Saddle-riding type vehicle

A vehicle includes vehicle body-side steps having a plurality of abutment surfaces on which seat-side protrusions abut from above. Each abutment surface has a height different from each other, with the seat being adjustable in height by selectively abutting the seat-side protrusions on the abutment surfaces. A rider's seat has a covering portion formed at a front portion thereof and extending substantially in parallel with an inclined upper surface of a fuel tank. When abutment positions of the seat-side protrusions are changed from either first ones of the abutment surfaces to second ones, the covering portion changes a position thereof so as to slide substantially in parallel with the inclined upper surface of the fuel tank.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention relates to a saddle-riding type vehicle.

Description of the Related Art

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-57069) discloses a motorcycle including a step-like height adjusting member disposed on a bottom plate of a seat on which an occupant sits, the height adjusting member enabling a height of the seat to be adjusted.

The motorcycle disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure wherein adjusting the height of the seat disposed posterior to a fuel tank results in the seat being moved in a longitudinal direction. No consideration is, however, given to prevention of a change in appearance before and after the adjustment. As a result, continuity in appearance of the seat and the fuel tank is likely to change greatly before and after a seat height adjustment, so that a visual impression of the vehicle appearance may change.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a saddle-riding type vehicle that can prevent vehicle visual appearance of the vehicle from being changed by minimizing a change in the vehicle appearance before and after an adjustment made of a seat height.

To solve the foregoing problem, an embodiment of the provides a saddle-riding type vehicle including a vehicle body frame, and a fuel tank supported on the vehicle body frame. A seat is supported on the vehicle body frame, and downwardly protruding seat-side protrusions are disposed on a bottom plate of the seat. Vehicle body-side steps are disposed below the seat-side protrusions, and the vehicle body-side steps have a plurality of abutment surfaces on which the seat-side protrusions abut from above. Each abutment surface has a height different from each other, and the seat is adjustable in height by selectively abutting the seat-side protrusions on the abutment surfaces. The fuel tank has an upper surface formed into an incline that extends more downwardly toward a rear, and the seat has a covering portion formed at a front portion thereof and which extends substantially in parallel with the inclined upper surface of the fuel tank. The covering portion covers the upper surface from above. When abutment positions of the seat-side protrusions are changed from either first ones of the abutment surfaces to second ones, the covering portion changes a position thereof so as to slide substantially in parallel with the inclined upper surface of the fuel tank.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the seat-side protrusions are mounted separately on the bottom plate. The bottom plate has seat-side recesses disposed immediately before the seat-side protrusions. The seat-side recesses are formed by indenting upwardly or penetrating the bottom plate, and when the abutment positions of the seat-side protrusions are changed from either first ones of the abutment surfaces to second ones among the abutment surfaces, so that the first ones of the abutment surfaces are adjusted to be higher than the second ones and a height of the seat is adjusted to be lowered, the first ones of the abutment surfaces are housed in the seat-side recesses.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body-side steps are formed into a stair having integrally a plurality of steps on which the abutment surfaces are set. The vehicle body-side steps are supported on the vehicle body frame.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the seat-side protrusions and the vehicle body-side steps are each disposed in pairs at a middle portion and a rear portion of the seat. The seat-side protrusions and the vehicle body-side steps are disposed above or on the inside in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle body frame.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, of the vehicle body-side steps disposed in pairs at the middle portion and the rear portion of the seat, first ones disposed at either one of the middle portion and the rear portion of the seat are disposed on a cross frame that connects portions provided in pairs of the vehicle body frame. Second ones disposed at the other of the middle portion and the rear portion of the seat are directly disposed on the vehicle body frame.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the seat includes an insert disposed at a rear end portion thereof. The insert is inserted into an insert holder formed on a vehicle body side. The seat further has a locked tab to be locked by a seat lock mechanism disposed on the vehicle body side. The insert holder is formed in a multiple-tier stack so as to allow the insert to be inserted into a tier associated with each adjustment position when the seat is adjusted in height. The locked tab has step-shaped locking parts to be locked by the seat lock mechanism, the step-shaped locking parts being associated with respective adjustment positions when the seat is adjusted in height.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the locked tab is disposed between the pair of left and right seat-side protrusions disposed at the middle portion of the seat, and the seat lock mechanism is mounted on the cross frame that connects portions provided in pairs of the vehicle body frame.

