Vehicle frame construction for buggies with riding saddles

A vehicle frame construction in a buggy with a riding saddle, includes a main frame extending longitudinally along a central axis of the buggy, the main frame having front and rear ends, and a pair of down tubes disposed one on each side of the main frame and having one ends fixed to sides of the front end of the main frame and opposite ends fixed to sides of the rear end of the main frame. Each of the down tubes is composed of a downwardly directed portion extending downwardly from the front end of the main frame and in a forward direction of the buggy, a horizontal portion extending substantially horizontally from the downwardly directed portion in a rearward direction of the buggy, and an upwardly directed portion extending substantially vertically upwardly from the horizontal portion to the rear end of the main frame. Each of the down tubes includes a curved portion between the downwardly directed portion and the horizontal portion, the downwardly directed portion and the horizontal portion having axes extending at an acute angle with respect to each other. A reinforcement pipe is detachably coupled between the downwardly directed portion and the horizontal portion of each of the down tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a buggy with a riding saddle, and more 
particularly to a vehicle frame construction for a buggy with a riding 
saddle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Buggies with riding saddles have in recent years found increasing use as 
vehicles for leisure and utility use. The buggy is normally of a 
three-wheeled or four-wheeled arrangement with one or two front wheels and 
two rear wheels, and has a lightweight and simple construction designed 
for use on all kinds of terrain. 
In order to provide for running on rough terrain, the three-wheeled or 
four-wheeled buggy has a two-wheeled-motorcycle-like frame construction 
composed of a pipe frame, a bar handle, a riding saddle or seat, and other 
frame members to render the frame construction lightweight and simple. The 
buggy also has low-pressure baloon tires to lend itself to running on soft 
or loose terrain. The drive wheels are interconnected by a single drive 
axle with no differential mounted thereon. When the vehicle is turned on 
rough terrain or runs over an obstacle, the driver shifts his or her 
weight to control and enjoy maneuvering of the vehicle. 
With the pipe frame construction for the lightweight and simple vehicle 
frame, a down tube which is a main frame skeleton member has to be bent 
three-dimensionally. The down tube thus shaped is required to be as simple 
as possible in construction so as to reduce the weight thereof, and at the 
same time the vehicle frame is required to be sufficiently rigid. The down 
tube however should not obstruct the worker's activity to maintain or 
service the engine on the vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the foregoing requirements in view, it is an object of the present 
invention to provide a vehicle frame construction for buggies with riding 
saddles which includes down tubes of a simple construction that serve as 
main frame skeleton members of the frame construction, for reducing the 
weight of the down tube and at the same time rendering the frame 
construction rigid enough. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle frame 
construction for buggies with riding saddles which includes a down tube 
and other frame members that are designed not to obstruct the activity to 
maintain or service the engine of the buggy. 
According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle frame 
construction in a buggy with a riding saddle, comprising a main frame 
extending longitudinally along a central axis of the buggy, said main 
frame having front and rear ends, a pair of down tubes disposed one on 
each side of said main frame and having one ends fixed to sides of said 
front end of said main frame and opposite ends fixed to sides of said rear 
end of said main frame, each of said down tubes being composed of a 
downwardly directed portion extending downwardly from said front end of 
said main frame and in a forward direction of the buggy, a horizontal 
portion extending substantially horizontally from said downwardly directed 
portion in a rearward direction of said buggy, and an upwardly directed 
portion extending substantially vertically upwardly from said horizontal 
portion to said rear end of said main frame, each of said down tubes 
including a curved portion between said downwardly directed portion and 
said horizontal portion, said downwardly directed portion and said 
horizontal portion having axes extending at an acute angle with respect to 
each other, and a first reinforcement pipe detachably coupled between said 
downwardly directed portion and said horizontal portion of each of said 
down tubes. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become more apparent from the following description when 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred 
embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative 
example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a frame construction 10 as for a four-wheeled 
motor vehicle such as buggy for offroad use is generally composed of a 
main frame 11, a pair of down tubes 12, 13 extending one on each side of 
and downwardly from the main frame 11 and secured thereto, and reinforcing 
members such as a cross pipe 16, gusset pipes 17, 18, and a bracket 19. 
