Patent ID: 8177014

Claim:
An axle assembly that is configured for use in a motorcycle having a pair of driven wheels, the axle assembly comprising: a differential assembly having a differential case and a drive member coupled to the differential case, the drive member being configured to engage an endless power transmitting element and comprising a pulley or a sprocket; a pair of bearings mounted to opposite ends of the differential case; and a carrier housing assembly having a carrier housing and a pair of bearing caps, each of the bearings being received between the carrier housing and an associated one of the bearing caps to support the differential assembly for rotation relative to the carrier housing assembly about a rotational axis, the carrier housing comprising a plurality of struts that are spaced circumferentially apart about the rotational axis such that a void space is formed between each adjacent pair of the struts, wherein an opening is formed in the carrier housing, the opening being configured to receive the endless power transmitting element therethrough.