Patent ID: 7806215

Claim:
A wheeled vehicle comprising: a frame comprising: an upper frame member; a lower frame member; a forward cross member interconnecting a forward portion of the upper frame member with a forward portion of the lower frame member; a rearward cross member interconnecting a rearward portion of the upper frame member with a rearward portion of the lower frame member; and a strut extending diagonally from the forward cross member to the lower frame member, the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, rearward cross member, and strut being disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and defining a closed perimeter with a space therein; a straddle seat mounted on the upper frame member; a front left wheel and a front right wheel, each of the front wheels being mounted to the frame via a front suspension, each of the suspensions being connected to the frame at a plurality of positions, one of the plurality of positions being on the strut; a single rear wheel disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle; a swing arm mounting the single rear wheel to the frame; a rear suspension operatively disposed between the swing arm and the frame; a steering column operatively connected to the front wheels for steering the front wheels, the steering column extending inside the space rearwardly of the forward cross member; handlebars connected to an upper end of the steering column above the upper frame member; an engine mounted in the space to the frame and operatively connected to the rear wheel to power the rear wheel, a portion of the engine being mounted to the strut; an air box disposed in the space and having at least a portion thereof disposed above at least a portion of the engine and below the upper frame member; and a fuel tank mounted in the space below the upper frame member and rearwardly of the air box.