The main frame 11 is in the form of a straight pipe having a rectangular 
cross section and extending along a longitudinal central axis of the motor 
vehicle with a rear end inclined slightly downwardly. The down tubes 12, 
13 comprise pipes of round cross section bent three-dimensionally. 
The down tube 12 has an end 12a welded to one side (lefthand as shown in 
FIG. 2) of a front end portion of the main pipe 11, a downwardly directed 
portion 12b extending downwardly from the end 12a and inclined slightly 
forward and laterally, a horizontal portion 12d oriented substantially 
horizontally in a rearward direction from the downardly directed portion 
12b through a front curved portion 12c, and an upwardly directed portion 
12f disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle and extending upwardly 
through a rear curved portion 12e from the horizontal portion 12d along 
the longitudinal central axis of the motor vehicle, the upwardly directed 
portion 12f having a terminal end 12g welded to one side (lefthand as 
shown in FIG. 2) of a rear end portion of the main pipe 11. The downwardly 
directed portion 12b and the horizontal portion 12d with the curved 
portion 12c joined therebetween have their own axes directed at an acute 
angle. The down tube 13 is of the same configuration as that of the down 
tube 12 and has ends 13a, 13g welded to one side (righthand as shown in 
FIG. 2) of front and rear end portions of the main tube 11. 
The main frame 11 and the pair of down tubes 12, 13 jointly constitute a 
main skeleton of the vehicle frame 11. The rectangular pipe is suitable 
for use as the main frame 11 since it is highly resistant to strains 
tending to bend the same three-dimensionally, can freely select the ratio 
of width to height thereof as desired, and has flat side surfaces allowing 
easy attachement of various parts thereto. The round pipes are suitable 
for use as the three-dimensionally bent down tubes 12, 13 since they are 
easier to be bent three-dimensionally than the rectangular pipe. For these 
reasons, the main frame 11 comprises the rectangular pipe and the down 
tubes 12, 13 comprise the round pipes. 
The down tubes 12, 13 which are bent three-dimensionally are susceptible to 
welding distortion. To cope with this problem, the down tubes 12, 13 are 
divided into respective front down tubes 12A, 13A and respective rear down 
tubes 12B, 13B, which are separated at substantially central portions of 
the horizontal portions thereof. The front down tubes 12A, 13A and the 
rear down tubes 12B, 13B are joined together by joints 14, 15 in the final 
process for assembling the vehicle frame 10. 
As shown in FIG. 7, the joint 14 is shaped substantially as a T when viewed 
in plan. The joint 14 comprises a solid cylindrical shaft 14a having 
opposite ends 14b, 14c of such an outside diameter that the ends 14b, 14c 
are fitted in open ends of horizontal portions 12d, 12d' of the front and 
rear down tubes 12A, 12B. A tubular bracket 14d projects laterally from a 
substantially central portion of the shaft 14a and has an axial hole 14e 
as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The bracket 14d includes a pair of bosses 14f, 
14g disposed in diametrically opposite relation to each other and having 
axes parallel to the shaft 14a. 
The boss 14f has a bolt insertion hole 14h opening diametrically of the 
hole 14e, and the boss 14g has an intgernally threaded hole 14i opening 
diametrically of the hole 14e and aligned with the bolt insertion hole 14h 
in the boss 14f. A rectangular bracket 14k in the form of a plate projects 
from the shaft 14a in a substantially diametrically opposite relation to 
the tubular bracket 14d. The bracket 14k has through holes 14m, 14n 
defined therein. The joint 14 is formed as an integral construction by 
casting or forging iron. The joint 15 is shaped and formed in the same 
manner as the joint 14. 
The front and rear down tubes 12A, 12B and 13A, 13B of the down tubes 12, 
13 are interconnected by the joints 14, 15, respectively. More 
specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the ends 14b, 14c of the shaft 14a of 
the joint 14 are fitted respectively in the open end 12h of the horizontal 
portion 12d of the front down tube 12A and the open end 12i of the 
horizontal portion 12d' of the rear down tube 12B, and the fitted parts 
are welded together into the down tube 12 with the bracket 14d directed 
outwardly of the frame 10. The front and rear down tubes 12A, 12B and the 
joint 14 are welded together in the final process of assembling the 
vehicle frame 10 in order to remove any unwanted welding distortion. The 
front and rear down tubes 13A, 13B of the other down tube 13 are joined 
together by being welded to the joint 15 (FIG. 2) in the same manner as 
described above with respect to the down tube 12. 
