings, and openings is made use of to make the features or originality of a vehicle body conspicuous. Namely, the originality of a vehicle body is provided only by the features of a body cover thereof. Consequently, in order to provide a vehicle body which looks more original, it is desired to make use of peripheral constructions of a body cover to make the vehicle body look more original. Additionally, seeking too much only for well-designed vehicle body shapes results in a structural problem that the riding performance and riding comfort of a vehicle are affected by air flows produced by the vehicle body shape or a body cover so designed when the vehicle is ridden. Thus, one of functions of the body cover is to provide a good riding performance and riding comfort.

The invention has been made in view of these situations, and an object thereof is to provide a body cover construction for a motor cycle which can enhance the originality of a vehicle body shape and function well to produce preferable air flows.

Means for Solving the Problem

With a view to achieving the object, according to an invention of claim1, there is provided

a body cover construction for a motorcycle including a body cover having:

a front mudguard which is provided so as to cover an outer circumference of a front wheel from thereabove;

a front cover which covers a front portion of a vehicle body from a front to sides of a headstock;

step floorboards which are disposed to extend from a lower and rear portion of the front cover to below a mounting seat so that feet of a rider rest thereon; and

under side covers which cover sides of the vehicle body which lie below and forwards of the step floorboards,

wherein, when the vehicle body is seen from a side thereof, a lower edge portion of a front side surface of the front cover extends in a front-to-rear direction and is formed substantially at the same level as a lower edge portion of a mudguard side surface of the front mudguard,

wherein a front upper end portion of the under side cover extends upwards to a position which is spaced a predetermined distance away from the lower edge portion of the front side surface,

wherein a projecting portion is formed on the front lower cover so as to be exposed between the lower edge portion of the front side surface and the front upper end portion and so as to face an external surface of the body cover, and

wherein the projecting portion curves convexly towards the front of the vehicle body.

According to an invention of claim2, in addition to the configuration set forth in claim1, there is provided the body cover construction,

wherein the step floorboard constitutes a lower side cover which rises upwards from a foot rest portion which extends in the front-to-rear direction, and

wherein a front end edge portion of the lower side cover and a rear end edge portion of the projecting portion are formed continuously.

According to an invention of claim3, in addition to the configuration set forth in claim1or2, there is provided the body cover construction,

wherein an external surface of the projecting portion constitutes a step in a widthwise direction and is formed so as to be depressed in the widthwise direction in relation to at least either of the front cover and the under side cover.

According to an invention of claim4, in addition to the configuration set forth in claim2or3, there is provided the body cover construction,

wherein the projecting portion and the lower side cover are formed from a different material or in a different color in relation to the front cover or the under side cover.

According to an invention of claim5, in addition to the configuration set forth in any one of claims1to4, there is provided the body cover construction,

wherein the projecting portion is locked on at least one of the body covers lying adjacent thereto via a locking portion.

Advantage of the Invention

According to the invention of claim1, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, a line formed by the lower edge portion of the front side surface and a line formed by the lower edge portion of the mudguard side surface of the front mudguard are formed so as to constitute substantially the single continuous line. Consequently, by including the front mudguard as part of an area which forms an external line which appears on the side surface of the body cover, it is possible to form a long continuous body shaping line which extends from the frontmost end portion of the vehicle body to the vicinity of the rear wheel in the front-to-rear direction. As a result of this, it is possible to represent the highlighting line which continues from the side surface of the body cover at the rear of the vehicle body to the frontmost end of the vehicle body, and therefore, it is possible to form the highlighting line which is long in the front-to-rear diction and which has never been realized heretofore, thereby imparting the originality to the shape of the vehicle body.

The front upper end portion of the under side cover extends upwards to the position which is spaced the predetermined distance away from the lower edge portion of the front side surface, whereby the lines formed by the lower edge portion of the mudguard side surface and the lower edge portion of the front side surface can be highlighted from the lower side of the vehicle body.

The projecting portion, which is exposed between the lower edge portion of the front side surface and the front upper end portion and which faces the external surface of the body cover, is formed on the front cover. Therefore, the member which is not visible in the conventional body cover construction is exposed. As a result of this, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the originality of the body shaping line in the lower portion of the front cover can be highlighted further by the appearance of the exposed portion which has never been produced in the conventional body construction.

