Patent Publication Number: US-2003221891-A1

Title: Three-wheeled vehicle with a fender assembly and lighting system therefor

Description:
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60/358,400 and No. 60/358,439, both filed Feb. 22, 2002. The subject matter of these applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0002] This application is also related but does not claim priority to the following U.S. provisional applications that were filed on Feb. 22, 2002: No. 60/358,362; No. 60/358,394; No. 60/358,390; No. 60/358,395; No. 60/358,436; No. 60/358,397; and, No. 60/358,398 and any non-provisional patent applications claiming priority to the same. This application is also related but does not claim priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/358,737 filed on Feb. 25, 2002, and U.S. provisional application No. 60/418,355, which was filed on Oct. 16, 2002 and any non-provisional patent applications claiming priority to the same. The entirety of the subject matter of these applications is incorporated by reference herein.  
     [0003] This application is also related to but does not claim priority to U.S. Design application No. 29/155,964 filed on Feb. 22, 2002, and U.S. Design application No. 29/156,028 filed on Feb. 23, 2002. This application is also related to but does not claim priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/346,188 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/346,189 which were filed on Jan. 17, 2003. The entirety of the subject matter of these applications is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0005] This invention relates to vehicles, particularly vehicles designed for road use. Specifically, this invention is directed to three-wheeled vehicles driven by a power unit. In particular, this invention relates to the fender assembly for the steerable front wheels and the lighting arrangement on a three-wheeled vehicle.  
       [0006] 2. Background of the Invention  
       [0007] Three-wheeled vehicle are known in general. There are several types of three wheeled vehicles known in the prior art. The first is the All Terrain Vehicle (or “ATV”) that was popularized in the 1980&#39;s. That vehicle had one front wheel and two rear wheels. It was specifically designed for off-road use and, therefore, did not have protective fenders or turn signals.  
       [0008] Another type of three wheeled vehicle know in the art is a three-wheeled motorcycle. A common example is a motorcycle with a single front wheel and two rear wheels. While qualified for road use, this type of motorcycle typically does not include fenders over the rear wheels. Moreover, even if the vehicle does include fenders, typically the motorcycle does not include turning signals separate and apart from the turning signals that are provided with the motorcycle.  
       [0009] A third type of three-wheeled vehicle known in the art is a motorcycle that has been modified to include two front wheels. Typically, the front part of the motorcycle is modified by attaching some sort of front suspension system from which the two front wheels may be suspended. On such a vehicle, it is not uncommon to include some sort of fender to protect the operator. However, as with the previous vehicle, the turning signals typically are those provided by the manufacturer of the motorcycle.  
       [0010] A desire has recently developed for a three-wheeled vehicle with two front wheels and a single rear wheel. In particular, a desire has arisen for a high-performance three-wheeled vehicle that is not merely an after market modification of a motorcycle.  
       [0011] Any vehicle manufactured for road use must comply with safety guidelines adopted by national and local motor vehicle agencies. One regulation requires-that turn signals be included on any road vehicle. One failing in the prior art that has been identified (when designing a three-wheeled vehicle for road use) is the positioning of the turn signals at the front of the vehicle. The prior art provides no guidance as to the positioning and design of the turn signals.  
       [0012] In addition, to protect the operator from debris thrown upwardly from the road surface by the front tires, it is known to provide a fender over the tires. There are, however, few examples in the prior art of fenders for use with three-wheeled vehicles, especially those where the front tires are not provided with a fender arrangement that is incorporated into the body of the vehicle. One example of such a fender design has been incorporated into the Plymouth® Prowler automobile, which was introduced by the Plymouth® company in the 1990&#39;s.  
       [0013] Despite this, a need has arisen, in connection with the design and development of a three-wheeled vehicle, for a suitable fender and fender attachment device.  
       [0014] In addition, in connection with the design and construction of a three-wheeled vehicle, it is desirable to provide adequate corrective cooling for the brakes at the front of the vehicle. The prior art provides little, if any, assistance in this regard.  
