Front suspension for a motorcycle
View Patent ↗A front suspension ( 1 ) for a motorcycle, includes a fork ( 2 ) with a headstock ( 8 ), a sliding unit ( 3 ) that slides on the fork ( 2 ) in a substantially vertical direction, the unit ( 3 ) in turn supporting the motorcycle wheel ( 4 ), and an elastic shock absorbing assembly ( 5 ) acting on the sliding unit ( 3 ). The assembly ( 5 ) is centrally mounted within the headstock ( 8 ) and is connected to the latter by a quick-release connection ( 9 ) so that the assembly ( 5 ) can be easily removed directly from the top or bottom of the headstock ( 8 ).
1. A front suspension ( 1 ) for a motorcycle with a front wheel ( 4 ), comprising:
a fork ( 2 ) with a headstock ( 8 ), a sliding unit ( 3 ) that slides on the fork ( 2 ) in a substantially vertical direction, the unit ( 3 ) in turn supporting the motorcycle wheel ( 4 ), and an elastic shock absorbing assembly ( 5 ) acting on the sliding unit ( 3 ), the suspension being characterised in that the shock absorbing assembly ( 5 ) is centrally mounted within the headstock ( 8 ) and is connected to the headstock ( 8 ) by a quick-release connection ( 9 , 10 ) so that the assembly ( 5 ) can be easily removed directly from the top or bottom of the headstock ( 8 ), wherein the connection ( 9 ) comprises an upper plate ( 11 ) with a perimetric seat ( 17 ) and a split ring ( 13 ) housed partly in the perimetric seat ( 17 ) under the upper plate ( 11 ), in such a way that moving the plate ( 11 ) closer to the ring ( 13 ) causes the ring ( 13 ) to increase in diameter.
2. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the fork ( 2 ) comprises two legs ( 22 ) connected to the headstock ( 8 ) and in that the sliding unit ( 3 ) comprises two sleeves ( 23 ) that slide over the legs ( 22 ).
3. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the sliding unit ( 3 ) is connected to the elastic shock absorbing assembly ( 5 ) by an articulated joint ( 26 ).
4. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , characterised in that the two sleeves ( 23 ) are connected by a bracket ( 25 ) which is in turn connected to the elastic shock absorbing assembly ( 5 ).
5. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises an annular plate ( 12 ) with a perimetric seat ( 18 ) located under the upper plate ( 11 ) and acting in conjunction with the latter; the ring ( 13 ) being housed between the perimetric seats ( 17 and 18 ) in such a way that when the plates ( 11 and 12 ) move closer together, the ring ( 13 ) is made to expand.
6. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the headstock ( 8 ) comprises a seat ( 19 ) into which the split ring ( 13 ) is inserted when the latter expands.
7. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , characterised in that the tapering seats ( 17 , 18 ) are tapered in opposite directions so as to create a space with a smaller diameter to accommodate the split ring ( 13 ).
8. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the upper plate ( 11 ) is moved closer to the ring ( 13 ) by means of a set of bolts ( 15 ).
9. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , characterised in that the upper plate ( 11 ) comprises holes ( 16 ) for the bolts ( 15 ) and a fastener ( 20 ) for the shock absorber ( 5 ).
10. The front motorcycle suspension ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , characterised in that the upper plate ( 11 ) is moved closer to the ring ( 13 ) by means of a set of bolts ( 15 ) inserted into corresponding threaded holes ( 14 ) made in the headstock ( 8 ) or in the annular plate ( 12 ).