The projecting portion is formed so as to curve convexly towards the front of the vehicle body, and this can enhance the rigidity of the front lower cover which bears air flows on the substantially whole area thereof.

According to the invention of claim2, the step floorboard constitutes the lower side cover which rises upwards from the foot rest portion towards the top of the vehicle body, it is possible to provide a longitudinal accent which highlights the vehicle body shape substantially in the center of the side surface of the vehicle body. The front end edge portion of the lower side cover and the rear end edge portion of the projecting portion are formed continuously, and therefore, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the projecting portion and the lower side cover continue to form the single line which contacts the lower edge portion of the front side surface. As a result of this, the long line in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body which includes the lower edge portion of the front side surface can be identified easily, thereby enhancing the originality of the vehicle body shape.

The front end edge portion of the lower side cover and the rear end edge portion of the projecting portion continue to form a substantially single plane, and therefore, air flows guided from the projecting portion are allowed to flow to the rear of the vehicle body by way of the lower side cover. Consequently, air flows are allowed to pass to the leg portions of the rider appropriately, thereby enhancing the riding comfort of the rider.

According to the invention of claim3, there is provided the step or difference in level between the projecting portion and the lower edge portion of the front side surface, and therefore, the line along the lower edge portion of the front side surface can be highlighted further, thereby enhancing the originality of the vehicle body shape further.

The projecting portion has the step in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body and is formed so as to be depressed in the widthwise direction in relation to at least either of the front cover and the under side cover. Therefore, air flows are allowed to be guided towards the rear of the vehicle body by making use of the step portion. As a result of this, air flows are allowed to pass to the leg portions of the rider appropriately, thereby enhancing the riding comfort of the rider.

According to the invention of claim4, the projecting portion and the lower side cover are formed from the different material or in the different color in relation to the front cover or the under side cover. Therefore, the line along the lower edge portion of the front side surface can be distinct. Consequently, this can make the front cover or the under side cover prominent in external appearance. Consequently, the originality of the vehicle can be highlighted not only by the lines but also by color and tonality, whereby the originality of the vehicle can be enhanced further.

According to the invention of claim5, the projecting portion is locked on at least one of the body covers lying adjacent thereto via the locking portion, and therefore, not only can the projecting portion be held rigidly and strongly, but also the body cover which lies adjacent thereto such as the under side cover or the lower side cover can be supported rigidly and strongly. The front lower cover which bears air flows coming from the front thereof can be held rigidly and strongly by the projecting portion.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 9, an embodiment of a body cover construction of a motorcycle according to the invention will be described. The drawings should be seen in a direction in which reference numerals given therein look normal. Fr, Rr, U, D, R, L shown in the drawings denote a front direction, a rear direction, an upper or upward direction, a lower or downward direction, a rightward direction, and a leftward direction of a vehicle of the embodiment, respectively.

A motorcycle1of this embodiment includes a body frame10. This body frame10includes, as shown inFIG. 1, a headstock15which is provided at a body front portion10a, a main frame51which extends rearwards and downwards from the headstock15, a front frame52which extends substantially rearwards from a middle portion of the main frame51, a lower frame53which extends rearwards from a lower end of the main frame51, and a rear frame54which extends upwards from a rear end of the lower frame53and then extends rearwards and upwards.

The motorcycle1includes a front fork17which is attached rotatably to the headstock15, a steering handlebar11which is attached to an upper end portion of the front fork17, a front wheel18which is mounted rotatably at a lower end portion of the front fork17, a power unit55which is mounted so as to swing up and down via links which are supported on a pivot56at a rear end portion of the lower frame53, a rear wheel19which is mounted at a rear end portion of the power unit55, rear cushions61which are mounted between a rear end of the power unit55and the rear frame54, and a mounting seat12which is supported on the rear frame54.

A main stand65aand a side stand65bare provided on the lower frame53. An exhaust pipe66extends downwards from a cylinder portion55aof the power unit55towards a bottom of a vehicle body, passes below the power unit55and connects to a muffler67at a rear of the vehicle body. The body frame10and the individual constituent members are covered externally by a body cover20as required.