       [0015] In summary, there are at least three specific gaps in the prior art. The first concerns the design of turning signals for a three-wheeled vehicle. The second concerns the design of a fender for a three-wheeled vehicle. The third concerns the construction of a fender that assists with cooling of the brakes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016] An aspect of embodiments of this invention is to provide a three-wheeled straddle type vehicle having two wheels in the front and one wheel at the rear.  
       [0017] Another aspect of embodiments of this invention is to provide such a three-wheeled straddle type vehicle with front fenders that effectively shield an operator during use.  
       [0018] A further aspect of embodiments of this invention is to provide front fenders that are shaped to direct air onto the interior of the wheel so as to provide cooling to front disc brakes.  
       [0019] An additional aspect of this invention provides a three-wheeled straddle type vehicle having turning signals that are appropriate for road use and that are ergonomically designed.  
       [0020] A notable aspect of the three-wheeled vehicle according to this invention is that it is designed for road use, like a motorcycle. Off-road use is also contemplated, but it is not the primary focus of the design.  
       [0021] The three-wheeled vehicle in accordance with this invention includes a novel fender assembly in which the front fenders are supported for movement with the front wheels.  
       [0022] The fender assembly may also include integral lamps that function as hazard lights and/or turn signals. The lamps may be flush with the outer arcuate surface of the fender. The lamps can be positioned so that the driver may see the operation of the lamps but does not receive glare from the lamps.  
       [0023] Other objects, aspects and features of the invention will be apparent in view of the following description and drawings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0024] Referring to the drawings that form a part of the original disclosure:  
     [0025]FIG. 1 is a front view of the three-wheeled straddle-type vehicle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
     [0026]FIG. 2 is a side view of the three-wheeled vehicle of FIG. 1;  
     [0027]FIG. 3 is a top view of the three-wheeled vehicle of FIG. 1;  
     [0028]FIG. 4 is a front left perspective view of the frame assembly for the three-wheeled vehicle shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ;  
     [0029]FIG. 5 is a left side view of the frame assembly of FIG. 4;  
     [0030]FIG. 6A is a rear perspective view of the inner side of the fender in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 6B is a side view of the outer side of the fender of FIG. 6A;  
     [0032]FIG. 6C is a front perspective view of the fender of FIG. 6A;  
     [0033]FIG. 6D is an exploded side view of the fender of FIG. 6B showing the components of the lamp;  
     [0034]FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of the mounting assembly of the fender in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
     [0035]FIG. 7B is another side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 7A; and  
     [0036]FIG. 7C is a side view of the fender mounting bracket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0037] A three-wheel straddle type vehicle  10  in accordance with the present invention is generally illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 . The vehicle  10  is designed with a straddle-type seat assembly  90  that preferably accommodates two adult-sized riders, a driver and a passenger. While the vehicle  10  is not designed to accommodate more than two adult-sized riders, the present invention contemplates that the design of vehicle  10  may be changed easily to accommodate more than two adult-sized riders.  
     [0038] It should be noted that the conventions “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” and “down” are defined according to the normal, forward travel direction of the vehicle. As a result, the “left” side of a vehicle corresponds to the left side of a rider seated in a forward-facing position on the vehicle.  
     [0039] The vehicle  10  is designed along a longitudinal axis and includes a left front wheel  11 , a right front wheel  12  and a rear wheel  13 . The front wheels  11  and  12  are equally offset from the longitudinal axis, and the rear wheel is aligned with the longitudinal axis. The left and right front wheels  11  and  12  have tires  111  and  121  secured thereto, respectively. The rear wheel  13  has tire  131  secure thereto. The rear wheel  13  may include multiple rims, with each rim accommodating a tire. In the case of a multi-rim arrangement, the rims would be rigidly connected to form a single wheel. For purposes of simplicity, when the rear tire is referred to in this application, it will be understood that the rear tire may include multiple tire components mounted on individual rims but acting as a single wheel.  
