Patent ID: 7644794

Claim:
A mode changeover control system for a transmission in a motorcycle comprising: an electronic control unit; a mode changeover mechanism; a changeover operation section; and a sensor capable of determining whether a side stand of the motorcycle is in an erected position or a stored position, wherein the electronic control unit operates with each of the mode changeover mechanism, the changeover operation section, and the sensor; wherein the mode changeover mechanism includes an electronically driven actuator which communicates with the electronic control unit in order to change over a continuously variable transmission between a drive mode position for establishing a drive mode and a neutral mode position for establishing a neutral mode; wherein the side stand is mounted on the motorcycle, and is turnable between the erected position for supporting said motorcycle, with a front wheel and a rear wheel in a grounded state, and the stored position for enabling operation of the motorcycle, wherein the sensor communicates to the electronic control whether the side stand is in the erected position or the stored position; wherein the changeover operation section communicates with the electronic control unit when operated by a driver in a changing-over manner between a drive mode operation position and a neutral mode operation position corresponding, respectively, to said drive mode position and said neutral mode position of said electronically driven actuator; and wherein the electronic control unit operates the electronically driven actuator based on the changeover operation position of said changeover operation section, and is configured to maintain said electronically driven actuator in said neutral mode position even if said changeover operation section is operated from said neutral mode operation position to said drive mode operation position when a signal received from the sensor of said side stand indicates that the side stand is in said erected position, wherein each of the electronic control unit, the mode changeover mechanism, the changeover operation section, and the sensor is mounted on the motorcycle.