As shown inFIG. 1, the body cover20has a front cover21which covers continuously a front side and lateral sides of the headstock15and an inner cover22which covers a rear portion of the front cover21. The body front portion10ais covered by the front cover21and the inner cover22. The body cover20has a center cover26which extends rearwards from the inner cover22to cover a center (both sides of the front frame52) of the body frame10and side covers27which extend further rearwards from the center cover26to cover both sides (both sides of the rear frame54) of a rear portion of the body frame10.

The body cover20has further lower side covers28which cover both sides of lower portions of the center cover26and the side covers27and include individually left and right step floor boards23on which feet of a rider rest, left and right under side covers24which extend downwards from outer edges of the step floorboards23, an undercover25which covers a space defined between lower edge portions24eof the left and right under side covers24, and a front lower cover30at a lower side of the front cover21.

The undercover25is disposed so as to cover a body lower surface which lies further forwards than the power unit55in a position lying further rearwards towards the rear of the vehicle body than the front lower cover30. In the motorcycle1of this embodiment, a space surrounded by the inner cover22, the center cover26and the mounting seat12is formed as a straddle space RS which facilitates the mounting or dismounting of the rider on or from the motorcycle1. A front mudguard63is provided at a frontmost portion of the vehicle body so as to cover an outer circumference of the front wheel18from thereabove.

In the body cover20of this embodiment, when the vehicle body is seen from a side thereof, a lower side cover28is provided in an area defined between the front wheel18and the rear wheel19and in a substantially vertical center of the vehicle body. An upper end edge portion28pof this lower side cover28forms a substantially horizontal line in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body. This upper end edge portion28pis formed so as to overlap a lower edge portion21uof a front side surface of the front cover21at a front side thereof. On the other hand, the upper end edge portion28pis formed so as to overlap a lower edge portion27uof a side surface of the side cover27at a rear side of the upper end edge portion28p. In this way, a single line formed in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body by the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface and the lower edge portion27uof the side surface and the upper end edge portion28pwhich overlap each other highlights an external shape of the vehicle body.

As described above, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface of the front cover21not only extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body but also is formed substantially at the same lever as a lower edge portion63uof a mudguard side surface of the front mudguard63as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. As a result of this, the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface of the front cover21and the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface of the front mudguard63form a substantially continuous line and further extends to the rear of the vehicle body as a line which continues to the upper end edge portion28pof the lower side cover28. Namely, the line X-X and the line Y-Y are formed substantially continuously.

InFIG. 2which is an enlarged view, the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface and the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface are slightly offset from each other. However, when the vehicle body is wholly seen from the side thereof, as shown inFIG. 1, the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface which starts from a frontmost end portion of the vehicle and the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface are formed into a shape which can be identified as a continuous line. The line X-X which is formed by the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface moves across the line Y-Y which is formed by the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface as the front fork17extends or contracts, and therefore, the line X-X and the line Y-Y are shaped so as to be closer to each other when the rider sits on the mounting seat12. A front upper end portion24pof the under side cover24extends upwards to a position which is spaced a predetermined distance L1away from the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface. Then, the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface is situated between the front upper end portion24pand the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface which are positioned vertically.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 9, the front lower cover30will be described in detail.

The front lower cover30is, as shown inFIG. 3, disposed to extend from sides to a rear of an upper portion of the front wheel18below the front cover21. The front lower cover30includes an opposite surface30a(refer toFIG. 4) which is formed by a curved surface which curves towards the direction of the vehicle body so as to permit the front wheel18to turn. In the front lower cover30, front edge portions30f(refer toFIG. 4) of both side surfaces are connected to front edges24fof the under side covers24, and a rear end edge37eis connected to a front end edge25fof the undercover25.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the front lower cover30includes a swelling portion34where the opposite surface30awhich faces opposite to the front wheel18is caused to swell to the front of the vehicle body. The front lower cover30has rear walls35,35at both left- and right-hand sides of the swelling portion34, and these rear walls35,35swell into curved surfaces which swell further rearwards towards the rear of the vehicle body than the swelling portion34. Front upper portions31,31are provided which continuously extend from the corresponding rear walls35,35to the front of the vehicle body. These front upper portions31,31are formed as wall surfaces in which their distal inner surfaces (the opposite surface30a) are slightly twisted downwards towards the bottom of the vehicle body.