With the down tubes 12, 13 thus constructed, the vehicle frame 10 can be 
assembled and welded with a required degree of dimensional accuracy and 
increased ease. 
As is clearly shown in FIG. 10, an end 9b of a bar 9a of a footrest 9 is 
fitted into the hole 14e in the bracket 14d of the joint 14, and a bolt 
insertion hole 9c defined diametrically across the end 9b is brought into 
registry with the hole 14h and the threaded hole 14i in the bracket 14e. 
Then, a bolt 57 is inserted through the hole 14h and then the hole 9c 
threaded into the threaded hole 14i, thus fastening the footrest 9 to the 
joint 14. Another footrest is also secured to the joint 15 in the same 
manner. Since the joints 14, 15 double as footrest holders, the number of 
parts required is reduced and the overall frame construction is rendered 
lightweight. The bolt 57 only serves to prevent the footrest bar 9a from 
rotating with respect to and being detached from the joint 14, but not as 
a reinforcing member for the vehicle frame 10. Therefore, the bolt 57 can 
be a single bolt for easy attachment and detachment of the footrest 9 to 
and from the vehicle frame 10. 
FIG. 11 is illustrative of a footrest of another embodiment which is 
attached to the joint 14. The footrest which is generally denoted at 60 
includes a solid cylindrical straight bar 61 having a portion extending 
from a substantially central portion to an end 61a and inserted in a hole 
62a defined in a rubber footrest member 62. The bar 61 has an end 61b 
having a bolt insertion hole 61c defined diametrically therethrough. The 
end 61b of the bar 61 is fitted into the hole 14e in the bracket 14d of 
the joint 14, and the footrest 60 is fastened to the bracket 14d by the 
bolt 57. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, gusset plates 20, 21 are welded in 
confronting and spaced relation between the ends 12a, 13a of the down 
tubes 12, 13 and the sides of the main frame 11. The gusset plates 20, 21 
have confronting panels 20a, 21a, respectively, having substantially 
central bolt insertion holes 20b, 21b defined respectively therein in 
registry with each other, as shown in FIG. 4. A nut 44 is welded to one of 
the gussets 21 in aligned relation to the hole 21a. The gusset plates 20, 
21 also have bolt insertion holes (not shown) defined in ends thereof for 
attachment of a front carrier, with nuts 45, 46 welded to the gusset 
plates 20, 21 in alignment with the bot insertion holes. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a substantially horizontal cross pipe 16 extends 
between and is secured to the horizotnal portions 12d, 13d of the front 
down tubes 12A, 13A of the down tubes 12, 13. In FIG. 4, a pair of 
substantially L-shaped brackets 22, 23 is fixed to an upper portion of the 
cross pipe 16, the brackets 22, 23 having panels 22a, 23a disposed one on 
each side of the central axis of the vehicle and spaced a distance in 
confronting relation to each other. The confronting panels 22a, 23a have 
substantially central bolt insertion holes 22b, 23b defined respectively 
therein, with a nut 47 welded to the bracket 23 in alignment with the hole 
23b. 
Between the gusset plates 20, 21 and the brackets 22, 23 of the cross pipe 
16, there extends a gusset pipe 17 serving as a reinforcement member 
detachably secured thereto. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pipe 30 is welded 
to one end 17a of the gusset pipe 17 in perpendicular relation thereto. 
The gusset pipe 17 has a flat opposite end 17b of a substantially 
elliptical cross section with a hole 17c defined therein. A pipe 31 
extends through the hole 17c parallel to the pipe 30 and is welded to the 
pipe end 17b. The pipe 30 has a length dimensioned so that it can be 
inserted between the confronting panels 20a, 21a of the gusset plates 20, 
21. The pipe 31 has a length such that it can be inserted between the 
confronting panels 22a, 23a of the brackets 22, 23 on the cross pipe 16. 