     [0040] The tires have a friction coefficient in accordance with the tire manufacturer&#39;s specifications. Preferably, each of the wheels  11 ,  12  and  13  is sized to accommodate a 15-inch automobile tire. The present invention, however, is not limited to equal sized wheels; rather, it is contemplated that the front wheels  11  and  12  may be smaller in size to accommodate a 13-inch automobile tires. Furthermore, other wheel sizes are considered to be well within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0041] The front wheels  11  and  12  are supported by a front suspension assembly  20  and are controlled by the steering assembly  70 . The rear wheel  13  is supported by a rear suspension assembly  30 . The front suspension assembly  20  and the rear suspension assembly  30  are secured to a vehicle frame assembly  40 , illustrated in FIG. 4. The front suspension assembly  20  includes a pair of suspension support arms (A-arms)  21  and a shock absorber  22  extending from each side of the frame assembly  40  to support each front wheel  11  and  12 . The rear suspension assembly  30  includes a swing arm  31  (seen in FIG. 2) that pivotally connects to the frame assembly  40  by right and left laterally spaced rear suspension plates  41  and  42  at pivot axis  39  (seen in FIG. 4.)  
     [0042] An engine  50  that drives the rear wheel  13  is secured to the vehicle frame assembly  40  adjacent to an engine cradle assembly  45 , seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The engine  50  may be secured directly to the frame assembly  40  at several points of attachment. Alternatively, the engine  50  may be secured to the frame assembly  40  using a suitable mounting assembly, not shown. The engine  50  is supported just behind the front suspension assembly  20  and is closely positioned to the horizontal. This positioning provides a lower center of gravity, which is useful in ensuring good handling and stability of the vehicle  10 .  
     [0043] Because of the rigidity and improved structural strength of the frame assembly  40 , the engine  50  can generate an output power of 80-135 horsepower or more. The frame assembly  40  provides sufficient structural rigidity to withstand the forces created during high performance operation of the vehicle  10 . This is a significant improvement over conventional three-wheel ATVs, which were limited to an engine output of about 30 horsepower due to limitations in the structural strength of their frames, maneuverability and stability of their construction.  
     [0044] The engine  50  may be an internal combustion engine. Preferably, the engine  50  is a four-stroke engine, such as a 1000 cc four-stroke V-twin (V2) engine manufactured by ROTAX®. The vehicle  10  in accordance with the present invention, however, is not limited to a 1000 cc engine. It is also contemplated that a 600 cc engine also may be used. Furthermore, other engine displacement sizes are considered to be well within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, while a four-stroke engine is contemplated for use on the vehicle  10 , a two-stroke engine also may be employed.  
     [0045] An engine cradle assembly  45  extends forwardly from the lower front ends of the rear suspension plates  41  and  42  to an engine cradle plate  451  that connects to the front suspension sub-frame  46 . The engine  50  is supported within the frame assembly  40  at three different places (as viewed from the side.) Thus, the engine  50  itself adds structural rigidity to the frame assembly  40  by providing a structural connection between the front suspension sub-frame  46  and the rear suspension plates  41  and  42 . As indicated above, while the engine  50  is contemplated as a structural element of the frame assembly  40 , the engine  50  may be disposed on the frame assembly  40  in such a manner that it is not a structural member.  
     [0046] The front suspension assembly  20  is secured to the front suspension sub-frame  46 , which includes a V-shaped plate  461  (when viewed from the front) with left and right outwardly extending side panels  465 ,  466 . The rear edge of the V-shaped plate  461  is connected to the engine cradle plate  451 . A longitudinally extending tubular beam  467  is connected to the inside of the vertex of the V-shaped plate  461 . A forward transverse plate  462  is connected to the front end of the V-shaped plate  461 . The plate  462  includes an opening  468  that is aligned with an opening in the engine cradle plate  451  through which air is directed through the frame assembly  40  to an oil cooler assembly (not shown).  