The swelling portion34swells towards the front of the vehicle body so as to follow the main frame51which extends downwards towards the bottom of the vehicle body from the headstock15. This swelling portion34has an inclined surface construction in which an upper end portion projects most towards the front of the vehicle while the swelling recedes towards the rear of the vehicle body as the swelling portion34extends downwards so as to match the inclination of the main frame51.

The front lower cover30includes a curved portion36which swells forwards and downwards of the vehicle at a lower portion side thereof. A bottom portion37is formed so as to extend substantially horizontally from this curved portion36towards the rear of the vehicle body. When viewed from a bottom thereof, the curved portion36is formed in to a curved shape which curves towards the rear of the vehicle body in such a way that a laterally central portion is located in a rearmost position.

When seen from the front, the front lower cover30is formed, as shown inFIG. 3, so that left and right front edge portions30f,30fnarrow a space therebetween as they extend downwards. When seen from the side, the front lower cover30is formed into a curved shape in which the front edge portion30fswells towards the rear of the vehicle. The front lower cover30has at a lower end thereof a bottom portion37which extends horizontally, and hence, the front lower cover30has a substantially triangular shape (refer toFIG. 1). A recess portion38is formed in the front lower cover30which is depressed from the opposite surface30aincluding the curved portion36to the bottom portion37so as to be depressed more towards the rear of the vehicle body at a transversely central portion than at transversely outer portions thereof.

The front lower cover30which is formed in the way described above can guide air flows fw which are received from the front in the periphery of the front wheel18to the lower portion of the vehicle body in an effective fashion.

In this embodiment, the front lower cover30is fixed appropriately by tightening fixing members80,80a,80binto plural holes30h,41h.

Projecting portions40are formed individually on the left and right front edge portions30fof the front lower cover30. The projecting portion40projects between the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface of the front cover21and a front upper end portion24pof the under side cover24so as to be exposed to the external surface of the body cover20. The projecting portion40has a projecting main body portion40awhich curves convexly towards the front of the vehicle body, as shown inFIG. 4. The projecting main body portion40aprojects so as to gradually swell from the front edge portion30ftowards the rear of the vehicle body. Namely, as shown inFIG. 8, in a horizontal cross-sectional shape, the projecting main body portion40ais shaped so as to project towards the front of the vehicle body.

In this embodiment, the step floorboard23has a foot rest portion23bwhich projects substantially horizontally towards an outer side of the vehicle body and which extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body and rises upwards towards the top of the vehicle body from the foot rest portion23bto thereby constitute the lower side cover28. Then, this lower side cover28is formed so as to continue to the projecting portion40. Namely, a front end edge portion28fof the lower side cover28and a rear end edge portion40rof the projecting portion40are continuously connected to each other so as to form substantially a single continuous plane.

In this embodiment, an external surface40sof the projecting portion40has a step which produces a difference in level in a widthwise direction of the vehicle body and is hence formed so as to be depressed in the widthwise direction in relation to the front cover21and the under side cover24. Namely, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, when seen from the front of the vehicle body, the external surface40sof the projecting portion40is shaped so as to be depressed more towards a central portion of the vehicle body than the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface of the front cover21and the front upper end portion24pof the under side cover24.

An engagement construction of the projecting portion40of this embodiment will be described by reference toFIGS. 7 to 9.

The projecting portion40of this embodiment includes, as shown inFIG. 7, three locking portions41,42,43at an upper portion, a lower portion and a side portion, respectively, of the projecting main body portion40awhich is formed as the exposed portion.

As a first engagement construction, a machine screw hole41his provided in the upper locking portion41so as to penetrate therethrough in a vertical direction. Then, a mounting screw80ais screwed through this machine screw hole41h. Consequently, the projecting portion40of the front lower cover30and the lower side cover28(refer toFIG. 9) are connected together.

As a second engagement construction, a substantially rectangular engagement hole42his opened substantially horizontally towards the rear of the vehicle body in the lower locking portion42. Then, an engagement projection24cwhich is provided on an inner side of the under side cover24is inserted into the engagement hole42h(refer toFIG. 8). The under side cover24and the front lower cover30are connected together via a mounting screw80bin such a state that the engagement projection24cand the engagement hole42hare in engagement with each other.