According to certain embodiments, a condition is maintained in which the covering portion formed at the front portion of the seat extends substantially in parallel with the upper surface of the fuel tank before and after the height adjustment of the seat. This can minimize a change in vehicle appearance before and after the adjustment, thereby allowing a visual impression of the vehicle appearance to be prevented from being changed.

According to certain embodiments, height adjustments can be made with the protrusions and the recesses on the seat side and the vehicle body side and load of the seat can be reliably supported by the vehicle body-side steps. Additionally, the structure involved is simplified, so that a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to certain embodiments, the simplified structure permits one-piece forming, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to certain embodiments, the load of the seat can be steadily supported at four points at front and rear and at left and right.

According to certain embodiments, the load of the seat can be steadily supported at four points at front and rear and at left and right in the vehicle body frame.

According to certain embodiments, the rear end portion of the seat can be positioned and the seat can be locked in place suitably without any impediments before and after the adjustment.

According to certain embodiments, the seat lock mechanism and the locked tab are sandwiched laterally between the seat-side protrusions, and between the vehicle body-side steps, so that the seat lock mechanism and the locked tab can be prevented from being tampered with. In addition, the seat lock mechanism can be rigidly supported by the cross frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show arrows to indicate directions, an arrow FR denoting a vehicle forward direction, an arrow UP denoting a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow LH denoting a vehicle leftward direction, respectively.

FIG. 1is a left-side elevational view showing a motorcycle1as a saddle-riding type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The motorcycle1includes an engine E disposed between a front wheel3steered by a steering handlebar2and a rear wheel5disposed at a rear end portion of a swing arm4. Steering system parts including the steering handlebar2and the front wheel3are steerably and pivotally supported on a head pipe11at a front end of a vehicle body frame10. The swing arm4has a front end portion swingably supported on the vehicle body frame10and a rear end portion supporting an axle5A of the rear wheel5.

The vehicle body frame10includes a plurality of frame members integrated together through, for example, welding. The vehicle body frame10includes the head pipe11, a pair of left and right main frames12L and12R, a pair of left and right pivot plates13L and13R, a pair of left and right seat rails14L and14R, and a pair of left and right sub-frames15L and15R. The main frames12L and12R branch out laterally from the head pipe11to extend rearwardly and downwardly. The pivot plates13L and13R are connected to rear end portions of the respective main frames12L and12R and extend downwardly. The seat rails14L and14R are connected to upper portions of the respective pivot plates13L and13R and extend rearwardly and upwardly. The sub-frames15L and15R are connected to the respective pivot plates13L and13R at positions below the respective seat rails14L and14R, extend rearwardly and upwardly, and have rear end portions connected to the respective seat rails14L and14R.

The vehicle body frame10further includes a down frame16and a pair of left and right lower frames17L and17R. The down frame16extends rearwardly and downwardly from the head pipe11at a sharper angle than the main frames12L and12R do. The lower frames17L and17R branch out laterally from a lower end portion of the down frame16to extend rearwardly. The lower frames17L and17R have rear end portions connected to lower end portions of the respective pivot plates13L and13R. In the vehicle body frame10, the main frames12L and12R, the seat rails14L and14R, and the pivot plates13L and13R are connected together so as to form a Y shape in a side view.

InFIG. 1, those members that are not visible therein are denoted by reference symbols given in parentheses for convenience of explanation. In figures other thanFIG. 1, those members invisible therein may also be denoted by reference symbols given in parentheses for convenience of explanation.