     [0047] Side panels  465 ,  466  each include large central apertures  469  through which the tie rods or steering linkages of the steering assembly  70  extend. Left and right vertically and longitudinally extending side panels  463  and  464  extend upwardly from the left and right side panels  465 ,  466  of the V-shaped plate  461 . Each side panel  463  and  464  forms a triangle having a flat lower side attached to the V-shaped plate  461  when viewed from the side.  
     [0048] A laterally-extending front cross brace  47  connects between upper ends of the side panels  463  and  464  (i.e., at the upper vertices of the triangles formed by the side panels  463  and  464 ) of the front suspension sub-frame  46 . Forward ends of the left and right upper spars  43  and  44  likewise connect to the front cross brace  47 . The front cross brace  47  extends laterally outwardly beyond its connection points to provide left and right front suspension/shock absorber anchors  471  and  472  for the front suspension assembly  20 .  
     [0049] A fender assembly  60  is associated with each of the front wheels  11  and  12 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each fender assembly  60  includes a cover or body  61  that covers the top rear portion of the tires  111  and  121 . The fender assembly  60  prevents dirt, water and road debris from being kicked up onto the rider, while the rider operates the vehicle  10 . Each fender assembly  60  is linked to the front suspension assembly  20  and the steering assembly  70  such that the fender bodies  61  move together with the wheels  11  and  12  during steering of vehicle  10 . This arrangement ensures that the tires  111  and  121  will not throw dirt, water and road debris at the driver or rider as the vehicle  10  turns. Each fender assembly  60  preferably includes at least one lamp  62 , which is preferably a turn signal/parking light/hazard signal, located on the top surface of each body  61 , as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  and as described in detail below.  
     [0050] The front fender assemblies  60  on each side of the vehicle are mirror images of each other. As such, only one assembly  60  is described in detail. The front fender assembly  60  includes a fender body  61 , shown in FIGS.  6 A- 6 D, a fender support bracket  63 , shown in FIGS.  7 A- 7 B, and the lamp  62 . The fender assembly  60  of FIGS.  6 A- 6 D and  7 A- 7 B corresponds to the right fender assembly. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the precise shape of the fender body  61  can vary based on design preference. However, the body  61  is sized and shaped to sufficiently cover the wheel to provide adequate protection to the driver.  
     [0051] The body  61  is formed as an elongated arcuate cover with a longitudinal axis  610  around which the body bends slightly. The ends are preferably pointed. The front portion  611  of the body  61  is shorter in length than the rear portion  612  of the body  61  since the rear portion  612  is required to discourage debris from flying rearwardly during operation of the vehicle. The front portion  611  and the rear portion  612  meet at the apex  613  of the body  61 . This shape is aerodynamic. Being constructed from a thermoplastic material, for example, the body  61  resists denting and deforming. As can be appreciated from FIG. 6A, the shape of the body  61  also creates a flow of air during operation that is directed toward the inside of the wheel  111  that provides cooling to the disc brake associated with the wheel  11 .  
     [0052] A mounting flange  614  extends radially inward from the arcuate fender body  61 . The mounting flange  614  provides a stable base support for the fender support bracket  63 . A plurality of apertures  615  are provided in the mounting flange  614  for fastening the fender support bracket  63  to the body  61 . Three apertures  615  are shown and are preferred for stability. However, any number of apertures and, accordingly, any type of fasteners, could be used.  
     [0053] An aperture  616 , seen in FIG. 6D, is formed in the body  61  for mounting the lamp  62 . Preferably, the aperture  616  is formed at the apex  613  of the body  61  so that the lamp  62 , when mounted, can be seen from any angle, e.g., from the front, side and rear, and especially by the driver. As seen in FIGS.  6 A- 6 C, the aperture  616  is positioned on the far side of body  61  from the operator. This positioning allows the operator to see the illumination of the lamp  62 , but be shielded from direct glare of the lamp  62 . The aperture  616  can be any shape desired.  
     [0054] A transparent lens  620 , formed of a durable transparent material, such as plastic, is mounted within the aperture  616 . It is preferred that the lens  620  be flush with the body  61  so that the exterior surface of the lens is coextensive with the outer surface of the body  61 . However, the lens  620  may also be raised or protrude from the aperture  616  if desired. The lens  620  may be any suitable color, especially amber, which is traditionally used for turn signals and parking lights for road vehicles.  