As a third engagement construction, as shown inFIG. 7, two projecting pieces40care provided at the side locking portion43with a predetermined space defined therebetween. The two projecting pieces40care provided on a projecting portion inner side40iof the rear end edge portion40rof the projecting portion40so as to extend therefrom towards the rear of the vehicle body. A recess portion40dis formed between the two projecting pieces40con the projecting portion inner side40i.

On the other hand, an engagement construction is provided on the lower side cover28so as to correspond to the side locking portion43. To describe this in detail, a front end projecting piece28cis provided on an inner side28iof the front end edge portion28fof the lower side cover28so as to be situated between the two projecting pieces40c. Namely, the front end projecting piece28ccorresponds to the side locking portion43so that a distal end portion thereof is brought into engagement with the recess portion40dfrom the projecting portion inner side40i. Consequently, the projecting portion40and the lower side cover28are brought into engagement with each other so that the projecting piece40cand the front end projecting piece28cproject on the inner sides thereof. By doing so, the rear end edge portion40rof the projecting portion40and the front end edge portion28fof the lower side cover28are locked together in such a way as to be hooked. As a result of this, the external surface40sof the projecting portion40and a lower side cover external surface28scan be connected together so as to form a single continuous plane.

In this embodiment, the first engagement construction constitutes the vertical or height-wise fastening, while the second engagement construction constitutes the transverse or widthwise fastening. In this way, the fastening directions are caused to intersect each other, whereby the front lower cover30can be supported rigidly and strongly.

In this embodiment, the engagement portions of the front lower cover30, the lower side cover28and the under side cover24are concentrated on the projecting portion40. By collecting the plural engagement portions to the projecting portion40in the way described above, the body covers can be supported in plural supporting directions, whereby the front lower cover30can be supported more strongly by the projecting portion40.

Air flows which flow through the area defined by the front cover21and the front wheel18when the motorcycle1of this embodiment runs basically flow over the surface of the body cover20from the front towards the rear of the vehicle body. Here, air flows fw which flow through the periphery of the front wheel18are divided, for example, at a lower side of the vehicle body to produce air flows fw which flow along an inner side of the front lower cover30and air flows fws which flow along the side portion of the vehicle body.

The air flows fw on the inner side of the front lower cover30flow, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, for example, in such a way as to strike the front lower cover30from the upper and left and right sides of the front wheel18and then flow to the lower portion of the vehicle body along the opposite surface30aof the front lower cover30.

Part of the air flows fws which flow along the sides of the front wheel18to flow then along the side portions of the body cover20flow, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, over the surfaces of the projecting portions40to be guided to the rear. The projecting porting portions40are formed so as to be tapered off towards the front of the vehicle body in relation to the air flows fws (refer toFIG. 8), whereby the resistance of the air flows fws is reduced. The projecting portions40are each formed into the depressed shape (refer toFIG. 6) which constitutes the step which is lower in level between the front cover21which is at the upper side and the under side cover24which is at the lower side thereof, and therefore, the air flows fws are allowed to pass over the surfaces of the projecting portions40to be guided towards the rear, thus forming air flows which flow along the lower side covers28.

In this embodiment, the projecting portions40and the lower side covers28are formed in a different color from that of the front cover21. The projecting portions40and the lower side covers28are also formed in a different color from that of the under side covers24.

The projecting portions40and the lower side covers28do not have to be positively different in color from the front cover21and the under side covers24. By adopting a configuration in which the projecting portions40and the lower side covers28are simply formed from a different material from that from which the front cover21and the under side covers24are formed, the surface members of the body cover20can be identified as easily as in the case of the different colors being used for the surface members.

Thus, as has been described heretofore, according to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the line Y-Y formed by the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface and the line X-X formed by the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface of the front mudguard63are formed so as to constitute substantially the single continuous line. Consequently, by including the front mudguard63in the exterior of the body cover20, it is possible to form the long continuous body shaping line which extends from the frontmost end portion of the vehicle body to the vicinity of the rear wheel19in the front-to-rear direction. As a result of this, it is possible to represent the highlighting line which continues from the side surface of the body cover20at the rear of the vehicle body to the frontmost end of the vehicle body, and therefore, it is possible to form the highlighting line which is long in the front-to-rear diction and which has never been realized heretofore, thereby imparting the originality to the shape of the vehicle body.

