TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE WITH A MONOSHOCK ABSORBER TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a two-wheeled vehicle with a monoshock absorber and, in particular, relates to a two-wheeled vehicle provided with a monoshock absorber disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the ground level.
BACKGROUND
Conventionally, in a frame layout for two-wheeled vehicles with a monoshock absorber, the monoshock absorber is disposed behind the engine and in-between the frame and the rear wheel, substantially inclined to the ground level. Disposing the monoshock absorber in-between the frame and the rear wheel results in a longer wheelbase, as some space is required to accommodate the monoshock absorber. Due to the relatively longer wheelbase, the two-wheeled vehicle becomes bulky to store and transport. Also, negotiating the vehicle around turns becomes difficult. Moreover, vertically disposing monoshock absorbers leads to wastage of space beneath the rider seat that could have been used for various other purposes, one such example is a storage box.
Generally, engine is mounted at an inclination form the ground level to optimize the wheelbase. This however, adversely affects the ride quality and handling of the two wheeled vehicle. Furthermore, in a step through two-wheeled vehicle, mounting the engine at an inclination from the ground level increases the height of the step through. This in turn decreases the comfort level of the driver during getting on and off from the rider seat.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a compact vehicle layout for the two-wheeled vehicle. It further mandates to increase the utility space and decrease the height of the step through available on the two-wheeled vehicle. Additionally, there is a need to decrease the height of C.G. of the two-wheeled vehicle thereby enhancing the drivability of the two-wheeled vehicle.
SUMMARY
The present subject matter described herein is directed towards a two-wheeled vehicle provided with a monoshock absorber. The present subject matter proposes a two-wheeled vehicle having a relatively compact frame layout and enhanced space for utility applications, such as a storage box.
In accordance with at least one aspect of the present subject matter, the two-wheeled vehicle with a monoshock absorber comprises a frame that extends longitudinally of the two-wheeled vehicle and supports a front wheel and a rear wheel on front and rear ends of the two-wheeled vehicle respectively. A rider seat is disposed substantially horizontally and upwardly of the frame. An engine is disposed substantially horizontally and downwardly of the frame. A swing arm is pivotally mounted onto the frame and supports the rear wheel. The monoshock absorber is operably disposed between the swing arm and the frame in such a way that the monoshock absorber is located above the engine and beneath the rider seat. Further, the monoshock absorber is substantially horizontal to the ground level.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended

claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of the subject matter are set forth in the appended claims hereto. The subject matter itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features, and wherein:
Fig.lA illustrates an elevated view of a two-wheeled vehicle incorporating an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig.lB shows a middle portion of the two-wheeled vehicle, illustrating the monoshock absorber operably attached to the swing arm.
Fig. IC shows the middle portion of the two-wheeled vehicle, illustrating the monoshock absorber operably attached the frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
To address the aforementioned needs, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter, a two-wheeled vehicle is provided with a monoshock absorber that is

mounted substantially horizontally to the ground level, above an engine and in-between a swing arm and a frame.
The frame of the two-wheeled vehicle extends longitudinally of the two-wheeled vehicle and supports the front wheel and the rear wheel on front and rear ends of the two-wheeled vehicle respectively. A rider seat is disposed substantially horizontally and upwardly of the frame. The engine is disposed substantially horizontally and downwardly of the frame thereby decreasing the height of the C.G. The swing arm is pivotally mounted onto the frame and supports the rear wheel. The monoshock absorber is operably disposed in-between the swing arm and the frame in such a way that the monoshock absorber is located above the engine and beneath the rider seat and a storage box. Further, the monoshock absorber is oriented substantially horizontal to the ground level.
As both the engine and the monoshock absorber are mounted substantially horizontally with respect to the ground level, one above the other, it leads to compact layout of the frame thereby achieving a relatively shorter wheelbase. It also leads to enhancement of utility space that may be used as a utility box. Further, it decreases the height of step through available on the two-wheeled vehicle. Furthermore, as the engine is mounted substantially horizontally it decreases the height of C.G. thereby enhancing the drivability of the vehicle.
Fig.lA illustrates an elevated view of a two-wheeled vehicle 100 incorporating an embodiment of the present subject matter. The embodiments disclosed herein are described in the context of a step through two-wheeler having an engine 130 rigidly mounted to the frame and having relatively large wheels. However, the

