A snowmobile including a frame, drive track, and an engine. The engine extends in a first direction from a cylinder bore axis of the engine and a back side extends in a second direction from the cylinder bore axis. Air may enter a cylinder bore of the engine from the front side and exhaust gases may exit the engine from the front side.
1. A snowmobile comprising:
a frame supporting a drive track;
a drive comprising an engine connected to the frame and a drivetrain operatively coupling the engine to the drive track;
the engine comprising a front side extending in a first direction from a cylinder bore axis of the engine and a back side extending in a second direction from the cylinder bore axis; and
wherein air enters a cylinder bore of the engine from the front side and exhaust gases exit the engine from the front side.
2. The snowmobile of claim 1 , further including an inlet port disposed on the front side of the engine.
3. The snowmobile of claim 2 , wherein air passes through the inlet port when entering the cylinder bore of the engine.
4. The snowmobile of claim 2 , further including an exhaust port disposed on the front side of the engine.
5. The snowmobile of claim 4 , wherein exhaust gases pass through the exhaust port when exiting the cylinder bore of the engine.
6. The snowmobile of claim 4 , further including a heat shield disposed between the inlet port and the exhaust port.
7. The snowmobile of claim 6 , wherein the heat shield extends between a throttle body communicating with the inlet port and an exhaust pipe communicating with the exhaust port.
8. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the heat shield is fixed to the exhaust pipe.
9. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the heat shield is fixed to the throttle body.
10. The snowmobile of claim 6 , wherein the heat shield is fixed to the engine block.
11. The snowmobile of claim 6 , wherein the heat shield comprises a reflective material.
12. The snowmobile of claim 11 , wherein the reflective material is capable of reflecting infra-red radiation.
13. The snowmobile of claim 6 , wherein the heat shield comprises a sheet of metal.
14. The snowmobile of claim 6 , wherein the heat shield comprises a foil.
15. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein:
an outer extent of the drive is disposed at a first radius from a drive center axis extending laterally through the snowmobile;
a first control point of the snowmobile is disposed at a second radius from the drive center axis; and
the second radius is different from the first radius.
16. The snowmobile of claim 15 , wherein the second radius is greater than the first radius.
17. The snowmobile of claim 15 , wherein:
the snowmobile comprises a handlebar having a rotational axis, a first grip axis and a second grip axis;
the first grip axis and the second grip axis define a grip plane; and
the first control point is defined by an intersection of the rotational axis and the grip plane.
18. The snowmobile of claim 17 , wherein the handlebar is movable between a first position in which the handlebar defines the first control point and a second position in which the handlebar defines a second control point.
19. The snowmobile of claim 15 , further including a running board.
20. The snowmobile of claim 19 , wherein the running board and the first control point are separated from one another by a distance which is greater than the second radius.
21. The snowmobile of claim 20 , wherein the distance is measured along a plane that intersects the first control point and is normal to a running board plane defined by a surface of the running board.
22. The snowmobile of claim 21 , wherein the plane intersects the surface of the running board.
23. The snowmobile of claim 19 , further including a toe stop which intersects a running board at an intersection.
24. The snowmobile of claim 23 , wherein the intersection and the first control point are separated from one another by a distance that is greater than the second radius.
25. The snowmobile of claim 19 , wherein the cylinder bore axis of the engine is skewed relative to a running board plane defined by a surface of the running board.
26. The snowmobile of claim 19 , wherein the cylinder bore axis of the engine and a running board plane defined by a surface of the running board define an acute angle.