A bracket 32 of a substantially U-shaped cross section is welded to a 
substantially central outer peripheral surface of the gusset pipe 17 and 
extends in a direction normal to the gusset pipe 17 and the pipes 30, 31. 
The bracket 32 has confronting legs 32a, 32b with holes 32c, 32d defined 
respectively therein in registry with each other. The bracket 32 serves to 
secure the head of an engine mounted in the vehicle frame, as described 
later on. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gusset pipe 17 is placed between the gusset 
plates 20, 21 welded to the ends of the down tubes 12, 13 and the brackets 
22, 23 welded to the cross pipe 16. The pipe 30 on the end 17a of the 
gusset pipe 17 is inserted between the gusset plates 20, 21 and then 
brought into registry with the holes 20a, 21a in the gusset plates 20, 21. 
A bolt 48 is inserted through the gusset plate 20 into threaded engagement 
with the nut 44 on the gusset 21, thus attaching the gusset pipe 17 to the 
gusset plates 20, 21. 
The pipe 31 on the end 17b of the gusset pipe 17 is thereafter inserted 
between the confronting panels 22a, 23a of the brackets 22, 23 on the 
cross pipe 16, and then brought into registry with the holes 22b, 23b in 
the brackets 22, 23. A bolt 49 is inserted through the bracket 22 into 
threaded engagement with the nut 47, thereby fixing the gusset pipe 17 to 
the brackets 22, 23. 
The down tubes 12, 13 are therefore reinforced by the gusset pipes 17 
detachably secured through the gusset plates 20, 21 and the cross pipe 16 
to and between the downwardly directed portions 12b, 13b and the 
horizontal portions 12d, 13d, with the curved portions 12c, 13c joined 
therebetween, of the down tubes 12, 13. 
Between an appropriate position on the rear horizontal portion 12d' of the 
down tube 12B and the upper end 13g of the upwardly directed portion 13f 
of the down tube 13B (FIG. 2), there is secured a gusset pipe 18 extending 
obliquely for increased rigidity in the vertical direction of the main 
frame 11 and against tortional stresses, as shown in FIG. 12. A bracket 19 
doubling as a stay having a substantially U-shaped cross section is 
secured between the main frame 11 and the rear horizontal portions 12d', 
13d' of the down tubes 12B, 13B. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bracket 37 supporting front wheel shaft 
holders 36, 36' is welded to the front curved portions 12c, 13c of the 
down tubes 12, 13, and brackets 39, 39' supporting holders 38, 38' by 
which rear wheel shafts 3 are rotatably supported are welded respectively 
to the rear curved portions 12e, 13e. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, a head pipe 40 by which an upper 
portion of a steering shaft 42 is rotatably supported extends through a 
front end portion of the main frame 11, the head pipe 40 being welded 
together with a reinforcing bracket 41 to the main frame 11. A bar handle 
6 is attached to an upper end of the steering shaft 42 with its lower end 
rotatably supported by a bracket 37. The lower end of the steering shaft 
42 is operatively coupled to a tie rod (not shown in FIGS. 1 through 3) 
having opposite ends connected to two front wheels, respectively. The 
front wheels are steerably mounted on opposite ends of a knuckle pipe 
supported on the front wheel shaft holders 36, 36' and can be turned or 
returned by the tie rods in response to turning or returning movement of 
the bar handle 6, through an angle which is substantially in a one-to-one 
correspondence to the angle of movement of the bar handle 6. 
An engine 50 is mounted in the vehicle frame 10 as indicated by 
dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 1. For mounting the engine 50, the gusset pipe 
17 is first detatched from the vehicle frame 10, and then the engine 50 is 
placed in the vehicle frame 10 with upper and rear portions of a 
transmission case 50b being suspended from a bracket 35 attached to the 
main frame 11 and the bracket 19. Then, the gusset pipe 17 is attached to 
and between the gusset plates 20, 21 and the brackets 22, 23 on the cross 
pipe 16, as described above, with an engine head 50a mounted on the 
bracket 32. As shown in FIG. 1, front and rear carriers 55, 56 are mounted 
respectively on front and rear ends of the main frame 11. 