     [0055] The lamp  62  can be formed as any conventional vehicle lamp. Preferably, the lamp  62  includes a light source  621 , such as a light emitting diode (LED), a light housing  622 , and an electrical connector  623  connected between the light source  621  and the electrical power source of the vehicle  10 . The electrical connector  623  can be connected to an electrical component carried by the knuckle  24  or the support arms  21 , as is conventionally known. The light source  621  can be any type of illumination device such as an LED or an incandescent bulb. Further, any number of illumination sources may be used, and they may constitute any of a variety of colors. The light housing  622  is preferably shaped to fit snugly against the inner surface of the fender body  61  so as to prevent debris from entering the light housing  622  and to not interfere with the vehicle wheel  11  or  12 .  
     [0056] This lamp arrangement  62  adds enhanced safety features to the vehicle  10  in that the lamp  62  is easily seen by oncoming traffic, in addition to traffic directly behind and next to the vehicle. Moreover, the driver can easily confirm that the lights are on and are operating correctly.  
     [0057] In particular, the transparent lens  620  is designed to extend laterally outwardly from the longitudinal axis  610  of the body  61 , away from the frame assembly  40 . In addition, the transparent lens also extends forwardly and rearwardly from the apex  613  of the body  61 . The construction provides two distinct advantages, among others. First, light from the light source  621  is directed rearwardly, laterally outward, and forwardly from the body  61 . As a result, a person observing the vehicle  10  will see the light from the light source  621  at virtually every observational angle from a position exterior to the vehicle  10 . Second, the longitudinal axis  610  establishes a light barrier that prevents light from the light source  621  from being directed to the operator of the vehicle  10 . As a result, the operator is not distracted by the light source  621  during operation of the vehicle. In addition, since the operator of the vehicle  10  can see the transparent lens  620  from his or her vantage point, the operator can determine readily if the light source  621  is illuminated and functioning properly.  
     [0058] As seen in FIG. 6A, another lamp  65  may also be used on the fender  60 . In this case, a lamp  65  is positioned at the rear portion  612  of the body  61  near the lower edge. Such a lamp  65  could be used as a brake light and/or turn signal, for example. An opening  651 , seen in FIG. 6D, is provided in body  61  in which the lamp  65  is mounted. The lamp  65  may be a flush mount similar to lamp  62  or may protrude from the surface of the fender  60 . The operation of the lamp  65  may be separate or in correspondence with the operation of lamp  62 . It is also possible to just use a reflector in this location.  
     [0059] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, wheel  12  is shown without a tire  121  mounted thereto. FIG. 7C is a side view of the fender mounting bracket  63  without the fender body  61  mounted thereto. The bracket  63  is preferably a generally C-shape with a lower portion  631  that is fastened to the wheel knuckle  24  at fastening formations  632 . It is also possible to make the fender support integral or one piece with the wheel knuckle  24 . However, it is preferred to have the bracket  63  easily removable for replacement.  
     [0060] The bracket  63  extends upwardly from the lower portion  631  around a central cut out portion  633  that permits the support arm  21  to be connected to the knuckle  24  without interference with the bracket  63 . As can be appreciated from the FIG. 7C, the lower portion  631  is designed to be recessed within the wheel hub  12 . A central portion  634  extends perpendicularly outward from the lower portion  631 . The top of the bracket includes a mounting portion  635  that is preferably triangularly shaped. The top mounting portion  635  has a plurality of mounting formations  636 , such as apertures for receiving fasteners. The mounting formations  636  are designed to match with the apertures  615  on the mounting flange  614  of the fender body  61 . Again, preferably three formations  636  are provided for stability. Obviously, any number or type of mounting fasteners/apertures can be used. Additionally, the top mounting portion  635  can vary in shape. However, the triangular configuration provides a very strong and stable support for the fender assembly  60 . The top mounting portion  635  extends inwardly from the wheel  12  so as to not interfere with the tire  121 .  
