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In a motorcycle, a fuel tank shroud is arranged on each side of the fuel tank so that the shrouds cover at least part of both side surfaces of the fuel tank. The rear portions of the shrouds are stably supported to avoid vibration. Each shroud is formed of synthetic resin and integrally includes a m

In a motorcycle, a fuel tank shroud is arranged on each side of the fuel tank so that the shrouds cover at least part of both side surfaces of the fuel tank. The rear portions of the shrouds are stably supported to avoid vibration. Each shroud is formed of synthetic resin and integrally includes a main portion for covering the side of a fuel tank, a supporting arm portion extending inward from a rear portion of the main portion and sandwiched between a front portion of a seat and a rear portion of the fuel tank, and an engaging portion projecting from a distal end of the supporting arm portion. A bottom plate of the seat is integrally provided with a latching portion for allowing removable engagement with the engaging portion of the fuel tank shrouds, whereby the rear portion of the shrouds are supported.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. In a motorcycle having a vehicle body frame, a front wheel, a rear wheel, a fuel tank, an engine for driving the rear wheel, and a seat, the vehicle body frame comprising: a head pipe; and a front fork which is steerably supported by the head pipe and which rotatably supports

What is claimed is: 1. In a motorcycle having a vehicle body frame, a front wheel, a rear wheel, a fuel tank, an engine for driving the rear wheel, and a seat, the vehicle body frame comprising: a head pipe; and a front fork which is steerably supported by the head pipe and which rotatably supports the front wheel; wherein the engine and the fuel tank are respectively mounted on the vehicle body frame, the fuel tank is arranged behind the head pipe and above the engine, the seat is arranged on a rear side of the fuel tank, with a front portion of the seat overlapping the rear portion of the fuel tank so as to cover the rear portion of the fuel tank from above, the seat comprising a bottom plate; the improvement comprising a pair of shrouds formed from a synthetic resin material, and a support structure supporting a rear portion of each shroud on the motorcycle, wherein the shrouds have front ends extending toward the front fork and configured to direct traveling wind toward the engine, with one of said shrouds being arranged on each side of the fuel tank to cover at least a part of each side surface of the fuel tank, each shroud integrally comprising: a main shroud portion covering the side of the fuel tank, the main shroud portion being secured at least to the fuel tank, a supporting arm portion extending inward from a rear portion of the main shroud portion, the supporting arm portion sandwiched between the front portion of the seat and the rear portion of the fuel tank, and an engaging portion projecting from an end of the supporting arm portion which is distant from the rear portion of the main shroud portion; wherein the support structure comprises a latching portion integrally provided on the bottom plate of the seat, the latching portion being removably engagable with the engaging portion of the shroud; and wherein the engaging portion of each shroud is formed in a plate shape elongated in the fore-and-aft direction of the motorcycle, and projects upwardly from the supporting arm portion. 2. The motorcycle shrouds and support structure of claim 1, wherein the latching portion of the support structure extends in the fore and aft direction of the motorcycle and is adapted to engage the engaging portion of the shroud along a laterally outside facing surface of the engaging portion, and wherein the bottom plate of the seat is further integrally provided with a guide projection extending from the front end of the latching portion and curving toward the outside as it extends in the forward direction of the vehicle, the guide projection guiding the engaging portion toward the latching portion during assembly of the seat on the fuel tank. 3. The motorcycle shrouds and support structure of claim 1, wherein a front portion of the bottom plate of the seat is disengageably engaged with the upper surface of the rear portion of the fuel tank between the engaging portions of the pair of shrouds. 4. A motorcycle, comprising a vehicle body frame, a fuel tank, an engine, a seat, at least two fuel tank shrouds, and a shroud supporting structure which supports a rear portion of each shroud on the motorcycle, wherein the vehicle body frame comprises a head pipe, and the engine and the fuel tank are mounted on the vehicle body frame such that the fuel tank is arranged behind the head pipe and above the engine, wherein the seat is arranged on a rear side of the fuel tank, and a front portion of the seat overlaps the rear portion of the fuel tank to cover the rear portion of the fuel tank from above, front ends of the shrouds extend toward the front of the vehicle body frame to direct traveling wind toward the engine, one of said shrouds being arranged on each side of the fuel tank so as to cover at least part of each side surface of the fuel tank, wherein each shroud comprises: a main shroud portion for covering the side of the fuel tank, the main shroud portion being secured at least to the fuel tank, a supporting arm portion extending inward from a rear portion of the main shroud portion, the supporting arm portion interposed between the front portion of the seat and the rear portion of the fuel tank; and an engaging portion projecting from an end of the supporting arm portion which is distant from the rear portion of the main shroud portion, wherein the shroud supporting structure comprises a latching portion that allows removable engagement with the engaging portion, the latching portion integrally provided on a bottom surface of the seat; and wherein the engaging portion of each shroud is formed in a plate shape elongated in the fore-and-aft direction of the motorcycle, and projects upwardly from the supporting arm portion. 5. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the seat comprises a bottom plate, the latching portion is integrally provided on a bottom surface of the bottom plate. 6. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the seat comprises a bottom plate formed of synthetic resin, and the latching portion is integrally provided on a bottom surface of the bottom plate, and wherein each shroud is formed of synthetic resin. 7. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the seat comprises a bottom plate, and the latching portion is integrally provided on a bottom surface of the bottom plate, and wherein the latching portion comprises a pair of laterally spaced projecting ridge members. 8. The motorcycle of claim 7, wherein the seat further comprises a connector for connecting the seat to the fuel tank, and wherein the connector is disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate separate from and between the pair of laterally spaced projecting ridge members. 9. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the fuel tank comprises a hook member, the hook member formed on an upper surface of the fuel tank, wherein the seat comprises a connector for connecting the seat to the fuel tank, and wherein the connector is disposed on the bottom surface of the seat and is adapted to cooperatively engage the hook member, and wherein the latching portion comprises a pair of laterally spaced projecting ridge members respectively defining side portions of retaining channels which receive and retain respective engaging portions of the shrouds therein, the connector centered between the projecting ridge members. 10. The motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the hook member comprises shaft portion and a plate portion, the shaft portion extending outward from an upper surface of the fuel tank, the plate portion is disposed on an end of the shaft portion so that the shaft portion and plate portion are arranged to form a T-shape when viewed in cross section, and wherein the connector comprises a latching plate disposed substantially in parallel with the bottom surface of the seat, the latching plate including a slot extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the slot is adapted to receive the shaft portion of the hook member therein such that when the connector cooperatively engages the hook member, the plate portion of the hook member resides between the latching plate and the bottom surface of the seat, and the shaft portion resides within the slot, whereby the seat is maintained adjacent to the fuel tank. 11. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the latching portion extends in the fore and aft direction of the motorcycle and is adapted to engage the engaging portion such that a laterally outside facing surface of the engaging portion abuts a laterally inside facing surface of the latching portion. 12. The motorcycle of claim 11, wherein support structure further comprises guide projections integrally provided on a bottom surface of the seat, the guide projections forming a projecting wall which extends forward from a front end of the latching portion, and which gradually changes direction to angle toward a lateral side of the vehicle, the guide projections serving to guide the engaging portions of the shroud to the latching portions during assembly of the seat to the fuel tank. 13. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein a front portion of the bottom surface of the seat is disengagably engaged with the upper surface of the rear portion of the fuel tank between the engaging portions of the pair of shrouds. 14. In a motorcycle having a vehicle body frame, a fuel tank, an engine for driving the rear wheel, a seat, and at least two fuel tank shrouds, wherein the vehicle body frame comprises a head pipe, and the engine and the fuel tank are mounted on the vehicle body frame such that the fuel tank is arranged on a rear side of the head pipe to cover the engine from above, the seat is arranged on a rear side of the fuel tank, and a front portion of the seat overlaps the rear portion of the fuel tank to cover the rear portion of the fuel tank from above, front ends of the fuel tank shrouds extend toward a front of the motorcycle to direct traveling wind toward the engine, a shroud being arranged on each side of the fuel tank so as to cover at least a part of each side surface of the fuel tank, each shroud comprising: a main shroud portion for covering the side of the fuel tank, the main shroud portion being secured at least to the fuel tank, a supporting arm portion extending inwardly from a rear portion of the main shroud portion, and sandwiched between the front portion of the seat and the rear portion of the fuel tank, an engaging portion projecting upwardly from an inner part of the supporting arm portion, the engaging portion being formed in a plate shape elongated in the fore-and-aft direction of the motorcycle; and wherein a latching portion is formed on a lower surface of the seat, the latching portion adapted to receive the engaging portion of each shroud such that the rear portion of each shroud is operatively connected to the underside of the seat. 15. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the seat comprises a bottom plate, and the latching portion is integrally provided on a bottom surface of the bottom plate and defines a pair of retaining channels which respectively receive and retain the respective engaging portions of the shrouds therein. 16. The motorcycle shrouds and support structure of claim 1, wherein the supporting arm portion extends from a vertically intermediate section of the rear portion of the main shroud portion, and tapers inwardly therefrom. 17. The motorcycle shrouds and support structure of claim 4, wherein the supporting arm portion extends from a vertically intermediate section of the rear portion of the main shroud portion, and tapers inwardly therefrom.