Straddle-type wheeled vehicle and frame thereof

1. A wheeled vehicle comprising:

a frame comprising:

an upper frame member;

a lower frame member;

a forward cross member interconnecting a forward portion of the upper frame member with a forward portion of the lower frame member;

a rearward cross member interconnecting a rearward portion of the upper frame member with a rearward portion of the lower frame member,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, and rearward cross member defining a closed perimeter with a space therein; and

a strut extending from one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member, to another one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, rearward cross member, and strut being disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

a straddle seat mounted on the upper frame member;

a front left wheel and a front right wheel, each of the front wheels being mounted to the frame via a front suspension, each of the suspensions being connected to the frame at plurality of positions, one of the plurality of positions being on the strut;

a single rear wheel disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

a swing arm mounting the single rear wheel to the frame;

a rear suspension operatively disposed between the swing arm and the frame;

a steering column operatively connected to the front wheels for steering the front wheels, the steering column extending inside the space rearwardly of the forward cross member;

handlebars connected to an upper end of the steering column above the upper frame member; and

an engine disposed in the space and operatively connected to the rear wheel to power the rear wheel.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the strut extends diagonally from the forward cross member to the lower frame member.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the engine is mounted to the strut.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein another portion of the engine is mounted to the rearward cross member via a bracket.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of the front suspensions comprises an upper A-arm and a lower A-arm, each A-arm having a front arm and a rear arm; and

wherein the rear arm of each upper A-arm is connected to the strut.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the front arm of each upper A-arm is connected to the forward cross member, and the front and rear arms of each lower A-arm are connected to the lower frame member.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein each of the front suspensions further comprises a shock absorber extending from the lower A-arm to the forward cross member.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering column passes through the upper frame member forwardly of the straddle seat.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering column passes through the strut.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein a lower end of the steering column is pivotally connected to the forward cross-member.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear suspension is connected to the rearward cross member.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear suspension includes a shock absorber disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the single rear wheel extends under the upper frame member.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each front wheel pivots about a pivot axis being positioned longitudinally rearwardly of a forward most portion of the frame.

15. A frame for a wheeled vehicle comprising:

an upper frame member;

a lower frame member;

a forward cross member interconnecting a forward portion of the upper frame member with a forward portion of the lower frame member;

a rearward cross member interconnecting a rearward portion of the upper frame member with a rearward portion of the lower frame member,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, and rearward cross member defining a closed perimeter with a space therein;

a strut extending from one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member, to another one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member; and

a plurality of suspension attachment points disposed on the frame, at least one of the suspension attachment points being disposed on the strut,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, rearward cross member, and strut being disposed along a common plane.

16. The frame of claim 15 , wherein the strut extends diagonally from the forward cross member to the lower frame member.

17. The frame of claim 15 , wherein the rearward cross member extends rearwardly and upwardly from the lower frame member.

18. The frame of claim 17 , wherein the lower frame member and the rearward cross member are integrally formed.

19. A wheeled vehicle comprising:

a frame comprising:

an upper frame member;

a lower frame member;

a forward cross member interconnecting a forward portion of the upper frame member with a forward portion of the lower frame member;

a rearward cross member interconnecting a rearward portion of the upper frame member with a rearward portion of the lower frame member,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, and rearward cross member defining a closed perimeter with a space therein; and

a strut extending from one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member, to another one of the upper frame member, the lower frame member, the forward cross member, and the rearward cross member,

the upper frame member, lower frame member, forward cross member, rearward cross member, and strut being disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

a straddle seat mounted on the upper frame member;

a front left wheel and a front right wheel, each of the front wheels being mounted to the frame via a front suspension;

a single rear wheel disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

a swing arm mounting the single rear wheel to the frame;

a rear suspension operatively disposed between the swing arm and the frame;

a steering column operatively connected to the front wheels for steering the front wheels, the steering column extending inside the space rearwardly of the forward cross member, the steering column passing through the strut;

handlebars connected to an upper end of the steering column above the upper frame member; and

an engine disposed in the space and operatively connected to the rear wheel to power the rear wheel.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the steering column passes through the upper frame member forwardly of the straddle seat.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein a lower end of the steering column is pivotally connected to the forward cross-member.

22. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the strut extends diagonally from the forward cross member to the lower frame member.

23. The vehicle of claim 22 , wherein a portion of the engine is mounted to the strut.

24. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the rear suspension is connected to the rearward cross member.

25. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the single rear wheel extends under the upper frame member.