Saddle-type vehicle

Abstract

In a saddle-type vehicle with the exhaust pipe positioned above, this design prevents the occupant's legs from coming into contact with the oxygen sensor attached to the exhaust pipe. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a seat 34 on which the occupant sits, a step 18 positioned below the seat 34 on which the occupant places their feet, a straddle section 50 positioned in front of the seat 34 and forming a straddle space K1, an exhaust pipe 60 positioned below the seat 34 and above the step 18, and an O2 sensor 70 positioned in the exhaust pipe 60, wherein the O2 sensor 70 is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the straddle section 50.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in a motorcycle having an internal combustion engine, an oxygen sensor for detecting the oxygen concentration in exhaust gas is known. The oxygen sensor reduces harmful substances in the exhaust gas and suppresses the impact on the environment by adjusting the air-fuel ratio based on the measured amount of oxygen.

[0003] The oxygen sensor is known to be arranged in the exhaust pipe (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vehicle of Patent Document 1 includes a fuel tank between the handle and the seat, and a portion where the rider grips the knees is provided. In such a vehicle, when the rider mounts the vehicle, the rider straddles the vehicle by springing the right foot upward to the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, the possibility of contact between the oxygen sensor arranged in the exhaust pipe and the rider's leg is low.

[0004] Here, Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle in which the rider straddles across the straddle space in front of the seat to mount the vehicle. In the vehicle of Patent Document 2, the exhaust pipe is arranged upward in order to improve the running performance on uneven ground.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0008] As a means of solving the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention comprises a seat on which an occupant sits, a step positioned below the seat on which the occupant places their feet, a straddle portion positioned in front of the seat and forming a straddle space, an exhaust pipe positioned below the seat and above the step, and an O2 sensor positioned in the exhaust pipe, wherein the O2 sensor is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the straddle portion.

[0009] This configuration has the following effects when an occupant gets on or off the vehicle: When getting on, the occupant moves their legs from one side of the vehicle, over the step-over section located in front of the seat, to the other side. When getting off, similar to getting on, the occupant moves their legs from the other side of the vehicle, over the step-over section located in front of the seat, to the other side. At this time, the O2 sensor is not positioned in the path the leg takes. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor and the leg can be suppressed.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect described above, the straddle portion comprises a vehicle body cover positioned below the seat, the exhaust pipe is positioned below the upper edge of the vehicle body cover in a side view of the vehicle, the O2 sensor is positioned above the exhaust pipe, and the upper end of the O2 sensor is positioned below the upper edge.

[0011] This configuration allows for easy access to the O2 sensor while ensuring that the sensor is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs as they pass over the straddle. This minimizes contact between the O2 sensor and the legs.

[0012] A third aspect of the present invention is that, in the second aspect described above, the O2 sensor is arranged at an inclination such that its upper end is located on the side of the vehicle body cover.

[0013] This configuration makes the O2 sensor less conspicuous. Furthermore, the O2 sensor is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs. This improves the overall appearance and reduces contact between the O2 sensor and the occupant's legs during entry and exit.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, the O2 sensor is positioned on the rearward side of the vehicle relative to the front end of the seat.

[0015] With this configuration, the O2 sensor is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs when they lower their legs from the seat upon boarding or raise them upon disembarking. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor and the legs can be suppressed.

[0016] A fifth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above, the O2 sensor is positioned on the rearward side of the vehicle relative to the step.

[0017] With this configuration, when a passenger places their feet on the footrest while riding, the O2 sensor is not positioned in the path of the passenger's legs. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor and the passenger's legs can be suppressed.

[0018] A sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects described above, comprises an exhaust pipe cover covering the exhaust pipe, a silencer coupled to the exhaust pipe on the rear side of the exhaust pipe of the vehicle, and a silencer cover covering the silencer, wherein the O2 sensor is positioned in the exhaust pipe between the exhaust pipe cover and the silencer cover in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0019] With this configuration, the front side of the O2 sensor is protected by the exhaust pipe cover, and the rear side of the O2 sensor is protected by the muffler cover. This helps to prevent contact between the O2 sensor and the driver's leg.

[0020] The seventh aspect of the present invention is that in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a fuel tank is provided below the seat.

[0021] By configuring in this way, it is possible to easily ensure a wide interval between the seat and the O2 sensor. Therefore, even when the O2 sensor is disposed above the exhaust pipe, the O2 sensor is not located near directly below the seat. Accordingly, contact between the O2 sensor and the leg can be suppressed.

