Patent ID: 8317207

Claim:
A leaning vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion and a rear portion; a straddle seat supported on the frame; an engine supported by the frame; a shock tower having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the shock tower being pivotally connected to the front portion of the frame through a pivotal connection that defines a frame leaning axis about which the frame can lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower; a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly operatively connected to the front portion of the frame; a steering assembly having a steering column supported by the frame, the steering column being operatively connected to a handlebar to be grasped by a driver straddled on the straddle seat to steer the vehicle in a desired direction; a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame, each front suspension assembly including: a lower suspension arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first end and pivotally connected to a ground engaging member at a second end; and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the upper end of the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm; and an actuated lock to lock the frame to the shock tower and prevent relative movement between the frame and the shock tower about the frame leaning axis.