Patent ID: 7648169

Claim:
A motorcycle, comprising: a vehicle body comprising a body frame; a guard frame located on an upper portion of the vehicle body of the motorcycle, the guard frame comprising: a left guard frame rail; a right guard frame rail, each of the left and right guard frame rails extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and a connecting portion that connects first ends of the left and right guard frame rails such that the guard frame defines a generally U-shape structure, wherein an open end of the U-shape structure is aligned with a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; wherein a second end portion of each of the left and right guard frame rails is secured to the body frame, the connecting portion is supported by the body frame for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical pivot axis located substantially at a lateral center of the vehicle body, wherein each of the left and right guard frame rails normally assumes a bow shape that projects outwardly, and an intermediate portion of each of the left and right guard frame rails is formed of a material having a lower rigidity than a material of the first and second ends of the left and right guard frame rails.