The front upper end portion24pof the under side cover24extends upwards to the position which is spaced the predetermined distance L1away from the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface, whereby the lines formed by the lower edge portion63uof the mudguard side surface and the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface can be highlighted from the lower side of the vehicle body.

According to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, the projecting portion40, which is exposed between the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface and the front upper end portion24pand which faces the external surface of the body cover20, is formed on the front cover30. Therefore, the member which is not visible in the conventional body cover construction is exposed. As a result of this, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the originality of the body shaping line in the lower portion of the front cover21can be highlighted further by the appearance of the exposed portion which has never been produced in the conventional body construction.

The projecting portion40is formed so as to curve convexly towards the front of the vehicle body, and this can enhance the rigidity of the front lower cover30which bears air flows on the substantially whole area thereof.

In the horizontal cross-sectional shape, the projecting portion40is formed so as to be tapered off towards the front of the vehicle body, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the resistance of air flows.

According to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, the step floorboard23constitutes the lower side cover28which rises upwards from the foot rest portion23btowards the top of the vehicle body, it is possible to provide the longitudinal accent which highlights the vehicle body shape substantially in the center of the side surface of the vehicle body. The front end edge portion28fof the lower side cover28and the rear end edge portion40rof the projecting portion40are formed continuously, and therefore, when the vehicle body is seen from the side thereof, the front lower cover30which has the projecting portion40and the lower side cover28continue to form the single line Y-Y which contacts the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface. As a result of this, the long line in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body which includes the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface can be identified easily, thereby enhancing the originality of the vehicle body shape.

The front end edge portion28fof the lower side cover28and the rear end edge portion40rof the projecting portion40continue to form the substantially single plane, and therefore, the air flows fws guided from the projecting portion40are allowed to flow to the rear of the vehicle body by way of the lower side cover28. Consequently, the air flows are allowed to pass to the leg portions of the rider appropriately, thereby enhancing the riding comfort of the rider.

According to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, there is provided the step or difference in level between the projecting portion40and the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface, and therefore, the line Y-Y along the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface can be highlighted further, thereby enhancing the originality of the vehicle body shape further.

The projecting portion40has the step in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body and is formed so as to be depressed in the widthwise direction in relation to the front cover21and the under side cover24. Therefore, air flows fws are allowed to be guided towards the rear of the vehicle body by making use of the step portion. As a result of this, the air flows fws are allowed to pass to the leg portions of the rider appropriately, thereby enhancing the riding comfort of the rider.

According to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, the projecting portion40and the lower side cover28are formed from the different material or in the different color in relation to the front cover21or the under side cover24. Therefore, the line Y-Y along the lower edge portion21uof the front side surface can be distinct. Consequently, in the body cover20, this can make the front cover21or the under side cover24prominent in external appearance. Consequently, the originality of the vehicle can be highlighted not only by the lines but also by color and tonality, whereby the originality of the vehicle can be enhanced further.

According to the motorcycle body cover construction of this embodiment, the projecting portion40has the connecting construction in which the projecting portion40is locked on the body cover20lying adjacent thereto via the locking portions41,42,43, and therefore, not only can the projecting portion40be held rigidly and strongly, but also the body cover20which lies adjacent thereto such as the under side cover24or the lower side cover28can be supported rigidly and strongly. The front lower cover30which bears air flows coming from the front thereof can be held rigidly and strongly by the projecting portion40.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and hence can be modified as required without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the external surface40sof the projecting portion40is described as having the step or different in level in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body to thereby be formed so as to be depressed in the widthwise direction in relation to the front cover21and the under side cover24. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and hence, the projecting portion40may be formed so as to be depressed in relation to either of the front cover21and the under side cover24.

In the embodiment described above, the projecting portion40includes the engagement construction between the under side cover24and the lower side cover28. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and hence, the projecting portion40should be locked on at least one of the body cover20which lies adjacent thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND CHARACTERS