Patent ID: 6866112

Claim:
A motorcycle comprising: a frame; an engine/transmission assembly mounted to said frame and having an output shaft rotating in response to operation of said engine/transmission assembly; a drive sprocket mounted to said output shaft for rotation therewith; a swingarm pivotably mounted to at least one of said frame and engine/transmission assembly for pivotal movement within a range of motion; a rear wheel mounted to said swingarm for rotation with respect to said swingarm; a wheel sprocket mounted to said rear wheel for rotation therewith; a flexible drive member coupling said drive sprocket and said wheel sprocket such that said rear wheel is caused to rotate in response to operation of said engine/transmission assembly, wherein said flexible drive member includes an upper extent linearly extending between the upper portions of said drive sprocket and said wheel sprocket, and a lower extent extending between the lower portions of said drive sprocket and said wheel sprocket; and a tensioner fixed to at least one of said frame and engine/transmission assembly against both pivotal and translational movement with respect to said output shaft, wherein said tensioner maintains contact with a side of said lower extent and applies a force to said side of said lower extent as said swingarm pivots through said range of motion, and wherein said drive sprocket, said wheel sprocket, and said tensioner are sized and positioned such that a belt path length defined by said drive sprocket, said rear sprocket, and said tensioner remains substantially constant as said swingarm pivots through said range of motion.