[0022] The eighth aspect of the present invention is that in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the straddle portion includes a body cover disposed below the seat, the O2 sensor includes a cable-like member routed inward in the vehicle width direction, and the cable-like member is routed inside the body cover through an opening of the body cover.

[0023] By configuring in this way, exposure of the cable-like member routed from the O2 sensor can be minimized. Therefore, contact between the cable-like member and the leg can be suppressed.

[0024] The ninth aspect of the present invention is that in the eighth aspect, the cable-like member overlaps the seat in a top view.

[0025] By configuring in this way, the cable-like member routed from the O2 sensor is not exposed on the trajectory through which the passenger's leg passes. Therefore, contact between the cable-like member and the leg can be suppressed.

[0026] The tenth aspect of the present invention is that in the second aspect, the O2 sensor is covered with an O2 sensor cover from above, the front side and the rear side of the O2 sensor in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction are covered with the O2 sensor cover, and an opening is provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the O2 sensor cover.

[0027] This configuration prevents direct contact between the O2 sensor and the occupant's leg, even if the leg comes into contact with the O2 sensor, thanks to the O2 sensor cover. It also prevents water, sand, and mud from entering the opening in the vehicle body cover formed on the inside of the O2 sensor in the vehicle width direction, and from directly contacting the O2 sensor and its cable-like components. Therefore, damage to the O2 sensor can be minimized. Furthermore, covering the O2 sensor with the O2 sensor cover makes it less conspicuous, improving its appearance. Additionally, the inside of the O2 sensor in the vehicle width direction is not covered by the O2 sensor cover. This allows for a lighter O2 sensor cover and helps prevent overheating of the sensor.

[0028] An eleventh aspect of the present invention is, in the tenth aspect described above, the O2 sensor cover is provided with a hole on its side, the O2 sensor cover and the vehicle body cover are separated by a gap, and both ends of the O2 sensor cover in the vehicle's front-rear direction are fastened and fixed to the exhaust pipe.

[0029] This configuration allows the O2 sensor to be visually inspected through the holes in the O2 sensor cover. Therefore, if there is a problem with the O2 sensor, the abnormality can be detected by visual inspection. In addition, the holes allow heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the O2 sensor cover to dissipate. Furthermore, by creating a gap between the O2 sensor cover and the vehicle body cover during driving, airflow passes between the O2 sensor cover and the vehicle body cover. Therefore, the O2 sensor can be cooled by the airflow. Thus, overheating of the O2 sensor can be further suppressed. Moreover, since the O2 sensor cover is fixed to the exhaust pipe on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle, the O2 sensor cover can be firmly fixed to the exhaust pipe. Therefore, even if the O2 sensor cover is subjected to impact, deformation and detachment of the O2 sensor cover can be suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to the present invention, in a saddle-type vehicle with the exhaust pipe positioned above, it is possible to suppress contact between the occupant's legs and the oxygen sensor attached to the exhaust pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This is a right side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged view of Figure 1 in the saddle-type vehicle described above. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the saddle-type vehicle shown above, taken from the front right. [Figure 4] This is a top view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor of the saddle-type vehicle described above. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the saddle-type vehicle shown above, along the VV line in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is a view of the area around the O2 sensor of the above-mentioned saddle-type vehicle, seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 7] The O2 sensor of the above-mentioned saddle-type vehicle is shown in the view from the direction of arrow VII in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor of the above-mentioned saddle-type vehicle. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor in the saddle-type vehicle described above, with the O2 sensor cover and other components removed, as shown in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, directions such as front, rear, left, and right in the following description are the same as the directions of the vehicle described below. In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, arrows FR indicating the front of the vehicle, LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, UP indicating the top of the vehicle, and CL indicating the center of the left and right sides of the vehicle are shown in appropriate places. In this embodiment, "intermediate" means not only the midpoint between the two ends of the object, but also the area inside the midpoint between the two ends of the object. In the following description, the saddle-type vehicle is assumed to be in a stationary state where the vehicle body is not tilted to the left or right, the steering angle is 0 degrees, and it is also assumed to be in an unloaded state of 1G on a horizontal plane.

[0033] Figure 1 is a right side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, vehicle 1, as one embodiment of a saddle-type vehicle, comprises, for example, a front wheel WF and a rear wheel WR, a vehicle frame F, and a power unit P supported by the vehicle frame F.