The vehicle body frame10is a semi-double cradle type that surrounds the engine E with the down frame16and the lower frames17L and17R from the forward and downward directions, the engine E being disposed below the main frames12L and12R and at front of the pivot plates13L and13R. The engine E is supported by the vehicle body frame10at a plurality of engine support portions disposed at appropriate positions of the vehicle body frame10.

Of each of the pair of left and right main frames12L and12R, the pair of left and right pivot plates13L and13R, the pair of left and right seat rails14L and14R, the pair of left and right sub-frames15L and15R, and the pair of left and right lower frames17L and17R, the left-hand side one is disposed on the left relative to the center in a vehicle width direction and the right-hand side one is disposed on the right relative to the center in the vehicle width direction. The left and right parts of each of these pairs are connected to each other by a cross frame (not shown) at an appropriate position.

The engine E includes a crankcase20and a cylinder21connected to the crankcase20so as to form a V shape in a side view. The crankcase20integrally houses therein a crankshaft and a transmission. The cylinder21protrudes upwardly (upwardly toward the front, to be more precisely) from an upper surface at a front side of the crankcase20. The engine E is disposed such that the crankcase20and the cylinder21fit into space surrounded by the main frames12L and12R, the pivot plates13L and13R, the down frame16, and the lower frames17L and17R. The cylinder21is in a condition in which a cylinder axis direction (a direction in which the cylinder stands) extends substantially along a direction in which the down frame16extends. It is here noted that a battery103is disposed in space surrounded by the cylinder21, the main frames12L and12R, the pivot plates13L and13R, and the crankcase20. The battery103is housed in a battery case via which the battery103is supported on the main frames12L and12R.

The steering system parts supported by the head pipe11includes the front wheel3, a pair of left and right front forks6L and6R supporting at the lower portion thereof the front wheel3, a steering shaft (not shown) connected to upper portions of the front forks6L and6R and passed through, and rotatably supported by, the head pipe11, and the steering handlebar2disposed on an upper portion side of the steering shaft.

The swing arm4is connected to the pivot plates13L and13R by a pivot shaft4A disposed at a substantially central portion in a vertical direction in the pair of left and right pivot plates13L and13R of the vehicle body frame10. The pivot shaft4A extends across the left and right pivot plates13L and13R. The swing arm4is vertically swingable about a center of an axis extending laterally.

A cross frame100is disposed to extend across upper portions of the pivot plates13L and13R. A linkage member101is disposed to extend across a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of a lower portion of the swing arm4and the lower portions of the pivot plates13L and13R. Additionally, a rear cushion102is disposed to extend between the linkage member101and the cross frame100.

A fuel tank25is supported on the main frames12L and12R. In an area posterior to the fuel tank25, a rider's seat26is supported on upper portions at the front side of the seat rails14L and14R and a pillion seat27is supported on upper portions at the rear side of the seat rails14L and14R. Seating portions in the rider's seat26and the pillion seat27extend along the seat rails14L and14R.

The fuel tank25extends from a position posterior to the head pipe11and below the steering handlebar2downwardly toward the rear along the main frames12L and12R thereabove, reaching a position above the pivot plates13L and13R. The fuel tank25has an upper surface25S formed into an incline that extends more downwardly toward the rear substantially along the main frames12L and12R.

The upper surface25S of the fuel tank25has a rear portion covered from above with a covering portion26C formed at a front portion of the rider's seat26and extending substantially in parallel with the upper surface25S of the fuel tank25. The covering portion26C is formed to extend upwardly toward the front from the seating portion of the rider's seat26.

It is noted that the covering portion26C extends substantially in parallel with the upper surface25S when the covering portion26C extends completely in parallel with the upper surface25S and the covering portion26C extends along the upper surface25S with a slight difference in inclination angle therebetween.