     [0061] The bracket  63  is preferably made from a material that is strong yet flexible in order to absorb impacts and vibrations experienced by the wheels of the vehicle. Preferably, the bracket  63  is made from ¼ inch thick aluminum sheet metal that can twist and bend but still maintain its overall strength and shape. The bracket  63  functions as a shock absorber for the fender body  61 .  
     [0062] It is preferred that the fender assembly  60  be positioned close to the wheel  11 ,  12  to maximize protection of the driver from debris thrown by the wheel and to optimize the aerodynamic nature of the fender body  61 . Preferably, the fender body  61  is located less than 20 mm from the outer surface of the tire  111 ,  121 . The more desirable spacing range is between 5-12 mm, most preferred is between 10-12 mm, with about 11 mm being the optimal spacing. With this desired spacing, the fender body  61  according to this invention is able to flex as a result of wheel impacts and vibrations yet maintain a safe spacing from the wheel surface. The bracket  63  according to this invention allows such flexure. It is preferred that the bracket  63  accommodates about 5 mm of movement, which would result from about 20 g of force (“g” being the standard acceleration of gravity) experienced by a typical road tire. By this arrangement, the fender assembly  60  is protected from damage by the forces experienced by the tires, as normally occur in road use, and also does not interfere with rotation of the wheel. Further, when the fender body  61  carries the lamp  62 , the bracket  63  flexure protects the lamp assembly  62  from damage.  
     [0063] The steering of the front wheels  11  and  12  is accomplished through the use of the steering assembly  70 . The steering assembly  70  includes handlebars  71  and conventional steering linkages (not shown in detail) connected to the wheels  11  and  12  for purposes of turning the wheels  11  and  12  in response to movement of the handlebars  71 . The steering assembly  70  is connected to wheel knuckles  24  through the steering linkage at the steering linkage connection  241  on the knuckle  24 . The knuckle  24  is attached to each wheel in a known manner. The front suspension assembly  20  is coupled to each knuckle  24  as seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, with only the upper suspension support arm  21  being shown for purposes of clarity. As would be understood, the lower suspension support arm  21  is coupled to the lower portion of the knuckle  24 . The shock absorber  22  can also be coupled to the knuckle  24  or to a bracket on the lower suspension support arm  21 .  
     [0064] Therefore, in operation, when an operator turns the handlebars  71 , the steering linkage is moved, which turns the wheels  11  and  12 . Because the fender support brackets  63  are supported by the wheel knuckles  24 , the fender assembly  60  turns in conjunction with the wheels  11  and  12 . By this arrangement, the driver is protected by the fenders  61  at all times, even while turning, from the spray of water and the projection of debris from the roadway. Such protection is necessary since this vehicle  10  is designed for road use. This arrangement also allows a smaller, and hence lighter, fender assembly to be used.  
     [0065] If the fender was supported by the frame  40  or by the suspension assembly  20 , the fender would not turn when the wheels are turned, as in conventional automobiles. Moreover, in a conventional arrangement, a larger, and hence heavier, fender assembly would be needed to ensure that sufficient coverage is provided to the operator from debris. In this invention, a smaller fender that turns with the front wheels can provide even more protection to the driver and passenger of this three-wheeled vehicle.  
     [0066] The steering assembly  70  of the vehicle  10  is preferably provided with a progressive steering system (not shown). The progressive steering system allows the handlebars  71  to be turned to their maximum position (about 50 degrees of arc), while the wheels  11  and  12  turn to an increasingly greater extent. The linkage between the handle bars  71  and the steering linkages that makes progressive steering possible must be designed so that small variations in the handle bars when the vehicle is travelling straight will not turn the wheels to any significant degree. In other words, when the vehicle  10  is travelling forward, especially at high speed, there should be a good amount of play in the handlebars so that small movements made by the driver do not result in a sudden (or unexpected) turning of the vehicle  10 . On the other hand, when the handlebars are turned to a more significant displacement, the degree of play preferably should decrease as the angular displacement of the handle bars increases. In other words, the closer the handle bars are turned to their most rotated position, the less play there should be in the linkage between the handle bars and the wheels of the vehicle  10 .  