[0034] The vehicle frame F is formed to have high rigidity by combining, for example, steel pipes and steel plates. A cylindrical head pipe 3 is provided at the front end of the vehicle frame F. The head pipe 3 is mounted at an angle such that the upper part is positioned further back in the vertical direction. A steering stem S, which supports the front wheel WF in a steerable manner, is attached to the head pipe 3. The shaft (not shown) of the steering stem S is inserted through the head pipe 3.

[0035] The steering stem S is rotatably supported by the head pipe 3. The steering stem S rotates, for example, on a rotation axis coaxial with the head pipe 3, causing the front wheel WF to rotate left and right. The rotation axis is set to a caster angle that is tilted rearward with respect to the vertical direction.

[0036] A plate-shaped top bridge 4 is fixed to the upper end of the steering stem S. A plate-shaped bottom bridge 14 is fixed to the lower end of the steering stem S. The top bridge 4 and the bottom bridge 14 are arranged in parallel. The upper parts of a pair of rod-shaped front forks 15, which are arranged on the left and right sides, pass through and are fixed to the top bridge 4 and the bottom bridge 14.

[0037] The lower parts of the pair of left and right front forks 15 rotatably support the front wheel WF. The front wheel WF is, for example, a wire spoke wheel in which the rim and hub are connected by multiple wires. The front wheel WF may also be a disc wheel or a one-piece molded spoke wheel. The wheel of the front wheel WF is provided with a braking device B1. The braking device B1 is, for example, a disc brake. The braking device B1 may also be a drum brake.

[0038] A front fender Y1 is positioned above the front wheel WF. The front fender Y1 is supported by a pair of front forks 15 via stays Y2. The front fender Y1 is formed to cover the front wheel WF. The pair of front forks 15 constitute a retractable cushioning device D1. The cushioning device D1 dampens and reduces vibrations transmitted from the front wheel WF to the vehicle body.

[0039] A cylindrical light stay holder 13 is fitted over the upper part of the front fork 15, between the top bridge 4 and the bottom bridge 14. A headlight stay 11, which supports the headlight 12, is fixed to the front of the light stay holder 13. A meter device 10 and an accessory socket 9 are provided in front of the top bridge 4.

[0040] A handlebar 7 extending horizontally is fixed to the upper part of the top bridge 4. The handlebar 7 is a riser handlebar formed by curving upwards. The handlebar 7 may also be of other shapes, such as a flat handlebar or a clip-on handlebar. A pair of handle grips 5 are provided at both ends of the handlebar 7. A pair of front flasher lamps 8 and a rearview mirror 6 are further fixed to the handlebar 7.

[0041] The vehicle frame F is provided with a straddle section 50. The straddle section 50 is located in front of the seat 34 and is recessed below the seat 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The straddle section 50 forms a straddle space K1 that makes it easier for the rider to straddle the vehicle when getting on or off the motorcycle. A power unit P that generates driving force is suspended and fixed to the lower part of the vehicle frame F. The power unit P is an integrated unit consisting of an engine P1 and a transmission P2. Inside the transmission P2, for example, there is a gear shift and an automatic centrifugal clutch that eliminates the need for clutch operation.

[0042] A muffler M is provided on the right side of the vehicle frame F in the vehicle width direction to discharge exhaust gases from the engine P1. The exhaust port of the muffler M is located, for example, near the underside of the rear carrier 30. Therefore, the muffler M is designed to be less susceptible to water intrusion in environments with lower water levels compared to the rear carrier 30. The detailed configuration of the muffler M will be described later.

[0043] Below the power unit P, a guard member P3 is provided to protect the engine P1. The guard member P3 is formed to cover the lower part of the engine P1. The guard member P3 is fixed to the vehicle frame F via a hanger member P4. The hanger member P4 is suspended from a fixing member F5 provided below the vehicle frame F. A kickstarter pedal 17 for starting the engine P1 is attached to the right side of the transmission P2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0044] A pair of steps 18 are provided on both the left and right sides of the power unit P. The driver's feet rest on the top of the steps 18. Behind the power unit P, a pivot frame 20 is positioned, extending downward from the middle of the vehicle frame F. The front end of a swing arm 24 is rotatably supported on the pivot frame 20 via a pivot axis. The swing arm 24 is connected and integrated by a connecting member (not shown) provided slightly rearward from its front end. Below the pivot frame 20, a center stand 19 for supporting the vehicle 1 is rotatably supported.