With the vehicle frame construction of the foregoing embodiment for a buggy 
with a riding saddle, the down tubes 12, 13 are effectively reinforced by 
a simple arrangement wherein the gusset pipe 17 extends between and is 
secured to the downwardly directed portions 12b, 13b and the horizontal 
portions 12d, 13d of the down tubes 12, 13. Since the gusset pipes 17 are 
freely detachable, the engine 50 can be assembled or disassembled and 
maintained or serviced with ease. The down tubes 12, 13 are each divided 
into front and rear members which are connected by a joint. This 
arrangement elliminates any unwanted welding distortion which would 
otherwise be caused when welding the down tubes to the main frame, 
allowing the vehicle frame to be welded together with high dimensional 
accuracy. In addition, the rear gusset pipe 18 extends obliquely and is 
secured to the upper end 13g of the upwardly directed portion 13f of the 
down tube 13 and the horizontal portion 12d' of the down tube 12. 
Accordingly, the rigidity of the rear portion of the vehicle frame 10 is 
increased by the single reinforcement member in the vertical direction and 
against tortional stresses. 
FIGS. 13 through 16 illustrate a four-wheeled vehicle or buggy with a 
riding saddle, incorporating the vehicle frame construction according to 
the present invention. The vehicle, generally indicated at 1, has a pair 
of front wheels 4, 4 and a pair of rear wheels 5, 5 which comprise 
low-pressure baloon tires for preventing lateral skidding and improving 
cornering on soft ground. The cornering ability is improved by selecting 
the diameter and width of the front wheels 4, 4 to be smaller than those 
of the rear wheels 5, 5. The front wheels 4, 4 are operatively coupled to 
a bar handle 6, identical to a bar handle on a two-wheeled motorcycle, and 
are angularly movable through an angle which is in a one-to-one 
correspondence to the angle of movement of the bar handle 6. The vehicle 
frame construction 10 supports thereon a fuel tank 7 and a riding saddle 
or seat 8 in front and rear positions, respectively. The footrests 9, 9' 
are positioned substantially centrally of the down tubes 12, 13 and 
substantially downwardly of the saddle 8. 
The engine 50 is mounted substantially centrally in the vehicle frame 
construction 10. A power output from the engine 50 is transmitted through 
a chain 53 (FIG. 1) trained around sprockets 51, 52 fixed to an output 
shaft of the engine 50 and an axle (drive shaft) 3 of the rear wheels 5, 5 
to the axle 3 for driving the rear wheels 5, 5. There is no differential 
mounted on the axle 3, and any difference between the speeds of rotation 
of the rear wheels 5, 5 at the time of turning of the vehicle is absorbed 
by the baloon tires as they flex. Therefore, the drive mechanism is 
simplified. The lack of any differential also allows the vehicle to run 
out of an area of soft terrain even when one of the rear drive wheels 
slips. 
Various devices, attachments, and accessories are mounted on the vehicle 
frame of the four-wheeled buggy, and will now be described in detail. 
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the arrangement of an air cleaner and a muffler 
in specific detail. The engine 50 has an air intake pipe 71 connected to a 
downstream end of a carburetor 72 with its upstream end connected through 
a connecting tube 73 of resilient material reinforced on its outer surface 
with ribs to an air inlet port 74a of an air cleaner 74, thus providing an 
air intake system which is disposed on a lefthand side (as shown in FIG. 
18) of the vehicle frame 10. The air cleaner 74 has vertical front and 
rear brackets 74b, 74c on longitudinal end walls thereof. The front 
bracket 74b is joined to a bracket 75 welded to the vertical bracket 19 
which interconnects the main frame 11 and the horizontal portions 12d', 
13d' of the down tubes 12, 13. The rear bracket 74c is joined to a bracket 
76 welded to an upper portion of the upwardly directed portion 12f of the 
lefthand down tube 12. The front and rear brackets 74b, 74c are spaced a 
distance from the main frame 11 in parallel relation. 