     [0067] The front of the vehicle  10  includes a fairing assembly  80 , which encloses the engine  50  to protect it and to provide an external shell that can be decorated so that the vehicle  10  is aesthetically pleasing. The fairing assembly  80  is preferably made from fiberglass having a gel coat. The fairing assembly  80  includes an upper portion  81 , a hood  82  removably secured to the upper portion  81  and a bottom pan  83 . The fairing assembly  80  is secured to the vehicle frame assembly  40  by a plurality of fairing anchors. At least two fairing anchors  84  and  85  are illustrated in FIG. 4.  
     [0068] The hood  82  includes at least one air intake opening  821  to provide a supply of air to an air box (not shown), which supplies air at least to the air intake of the engine  50 . As previously mentioned, the hood  82  is removable to permit access to an interior storage compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle  10 . The storage compartment offers the driver a place to store personal belongings when the vehicle  10  is parked in a public location. The storage compartment is removable to permit access to the engine  50 . The upper portion  81  of the fairing assembly  80  further includes a cluster of headlamps  811 . A windshield  812  may be connected to the upper portion  81  of the fairing assembly  80  near the front section or preferably to the steering assembly  70  adjacent the handlebars  71 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0069] The bottom pan  83  of the fairing assembly  80  may also include one or more fog lamps  831 . The bottom pan  83  has a pair of lateral extensions protruding therefrom, which form radiator covers  832 . The radiator covers  832  surround and protect a pair of laterally spaced radiator assemblies, which together form a radiator for the engine  50 . The radiator covers  832  also function to provide a windbreak for the feet and lower legs of the driver. The radiators permit liquid cooling of the engine  50 . The liquid coolant is cooled by air, as is known in the art, and may additionally aided by an automatic fan installed ahead of (or behind) the radiator when the vehicle  10  is idling for an extended period of time.  
     [0070] The vehicle  10  includes a cushioned rider seat assembly  90  that is mounted to the frame assembly  40  between the front wheels  11  and  12  and the rear wheel  13 , as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . The seat assembly  90  is connected to an upper support assembly  48  and a seat support assembly  49  of the vehicle frame assembly  40 . The seat support assembly  49  is connected to the suspension plates  41  and  42  through rear suspension link supports  495  and  496 . The upper support assembly  48  includes a steering column bracket  481 . A pair of front supports  482  and  483  extend from the front brace  47  to the steering column bracket  481 . The supports  482  and  483  include fairing anchors  84  and  85 . A pair of rear supports  484  and  485  extend rearwardly from the steering column bracket  481  towards the seat support assembly  49 . The rear supports  484  and  485  include seat anchors  486  and  487  for securing a front portion of the seat assembly  90  thereto.  
     [0071] The cushioned seat assembly  90  is mounted to the seat anchors  486  and  487  and rests on the rear supports  484  and  485  and the U-shaped seat frame  497 . The seat assembly  90  is positioned so that a weight of the rider thereon will be disposed generally above the rear suspension cross brace  494 , which supports the rear suspension links. Consequently, the weight of the rider will be transferred through the seat assembly  90  and frame assembly  40  to the rear suspension cross brace  494 , and from the rear suspension cross brace  494  to the rear suspension assembly  30 , and to the front suspension sub-frame  46  and front suspension assembly  20  through the front supports  482  and  483 .  
     [0072] Other conventional components of a drive system and a road vehicle are provided as seen in the figures but need not be described in detail as one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize the remaining components.  
     [0073] All of the above noted dimensions are provided for purposes of description and are in no way intended to be limiting. The various parameters could of course be varied and remain within the scope of the invention. Further, the size of the various components that may appear in the drawings can vary from the size shown.  
     [0074] The embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative of this invention. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, various modifications, combination of features, equivalent arrangements and changes can be made and would remain within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.