[0045] The rear wheel WR is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swingarm 24. The rear wheel WR is, for example, a wire spoke wheel in which the rim and hub are connected by multiple wires. The rear wheel WR may also be a disc wheel or a one-piece molded spoke wheel. The rear wheel WR is fitted with a tire of the same size as, or a different size from, the front wheel WF. The wheel of the rear wheel WR is provided with a braking device B2. The braking device B2 is, for example, a disc brake. The braking device B2 may also be a drum brake.

[0046] With the above configuration, the rear wheel WR swings around the pivot axis at the front end of the swing arm 24. The rear end of the swing arm 24 is rotatably supported by the lower end of the extendable cushioning device D2. The upper end of the cushioning device D2 is rotatably supported at the rear of the vehicle frame F. With the above configuration, the rear wheel WR moves up and down relative to the vehicle frame F, restricted by the cushioning device D2. The cushioning device D2 buffers and dampens vibrations transmitted from the rear wheel WR to the vehicle body.

[0047] The rear wheel WR is driven by a drive chain (not shown) via an output unit located on the left side of the power unit P. The drive chain transmits the rotational driving force generated in the power unit P to a sprocket (not shown) located on the left side of the rear wheel WR. The sprocket is a disc-shaped gear concentric with the rear wheel WR. The drive chain is covered above by a chain cover (not shown). The chain cover is fixed to the left swingarm 24. A pair of left and right rear steps 22 are fixed to the swingarm 24. Above the rear wheel WR, a rear fender 27 is positioned, supported at the rear of the vehicle frame F.

[0048] A seat 34 for the driver is provided on the upper part of the vehicle body, midway between the front and rear. Below the seat 34 is a fuel tank 44 for storing engine fuel. An outer exterior cover 43 is provided on the outside of the fuel tank 44 in the vehicle width direction.

[0049] A rear carrier 30 for receiving cargo is provided behind the seat 34. The rear carrier 30 is positioned behind the seat 34 and above the rear fender 27, and is fixed to the rear of the vehicle frame F. A taillight 29 and a pair of rear flasher lamps 28 are fixed to the lower rear of the rear carrier 30 and above the rear of the rear fender 27.

[0050] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 in a saddle-type vehicle. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the saddle-type vehicle from the front right. Figure 4 is a top view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor of the saddle-type vehicle. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the motorcycle's body frame F is provided with a straddle portion 50 that extends diagonally from behind the head pipe 3 to below the front end of the seat 34. The straddle portion 50 is provided so as to cover the body frame F and vehicle components such as wiring and battery with covers.

[0051] The straddle portion 50 comprises an upper cover 51 that extends diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle from behind the head pipe 3, and a lower cover 52 (vehicle body cover) provided between the lower end of the upper cover 51 and the lower end of the seat 34. The upper cover 51 covers the portion of the vehicle body frame F that extends diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle from above and from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The upper cover 51 is divided into left and right halves, for example, in the center of the left and right sides of the vehicle body. The lower cover 52 covers the area from the upper rear of the upper cover 51 to the front end of the fuel tank 44.

[0052] The front upper end of the upper cover 51 is formed along the rear of the head pipe 3 in a side view. The upper cover 51 comprises an upper edge portion 51a and a lower edge portion 51b. In a side view of the vehicle, the upper edge portion 51a extends diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle from near the upper end of the head pipe 3 via a circular portion 51a1. The circular portion 51a1 is formed in a circular shape in a side view and bulges upward at the upper edge portion 51a. The circular portion 51a1 extends in the vehicle width direction and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The rear lower end of the upper edge portion 51a is connected to the front upper end of the lower cover 52. In a side view of the vehicle, the lower edge portion 51b extends diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle from near the lower end of the head pipe 3 to near the upper end of the transmission P2.

[0053] The lower cover 52 is provided between the rear lower end of the upper cover 51 and the front lower end of the fuel tank 44. The lower cover 52 comprises a front portion 52a connected to the rear lower end of the upper cover 51, a rear portion 52b positioned below the front end of the fuel tank 44, a pair of left and right lateral portions 52c connecting the front portion 52a and the rear portion 52b on the outward side in the vehicle width direction, and a recess 52d formed in the center of the lower cover 52 between the pair of left and right lateral portions 52c.

