Patent ID: 7726280

Claim:
In an engine having a plurality of cylinders, a crankcase rotatably supporting a crankshaft and a camshaft therein, and a timing transmission mechanism interconnecting the camshaft and the crankshaft and including a camshaft sprocket mounted on one end of the camshaft included in a valve train for driving intake valves and exhaust valves to open and close in respective cylinder heads of the engine during operation thereof, the improvement comprising an intake charge regulating apparatus for the engine, the intake charge regulating apparatus comprising: a plurality of throttle bodies including a first throttle body having a first throttle bore formed therein for communicating with an intake port of a first cylinder head, and a first throttle valve disposed in the first throttle bore for controlling an opening of the first throttle bore, the plurality of throttle bodies also including a second throttle body having a second throttle bore formed therein for communicating with an intake port of a second cylinder head, and a second throttle valve disposed in the second throttle bore for controlling an opening of the second throttle bore; a throttle driving mechanism including an electric motor for generating power for driving the first throttle valve to open and close, and a transmission mechanism for decelerating a driving force of the electric motor, and for transmitting the driving force to the first throttle valve; wherein the throttle driving mechanism is arranged at a side of the engine which is opposite to the camshaft sprocket in an axis direction of the crankshaft; and wherein the electric motor is arranged between the first throttle body and the first cylinder head as seen in a top plan view.