An air cleaner28is disposed between the head pipe11and the fuel tank25. A front portion of the fuel tank25has a recess (not shown) indented rearwardly formed therein, the recess housing therein part of the air cleaner28.

A front cover29is disposed around the head pipe11. The front cover29extends toward the front and laterally (toward the outside in the vehicle width direction) of the head pipe11to thereby cover the head pipe11from the front and lateral sides. The front cover29covers the front portion of the fuel tank25and the air cleaner28from the lateral sides.

FIG. 2is a top view showing the rider's seat26.FIG. 3shows a portion under the rider's seat26with the rider's seat26removed from the condition shown inFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 3, front portions of the left and right seat rails14L and14R disposed below the rider's seat26are connected to each other by a first cross frame30and a second cross frame31disposed posterior to the first cross frame30.

The first cross frame30has front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R on respective lateral end portions thereof. The seat rails14L and14R have rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R near respective left and right connections thereof to the second cross frame31.

Reference is also made toFIGS. 2 and 4. The rider's seat26includes a bottom plate26A. The bottom plate26A has left and right front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and left and right rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R. The front seat-side protrusions34L and34R that protrude downwardly are associated with the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R. The rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R that protrude downwardly are associated with the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R.

The front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R are disposed beneath the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R. The front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R have a plurality of abutment surfaces (front high-level abutment surfaces36and front low-level abutment surfaces37to be described later), each surface having a height different from each other. The front seat-side protrusions34L and34R abut on the abutment surfaces from above. The rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are disposed beneath the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R. The rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R have a plurality of abutment surfaces (rear high-level abutment surfaces38and rear low-level abutment surfaces39to be described later), each surface having a unique height different from heights of the other. The rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R abut on the abutment surfaces from above.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the present embodiment includes the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R, and the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R, each being disposed in pairs at a middle portion and a rear portion of the rider's seat26.

The motorcycle1enables the rider's seat26to be adjusted in height by selectively bringing the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R into abutment with the abutment surfaces of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R.

FIG. 4shows a condition in which the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are in abutment with, and supported by, the front high-level abutment surfaces36and the rear high-level abutment surfaces38.

Specifically, in the motorcycle1, the seat height can be adjusted by removing the rider's seat26from the condition shown inFIG. 4and then, as shown inFIG. 6, setting up a condition in which the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are in abutment with, and supported by, the front low-level abutment surfaces37and the rear low-level abutment surfaces39.

By shifting the condition of the rider's seat26from that shown inFIG. 4to that shown inFIG. 6, the height of the rider's seat26is adjusted from a high level to a low level. For convenience of explanation,FIG. 6indicates the rider's seat26in the condition shown inFIG. 4by a dash-double-dot line. To change from the low level to the high level, the rider's seat26is shifted from the condition shown inFIG. 6to that shown inFIG. 4.

The following describes in detail a height adjustment structure for the rider's seat26. The rider's seat26includes the bottom plate26A formed of a resin material and a seat main unit26B which is fixed to the bottom plate26A and in which urethane, for example, is packed to gain a thickness from the bottom plate26A. In the embodiment, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are separately mounted to the bottom plate26A.

The front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R each have a cylindrical shape formed of an elastic member such as synthetic rubber. The front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are each fastened to the bottom plate26A through a bolt passed through the bottom plate26A in an axial direction of the bolt.

Additionally, front seat-side recesses40L and40R are formed immediately before the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R. The front seat-side recesses40L and40R are formed in the bottom plate26A by indenting the bottom plate26A upwardly. Further, rear seat-side recesses41L and41R are formed immediately before the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R. The rear seat-side recesses41L and41R are formed in the bottom plate26A by indenting the bottom plate26A upwardly.

As shown inFIG. 6, when the height of the rider's seat26is adjusted from the high level to the low level, the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R provide space in which portions on which the front high-level abutment surfaces36are formed (second steps32L2and32R2to be described later) and portions on which the rear high-level abutment surfaces38are formed (second steps33L2and33R2to be described later) are housed.