[0054] The front portion 52a is formed between the rear lower end of the upper cover 51 and the front end of the recess 52d. In a side view, the front portion 52a extends diagonally downward along the upper edge 51a of the upper cover 51 to the recess 52d. The lateral portions 52c extend upward toward the rear of the vehicle from both outer ends of the front portion 52a in the vehicle width direction. In a side view of the vehicle, the lateral portions 52c form the upper edge of the lower cover 52. The lateral portion 52c located on the right side of the vehicle is formed to follow the upper edge of the exhaust pipe 60, which will be described later, in a side view of the vehicle. The rear portion 52b is formed between the rear end of the lateral portion 52c and the front lower end of the fuel tank 44. The rear portion 52b is formed to follow the front lower end of the fuel tank 44. The recess 52d is formed to be surrounded by the front portion 52a, the left and right lateral portions 52c, and the rear portion 52b. The recess 52d forms a concave shape surrounded by the front portion 52a, the left and right lateral portions 52c, and the rear portion 52b.

[0055] A fuel tank 44 is located at the rear of the lower cover 52 of the vehicle. A seat 34 is located above the fuel tank 44. An occupant sits on the seat 34. The front end 34a of the seat 34 extends along the width of the vehicle. The left and right side edges 34b of the seat 34 are formed to widen outwards in the width of the vehicle from both ends of the front end 34a toward the rear of the vehicle. This makes the width of the front end 34a relatively narrower, making it less likely for the occupant's legs to interfere with the front end of the seat when they put their legs on the ground. The seating surface of the seat 34 is located above the straddle portion 50 in a side view.

[0056] A pair of steps 18 are provided below the seat and fuel tank 44. The steps 18 are located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the transmission P2. The steps 18 include a footrest portion 18a on which the occupant places their feet, and a step fixing portion 18b to which the steps 18 are fixed. The occupant's feet are placed on the footrest portion 18a from above. The upper surface of the footrest portion 18a is made of a material such as rubber. The upper surface of the footrest portion 18a has an uneven shape. The step fixing portion 18b is fixed to the left and right ends of a support member fixed to the lower surface of the power unit P. The steps 18 can be rotated upward from the usage position shown by the dashed line in Figure 4 to the flipped-up position shown by the solid line by an axis provided on the step fixing portion 18b. The rear end portion 18c of the steps, which constitutes the rear end of the steps 18 in the usage position, extends along the vehicle width direction. The rear end 18c of the step is located further back in the vehicle than the front end 34a of the seat 34.

[0057] The muffler M comprises an exhaust pipe 60 and a silencer 62. The muffler M extends from below the front of the engine P1 to the right side of the vehicle, passes through the right side of the vehicle, and extends to the rear of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe 60 comprises an upward extension 60a, a curved section 60b, and a rearward extension 60c. The upward extension 60a curves to the right from below the cylinder of the engine P1 and then extends upward. The upward extension 60a passes through the right side of the cylinder and extends diagonally upward towards the rear of the vehicle. In a side view, the upward extension 60a extends to the lower edge 51b of the upper cover 51.

[0058] A curved section 60b is connected to the upper tip of the upper extension section 60a. The curved section 60b curves toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper tip of the upper extension section 60a. A rear extension section 60c is connected to the rear of the curved section 60b. The curved section 60b and the rear extension section 60c are located above the step 18 in a side view. Since the curved section 60b is located in front of the step 18, the occupant's legs will not come into contact with the curved section 60b while driving. The rear extension section 60c extends toward the rear of the vehicle from the curved section 60b to a position that overlaps with the front of the fuel tank 44 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In a side view of the vehicle, the rear extension section 60c is located below the lateral section 52c (upper edge) of the lower cover 52. The rear extension 60c extends towards the rear of the vehicle, following the lower part of the lateral section 52c when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The rear extension 60c is located below the fuel tank 44 when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0059] A silencer 62 is attached to the rear extension 60c of the vehicle. The silencer 62 reduces the exhaust noise of the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust pipe 60. The silencer 62 extends diagonally upward from the rear extension 60c toward the rear of the vehicle, and extends to below the front-to-rear middle section of the rear carrier 30. When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the silencer 62 extends toward the rear of the vehicle at the same angle as the rear extension 60c.