The air cleaner 74 includes an air intake duct constituted by the main 
frame 11 for the purposes of reducing entry of foreign matter in intake 
air and simplifying the construction. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 
19 and 20, the main frame 11 has a front open end closed by a cap 11a and 
a plurality of duct inlet holes 77 defined in a lower peripheral surface 
thereof immediately behind the head pipe 40. A tunnel cover 78 having a 
substantially C-shaped cross section is disposed below the duct inlet 
holes 77 and has its front end closed off by the head pipe 40. The main 
frame 11 also has a duct outlet hole 79 defined in a rear lefthand 
peripheral surface thereof and surrounded by an annular flange 80 by which 
the duct outlet hole 79 is connected in an air-tight manner to the air 
inlet port 74a of the air cleaner 74. 
The engine 50 has an exhaust system disposed on the righthand side (FIG. 
18) of the vehicle frame construction 10. The exhaust system includes an 
exhaust pipe 81 and a muffler 82 connected to a rear end thereof. The 
muffler 82 is joined by one front bracket 82a and two rear brackets 82b, 
82c to the bracket 19 and a bracket 83 of the vehicle frame 10. The 
muffler 82 is spaced a distance from the main frame 11 in parallel 
relation for preventing heat of the muffler 82 from being easily 
transferred to the air cleaner 74. 
FIGS. 21 through 27 illustrate the arrangement in which the fuel tank and 
the riding saddle are attached in place. 
In FIGS. 21 and 22, a shaft 85 having projections 85a, 85a for attachment 
of the fuel tank extends transversely through and is welded to the bracket 
41 welded to both the head pipe 40 and the main frame 11. A bracket 86 
with a bolt 87 projecting upwardly therefrom is fixed to a substantially 
central upper surface of the main frame 11. As shown in FIG. 23, a cross 
pipe 88 extends between and is welded to the upwardly directed portions 
12f, 13f of the down tubes 12, 13. The rear end of the main frame 11 is 
welded to a front surface of the cross pipe 88. The upwardly directed 
portions 12f, 13f of the down tubes 12, 13 include upward extensions 12j, 
13j projecting upwardly beyond the main frame 11. A saddle pipe 89 for 
attachment of the saddle is welded to and extends between the extensions 
12j, 13j perpendicularly to the main frame 11. The saddle pipe 89 includes 
lateral projections 89a, 89a over which there are fitted resilient tubular 
members 90, 90 of rubber, for example, respectively. 
As illustrated in FIG. 24, the fuel tank 7 has a recess 7a through which 
the main frame 11 extends, and includes a pair of C-shaped retainers 7b, 
7b' opening forward and projecting inwardly toward each other. A flange 7d 
having a locking hole 7c defined therein is mounted on a rear end of the 
fuel tank 7. 
The fuel tank 7 is mounted astride of the main frame 11 which is positioned 
in the recess 7a, with the C-shaped retainers 7b, 7b' fitted over the 
projections 85a, 85a of the shaft 85 from rear ends thereof. The bolt 87 
on the bracket 86 is inserted through the locking hole 7c in the flange 
7d, which is then fastened by a nut (not shown) threaded over the bolt 87. 
The fuel tank 7 is thereby fixed to the front upper portion of the main 
frame 11. 
The riding saddle 8 as shown in FIG. 25 is composed of a bottom panel 8a of 
rigid synthetic resin, a cushioning member 8b placed on the bottom panel 
8a, and a cover 8c covering the cushioning member 8b and secured to the 
bottom panel 8a fully along a marginal edge thereof. The bottom panel 8a 
includes a front portion 8d curved so as to extend along a rear slanted 
portion 7e of the fuel tank 7. Two resilient members 91, 91 as of rubber 
are fitted in and secured to the front portion 8d. Bolts 92 are attached 
to the bottom panel 8a at a plurality of locations thereon. 
A rear cowl 93 is formed of plastics, for example. As shown in FIG. 26, the 
rear cowl 93 has an integral saddle mounting plate 93a and integral 
lateral rear fenders 93b, 93b. 
The plate 93a includes a front extension 93c and central and rear recesses 
93d, 93e defined by downwardly projecting portions. The plate 93a has 
holes 94 defined therein at positioned corresponding to the bolts 92 on 
the saddle 8. 