The front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R are each formed into a two-step stair in the embodiment. The front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R include first steps32L1and32R1on which the front low-level abutment surfaces37oriented upwardly are formed and the second steps32L2and32R2on which the front high-level abutment surfaces36disposed at levels higher than the front low-level abutment surfaces37and oriented upwardly are formed, the first steps32L1and32R1and the second steps32L2and32R2being arranged in tandem in the longitudinal direction.

Similarly, the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are each formed into a two-step stair in the embodiment. The rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R include first steps33L1and33R1on which the rear low-level abutment surfaces39oriented upwardly are formed and the second steps33L2and33R2on which the rear high-level abutment surfaces38disposed at levels higher than the rear low-level abutment surfaces39and oriented upwardly are formed, the first steps33L1and33R1and the second steps33L2and33R2being arranged in tandem in the longitudinal direction.

Referring toFIG. 3, the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R are disposed on both lateral end portions of the first cross frame30, so that the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R are disposed on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the seat rails14L and14R. Thus, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R are disposed on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the seat rails14L and14R.

The rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are disposed in abutment on upper surfaces of the seat rails14L and14R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are disposed above the seat rails14L and14R.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 6, front positioning tabs60L and60R are formed to extend upwardly at front edges of the second steps32L2and32R2of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R. Additionally, rear positioning tabs61L and61R are formed to extend upwardly at rear edges of the first steps32L1and32R1of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R.

Referring toFIG. 4, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R, when abutted on the front high-level abutment surfaces36, are positioned by being brought into abutment with or close to the front positioning tabs60L and60R from the rear. Referring toFIG. 6, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R, when abutted on the front low-level abutment surfaces37, are positioned by being clamped between and brought into abutment with or close to, in the longitudinal direction, the rear positioning tabs61L and61R, and step surfaces created between the first steps32L1and32R1and the second steps32L2and32R2.

The rider's seat26includes an insert43at a rear end portion thereof. The insert43is to be inserted into an insert holder42formed on the vehicle body side. The insert43assumes a plate shape formed of a resin material. The insert43is disposed at a rear end portion of the bottom plate26A of the rider's seat26and protrudes rearwardly.

The insert holder42positions the rider's seat26during a height adjustment process and restricts movement of the rider's seat26after the height adjustment process. In the embodiment, the insert holder42is disposed at a front end portion of the pillion seat27. The insert holder42includes a high-level receiving holder42A and a low-level receiving holder42B into which the insert43is inserted with a gap in accordance with the height of the rider's seat26. The high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B are formed in a two-tier stack. The high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B each have a rearwardly recessed space and the insert43is inserted into the recessed space.

During the height adjustment process for the rider's seat26, an operator inserts to position the insert43into either one of the high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B of the insert holder42. After the height adjustment process for the rider's seat26, the high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B at least cover the insert43from above, thereby restricting upward movement of the rider's seat26.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, the bottom plate26A of the rider's seat26has a locked tab45to be locked by a seat lock mechanism44disposed on the vehicle body side. The locked tab45is formed of a metal round bar bent into a substantially U-shaped member. The substantially U-shaped member has both end portions fixed to the bottom plate26A to thereby protrude downwardly and thus has a bottom portion oriented downwardly. Additionally, the locked tab45is disposed between the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R.

The seat lock mechanism44includes a base section44A and a latch section44B. The base section44A is fixed to a lower surface of the first cross frame30. The latch section44B is movably supported by the base section44A and locks the locked tab45. It is noted that, as shown inFIG. 3, the first cross frame30has a slit30A formed therein. The locked tab45is passed through the slit30A from above with a gap allowed in the longitudinal direction.

The latch section44B can be advanced and retracted in the lateral direction. When advanced, the latch section44B locks from above the bottom portion of the locked tab45that has passed downwardly through the slit30A. When retracted, the latch section44B leaves the bottom portion of the locked tab45.