[0060] The exhaust pipe 60 is equipped with an exhaust pipe cover 61. The exhaust pipe cover 61 covers the exhaust pipe 60 from the right side of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe cover 61 is fastened and fixed to the exhaust pipe 60 at the lower part of the upward extension 60a and the rear end of the rear extension 60c. Reference numeral 60d in the figure indicates a bracket for fastening the exhaust pipe cover 61, which is fixed to the rear end of the rear extension 60c. The exhaust pipe cover 61 is formed to conform to the shape of the upward extension 60a, the curved portion 60b, and the rear extension 60c of the exhaust pipe 60. The rear end of the exhaust pipe cover 61 is located in front of the fuel tank 44 in a side view.

[0061] The muffler 62 is equipped with a muffler cover 63. The muffler cover 63 covers the muffler 62 from the right side of the vehicle. The muffler cover 63 extends from the rear of the exhaust pipe cover 61 to the rear end of the muffler 62 and is positioned on the right side of the muffler 62. In a side view, the muffler cover 63 extends diagonally upward toward the rear of the vehicle from the front end of the vehicle to below the middle section of the rear carrier. The front part of the muffler cover 63 (the part that overlaps with the front part of the seat 34 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a side view) is tapered, narrowing in height towards the front in a side view. The rear part of the muffler cover 63 (the part that overlaps with the middle section of the rear carrier 30 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a side view) is tapered, narrowing in height towards the rear in a side view. A muffler guard 64 is provided on the muffler cover 63 below the space between the seat 34 and the rear carrier 30 in a side view. The muffler guard 64 prevents legs, luggage, etc. from coming into contact with the silencer cover 63.

[0062] Figure 4 is a top view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor in a saddle-type vehicle. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, an O2 sensor 70 is provided in the rear extension 60c of the exhaust pipe 60. The O2 sensor 70 is a vertically elongated cylindrical shape. The O2 sensor 70 is located on the upper rear side of the rear extension 60c of the vehicle. The O2 sensor 70 is located behind the front end 34a of the seat 34. The O2 sensor 70 is located behind the rear end 18c of the step 18 in the operating position. In a side view, the O2 sensor 70 is located behind the rear end 52b of the lower cover 52 (see Figure 2). In a side view, the O2 sensor 70 is located between the exhaust pipe cover 61 and the muffler cover 63. The O2 sensor 70 is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the muffler cover 63. When viewed from above the vehicle, there is a gap between the O2 sensor 70 and the lower cover 52.

[0063] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the VV line in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a view of the area around the O2 sensor of a saddle-type vehicle, seen from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the O2 sensor 70 is fixed by a boss fixed to a hole provided above the exhaust pipe 60, and by screwing and tightening a male thread on the lower outer circumference of the O2 sensor 70 into a female thread formed on the inner circumference of the boss. The upper end of the O2 sensor 70 is located below the lateral portion 52c of the lower cover 52.

[0064] The O2 sensor 70 is positioned at an angle from the bottom to the top of the vehicle, with its upper end 82 facing the lower cover 52 (inward in the vehicle width direction). The upper end of the O2 sensor 70 is provided with a sensor cable 71 (a cable-like member) that is routed into the vehicle body. The sensor cable 71 extends upward from the upper end of the O2 sensor 70 and is bent inward in the vehicle width direction. The sensor cable 71 is routed through an inlet hole 52c1 provided in the side portion 52c of the lower cover 52. The O2 sensor 70 and the sensor cable 71 are positioned below the lower cover 52. The sensor cable 71 is routed through the inlet hole 52c1 to the control section that adjusts the air-fuel ratio in the power unit P. Since the sensor cable 71 is routed below the seat 34, the sensor cable 71 is not exposed in a top view (see Figure 4). A grommet 52c2 is provided around the outside of the intake hole 52c1 to prevent moisture and other substances from entering the vehicle body. Reference numeral 35 in the figure indicates an air cleaner box 35 located on the left side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank 44, which introduces intake air to the engine P1.

[0065] Figure 7 is a view of the O2 sensor of a saddle-type vehicle, seen from the direction of arrow VII in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor of a saddle-type vehicle. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the O2 sensor of a saddle-type vehicle with the O2 sensor cover and other components removed from Figure 8. As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the O2 sensor 70 is covered by an O2 sensor cover 80 that extends from above the vehicle. The O2 sensor cover 80 covers the O2 sensor 70 from above the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Similar to the O2 sensor 70, the O2 sensor cover 80 is positioned at an angle from below the vehicle towards above the vehicle, such that the upper end of the O2 sensor cover 80 is located towards the lower cover 52 side (inward in the vehicle width direction).