embodiments and the subject matter herein can also be applied to other vehicles, such as step-over two-wheelers or two-wheeled vehicles having swinging type engines with smaller wheels, all terrain vehicles, and the like.
As used herein, the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", and "down", correspond to the direction assumed by a driver of the vehicle. The two-wheeled vehicle 100 is configured for accommodating two persons, a driver and a pillion rider. The two-wheeled vehicle 100 includes the frame 105 for supporting a handlebar 110 that is disposed towards a front end thereof The frame 105 also supports a front wheel 115 and a rear wheel 120 on the front and the rear ends, respectively, thereof. A rider seat 125 extends upwardly and substantially horizontally of the frame 105. The engine 130, preferably an internal combustion engine, is rigidly mounted downwardly and substantially horizontally of the frame 105. A swing arm 135 is pivotally mounted to the frame 105. The swing arm 135 resiliently supports the rear wheel 120 with the frame 105. A monoshock absorber 140 is operably disposed substantially horizontally, preferably at an angle of about 10 degrees to the ground level, in-between the frame 105 and the swing arm 135. The monoshock absorber 140 is oriented in such a way that it is located above the engine 130 and beneath the rider seat 125. A storage space 145 is disposed beneath the rider seat 125 and above the monoshock absorber 140. The storage space 145 includes two storage chambers. A first storage chamber 150 holds a battery (not shown) and a second storage chamber 155 stores articles such as helmet, goggles and the like.
As shown in Fig.lA, the two-wheeled vehicle 100 has a compact layout and a relatively short wheelbase 160, as both engine 130 and the monoshock absorber 140 are disposed substantially horizontally, one above another. The short wheelbase 160

enhances the manoeuvrability and stability of the vehicle. Further, as engine 130 is mounted substantially horizontally with respect to the ground level, a relatively short step through height 165 is achieved by the two wheeled vehicle 100. The short step through height 165 leads to enhancement in the comfort of the rider during mounting and dismounting the two-wheeled vehicle 100. Furthermore, as the engine 130 is mounted substantially horizontally and downwardly of the frame 105, the C.G. of the vehicle lies closer to the ground thereby enhancing the stability and the drivability of the two wheeled vehicle 100.
Fig.lB shows a middle portion of the two-wheeled vehicle 100, illustrating the monoshock absorber 140 operably attached to the swing arm 135. As shown, a first end of the monoshock absorber 140 is operably attached to the swing arm 135 by means of first and second link members 170 and 175 respectively. As shown, the first end of the monoshock absorber 140 is pivotally attached to the first link member 170 by means of a hinge joint 180.
Fig, IC shows the middle portion of the two-wheeled vehicle 100, illustrating the monoshock absorber 140 operably attached to the frame 105. As shown, a second end of the monoshock absorber 140 is pivotally attached to the frame 105 by means of a hinge joint 185.
Other advantages of the two-wheeled vehicle with a monoshock absorber will become better understood from the description and claims of an exemplary embodiment of such a unit.

The two-wheeled vehicle with a monoshock absorber of the present subject matter is not restricted to the embodiments that are mentioned above in the description.
Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the subject matter, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the subject matter. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.

We claim:
1. A two-wheeled vehicle (100) comprising:
a frame (105) extending longitudinally and supporting a front wheel (115) on a front end and a rear wheel (120) on a rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle;
an engine (130) disposed substantially horizontally and downwardly of the frame (105);
a rider seat (125) disposed substantially horizontally and upwardly of the frame (105);
a swing arm (135) pivotally mounted on the frame (105) and supporting the rear wheel (120); and
a monoshock absorber (140), characterized in that,
the monoshock absorber (140) being operably disposed between the swing arm (135) and the frame (105) and located substantially horizontally and upwardly of the engine (130) and downwardly of the rider seat (125).
2. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monoshock
absorber (140) is located substantially horizontally and downwardly of a storage
space (145).

3. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage space (145) comprises a first storage chamber (150) and a second storage chamber (155).
4. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first storage chamber (150) comprises at least one battery.
5. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engine (130) and the monoshock absorber (140) are disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the ground level.
6. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two-wheeled vehicle (100) is a step through vehicle.
7. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substantially horizontally disposed monoshock absorber (140) decreases the height of the step through and the substantially horizontally disposed engine (130) decreases the height of C.G.
8. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engine (130) is rigidly mounted to the frame (105).
9. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engine (130) is a swinging type engine.
10. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (105) supports a handlebar (110).

11. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the monoshock absorber (140) is disposed at an angle of approximately
10° to the ground level.
12. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the monoshock absorber (140) is attached to the swing arm (135) by
means of a first link member (170) and a second link member (175).
13. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein a first end of the monoshock absorber (140) is pivotally attached to the
first link member (170) by a hinge joint (180).
14. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein a second end of the monoshock absorber (140) is pivotally attached to the
frame (105) by a hinge joint (185).