The bottom portion (locking part) of the locked tab45is formed into a forwardly ascending step. A high level locking part45A locked by the latch section44B when the rider's seat26is on a high level is set at a part of the bottom portion of the step-shaped locked tab45positioned on a low level (seeFIG. 4). A low level locking part45B locked by the latch section44B when the rider's seat26is on a low level is set at a part of the bottom portion of the locked tab45positioned on a high level (seeFIG. 6).

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, a moving restricting section46that restricts movement of the front portion side of the rider's seat26is formed at a front portion of the bottom plate26A that forms the covering portion26C in the rider's seat26.

The moving restricting section46includes a high level locked part48and a low level locked part49. The high level locked part48is locked by a locking part47disposed to protrude rearwardly from the upper surface25S of the fuel tank25when the rider's seat26is on the high level (seeFIG. 4). The low level locked part49is locked by the locking part47when the rider's seat26is on the low level (seeFIG. 6). The high level locked part48and the low level locked part49are arranged in tandem upwardly toward the front, the high level locked part48being formed at a level lower than the low level locked part49. The high level locked part48and the low level locked part49each have an inverted-U-shaped opening that opens downwardly in a front view, in which the locking part47is received.

The height adjustment process for the rider's seat26will be described briefly below. The operator first cancels a locked state of the seat lock mechanism44relative to the locked tab45and removes the rider's seat26. The seat lock mechanism44allows the latch section44B to be brought into the retracted state through, for example, a key operation.

Next, the operator inserts to position the insert43at the rear end portion of the rider's seat26into either one of the high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B in the insert holder42.

Thereafter, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are abutted on the abutment surfaces of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R associated with either one of the high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B.

The latch section44B is urged so as to be maintained in the advanced state. When the locked tab45is moved past the slit30A, the latch section44B is retracted. When the bottom portion of the locked tab45reaches a point below the latch section44B, the latch section44B is brought back into the advanced state, so that the locked tab45and the latch section44B are in the locked state. This completes the height adjustment process for the rider's seat26.

InFIGS. 4 and 6, reference symbol θ1denotes an angle formed between a direction in which the front low-level abutment surfaces37and the front high-level abutment surfaces36of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R are arranged and a horizontal direction. Reference symbol θ2denotes an angle formed between a direction in which the rear low-level abutment surfaces39and the rear high-level abutment surfaces38of the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are arranged and the horizontal direction.

In this example, the angle θ1and the angle θ2are substantially identical to each other. As a result, when the height of the rider's seat26is adjusted, posture of the rider's seat26does not basically change before and after the adjustment and the rider's seat26moves in parallel along the direction of the angle θ1or the angle θ2.

In addition, an angle θ3formed between an inclination direction of the covering portion26C of the rider's seat26and the upper surface25S of the fuel tank25extending substantially in parallel with the covering portion26C and the horizontal direction is substantially identical to the angle θ1and the angle θ2.

In the motorcycle1according to certain embodiments, as is evident from comparingFIG. 4withFIG. 6, when abutment positions of the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are changed from either first ones of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R to second ones, the covering portion26C can change its position so as to slide substantially in parallel with the inclined upper surface25S of the fuel tank25as indicated by an arrow α inFIG. 6.

The angles described above are substantially identical to each other when the angles are completely identical to each other, and also when they contain a slight deviation from each other.

In the motorcycle1according to certain embodiments of the present invention, when the abutment positions of the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are changed from either first ones of the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R to second ones, the covering portion26C can change its position so as to slide in parallel with the inclined upper surface25S of the fuel tank25.

Thus, in the motorcycle1, a condition is maintained in which the covering portion26C formed at the front portion of the rider's seat26extends substantially in parallel with the upper surface25S of the fuel tank25before and after the height adjustment of the rider's seat26. This can minimize a change in vehicle appearance before and after the adjustment, thereby allowing an impression a spectator has of the vehicle appearance to be prevented from being changed.