The recess 93d is positioned so that it will be located in the vinicity of 
the joint between the bracket 19 and the main frame 11 and over the main 
frame 11, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, when the rear cowl 93 is attached 
to the vehicle frame 10. A single resilient member 95 (FIG. 25) as of 
rubber is mounted on the lower side of the recess 93d by projections 96 
fitted therein. 
A bracket 97 serving as a hook member having rearwardly opening lateral 
recesses 97a, 97a is fastened to the lower side of the recess 93e by bolts 
98 and nuts (not shown). 
The saddle 8 is fastened to the rear cowl 93 by the bolts 92 on the saddle 
8 inserted through the holes 94 and nuts (not shown) threaded over the 
bolts 92. At this time, a saddle locking bracket 101 of a saddle lock 
mechanism 100 (described later) is attached to the saddle 8 and the rear 
cowl 93 by being fastened to the extension 93c by the bolts 92 and nuts 99 
(FIG. 28). FIG. 27 shows the saddle 8 as mounted on the rear cowl 93. 
FIGS. 28 through 30 show the saddle lock mechanism 100. Panels 102, 102 are 
welded in confronting relation to opposite sides of the main frame 11 and 
project upwardly and downwardly. Tubes 103, 104 extend through the 
upwardly and downwardly projecting portions of the panels 102, 102 and are 
welded to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the main frame 
11. The tube 103 has lateral projections 103a, 103a over which resilient 
bottomed tubular members 105, 105 are fitted respectively. 
The saddle locking bracket 101 mounted on the extension 93c of the rear 
cowl 93 has integral lateral holders 101a, 101a opening downwardly and 
holding, from above, the resilient members 105, 105, respectively, and a 
front projection 101b. 
A pin 106 is inserted through the tube 104 for angular movement about its 
own axis. A substantially C-shaped locking arm 107 extends transversely 
across the main frame 11 has opposite ends angularly movably mounted on 
the pin 106 at opposite ends of the tube 104. A control arm 108 is welded 
to a righthand arm member (FIG. 30) of the locking arm 107. 
The manner in which the rear cowl 93 with the saddle 8 fixed thereto is 
attached to the vehicle frame 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 
25 and 28. 
The recesses 97a, 97a in the bracket 97 are fitted in a rearward direction 
over the resilient members 90, 90, respectively, on the ends 89a, 89a of 
the saddle pipe 89. The rear cowl 93, that is, the saddle 8 is now 
supported for swinging movement about the saddle pipe 89. 
Then, the bracket 101 fixed to the saddle 8 is moved in the direction of 
the arrow X of FIG. 28 to cause the holders 101a, 101a to fit over the 
resilient members 105, 105 (FIGS. 28 through 30) secured through the tube 
103 to the main frame 11. At this time, the resilient member 95 mounted on 
the central lower surface of the saddle 8 is held against the upper flat 
surface of the main frame 11, and the two resilient members 91, 91 fixed 
to the front lower surface of the saddle 8 are held against the rear 
slanted surface 7e of the fuel tank 7. The locking arm 107 is then turned 
in the direction of the arrow Y (FIG. 28) until an upper arm member 107a 
of the locking arm 107 engages in an upper recess 101c in the projection 
101b to lock the saddle 8 to the vehicle frame 10. 
The saddle 8 is therefore supported through five points represented by the 
resilient members 91, 91, 95, 90, 90 as shown in FIG. 15. The saddle 8 is 
snugly supported especially because the central portion thereof which is 
subjected to a largest load is supported by the resilient member 95 
directly on the flat upper surface of the main frame 11 which is 
rectangular in cross section, without the intermediary of any brackets. 
Since the down tubes 12, 13 extend upwardly beyond the cross pipe 88 (FIG. 
23) to serve as saddle mounting brackets, the vehicle frame construction 
is rendered lightweight and simple without having to require additional 
mounting members. 
A battery 58 (FIG. 21) supported on the vehicle frame 10 by a bracket (not 
shown) is disposed below the rear cowl 93 behind the saddle 8. 
Although there have been described what are at present considered to be the 
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that 
the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing 
from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present 
embodiment is therefore to be considered in all aspects as illustrative, 
and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the 
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.