Additionally, in examples of the motorcycle1, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are separately mounted to the bottom plate26A and the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R are formed immediately before the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R, the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R being formed by indenting the bottom plate26A upwardly. This results in the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the front seat-side recesses40L and40R being joined to each other in a step fashion and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R being joined to each other in a step fashion.

When the abutment positions of the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R are changed from the high-level abutment surfaces (36,38) to the low-level abutment surfaces (37,39), so that the height of the rider's seat26is adjusted to be lowered, the second steps (32L2,32R2,33L2,33R2) on which the high-level abutment surfaces (36,38) are set are housed in the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R.

The foregoing arrangement enables height adjustments to be made with the protrusions and the recesses on the seat side and the vehicle body side and load of the rider's seat26can be reliably supported by the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R. Additionally, the structure involved is simple, so that a manufacturing cost can be reduced for configuring the seat height adjustment structure.

In examples of the motorcycle1, the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are each formed into a step-like shape having a plurality of abutment surfaces set therein. Thus, the structure is simple and permits one-piece forming, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced for configuring the seat height adjustment structure.

Additionally, in the motorcycle1, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R, and the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are each disposed in pairs at the middle portion and the rear portion of the rider's seat26. Furthermore, the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R, and the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R are disposed above or on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the seat rails14L and14R that form part of the vehicle body frame10.

The foregoing arrangement enables the rider's seat26to be supported on the vehicle body frame10at four points at front and rear and at left and right, so that the seat load can be steadily supported.

Additionally, in certain examples, the rider's seat26includes the insert43at the rear end portion thereof, the insert43being inserted into the insert holder42formed on the vehicle body side. The rider's seat26further has the locked tab45to be locked by the seat lock mechanism44disposed on the vehicle body side. The insert holder42includes the high-level receiving holder42A and the low-level receiving holder42B formed in a multiple-tier stack so as to allow the insert43to be inserted into a proper tier associated with each adjustment position when the height position of the rider's seat26is adjusted. The locked tab45has the step-shaped locking parts to be locked by the latch section44B of the seat lock mechanism44according to the adjustment position when the height position of the rider's seat26is adjusted.

The foregoing arrangement enables the rear end portion of the rider's seat26to be positioned and the rider's seat26to be locked in place suitably without any impediments before and after the adjustment.

Additionally, in example of motorcycle1, the locked tab45is disposed between the left and right front seat-side protrusions34L and34R disposed at the middle portion of the rider's seat26. The seat lock mechanism44is mounted on the first cross frame30that connects the left and right seat rails14L and14R forming part of the vehicle body frame10.

The foregoing arrangement results in the seat lock mechanism44and the locked tab45being sandwiched laterally between the front seat-side protrusions34L and34R and the rear seat-side protrusions35L and35R, and between the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R, so that the seat lock mechanism44and the locked tab45can be prevented from being tampered with. In addition, the arrangement allows the first cross frame30to rigidly support the seat lock mechanism44.

While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention and various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, embodiments have been described for the configuration that allows the rider's seat26to be adjusted in height in two steps. The present invention may nonetheless be applied to embodiments that allows the height to be adjusted in three or more steps and the front vehicle body-side steps32L and32R and the rear vehicle body-side steps33L and33R may be each formed into, for example, a three-or-more-step stair.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R are each formed by indenting the bottom plate26A upwardly; however, the front seat-side recesses40L and40R and the rear seat-side recesses41L and41R may instead be each formed by penetrating the bottom plate26A.

In the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to a motorcycle as an example of a saddle-riding type vehicle. The saddle-riding type vehicle, as used herein, is a concept that encompasses types of vehicles in general in which a rider straddles the vehicle body to ride thereon, including three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles as well as the motorcycle. Thus, the present invention is applicable also to a three-wheeled or a four-wheeled vehicle, in addition to the motorcycle.

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