[0066] The O2 sensor cover 80 comprises a side portion 81, an upper end portion 82, an opening 83, and a flange portion 84. The side portion 81 has a U-shaped cross-section and extends vertically. The side portion 81 covers the front and rear sides of the O2 sensor 70 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, as well as the right side of the vehicle. The left side of the side portion 81 is an opening 83 that opens inward in the vehicle's width direction. Multiple holes 81a are formed in the side portion 81 from the front in the vehicle's longitudinal direction through the outer side in the vehicle's width direction to the rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Each hole 81a is oval-shaped with the circumferential direction of the side portion 81 as its longitudinal direction. Each hole 81a is divided front to back in the circumferential direction of the side portion 81. Two holes 81a are formed on each side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, in the vertical direction.

[0067] An upper end portion 82 is provided above the side portion 81. The upper end portion 82 covers the top of the O2 sensor 70. A stepped U-shape, similar to the cross-sectional shape of the side portion 81, is formed on the outer circumference of the upper end portion 82. An opening 83 is provided on the inside of the side portion 81 and the upper end portion 82 in the vehicle width direction. The opening 83 is formed to follow the vehicle's longitudinal direction when viewed from above. A pair of front and rear flange portions 84 are provided at the lower ends of both sides of the side portion 81 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The O2 sensor cover 80 is fixed to the exhaust pipe 60 on both sides in the vehicle's longitudinal direction by the front and rear flange portions 84. Each flange portion 84 has a hole through which a bolt 90 is inserted. The front and rear flange portions 84 are an example of the front and rear ends that fix the O2 sensor cover 80 to the exhaust pipe 60.

[0068] The exhaust pipe 60 is provided with a bracket 65 for fixing the O2 sensor cover 80 to the exhaust pipe 60. The bracket 65 has an opening in the center to accommodate the O2 sensor 70. The bracket 65 has fastening parts on both sides in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Each fastening part has a hole for inserting a bolt 90, and a nut is fixed to the back surface. The bolt 90, which is inserted through each flange part 84, is screwed into each fastening part from the upper side of the vehicle and tightened, fastening and fixing the flange part 84 and the bracket 65.

[0069] As described above, the saddle-type vehicle in the above embodiment includes a seat 34 on which the occupant sits, a step 18 positioned below the seat 34 on which the occupant places their feet, a straddle section 50 positioned in front of the seat 34 and forming a straddle space K1, an exhaust pipe 60 positioned below the seat 34 and above the step 18, and an O2 sensor 70 positioned in the exhaust pipe 60, wherein the O2 sensor 70 is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the straddle section 50.

[0070] With this configuration, the following effects occur when an occupant gets on or off vehicle 1. When getting on, the occupant moves their legs from one side of vehicle 1, over the straddle portion 50 located in front of the seat 34, to the other side. When getting off, similar to getting on, the occupant moves their legs from the other side of vehicle 1, over the straddle portion 50 located in front of the seat 34, to the other side. At this time, the O2 sensor 70 is not positioned in the trajectory of the legs. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the legs can be suppressed.

[0071] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the straddle portion 50 is provided with a lower cover 52 positioned below the seat 34, the exhaust pipe 60 is positioned below the lateral portion 52c of the lower cover 52 in a side view of the vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 is positioned above the exhaust pipe 60, and the upper end of the O2 sensor 70 is positioned below the lateral portion 52c.

[0072] This configuration facilitates access to the O2 sensor 70 while ensuring that the O2 sensor 70 is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs when they pass over the straddle section 50. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the legs can be suppressed.

[0073] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 is positioned at an angle such that its upper end 82 is located towards the vehicle body cover 52.

[0074] This configuration makes the O2 sensor 70 less conspicuous. Furthermore, the O2 sensor 70 is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs. This improves the overall appearance and reduces contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the occupant's legs during entry and exit.

[0075] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 is positioned on the rearward side of the vehicle, beyond the front end 34a of the seat 34.

[0076] With this configuration, the O2 sensor 70 is not positioned in the path of the occupant's legs when they lower their legs from the seat 34 when getting in or raise their legs when getting out. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the legs can be suppressed.

[0077] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 is positioned further rearward than the step 18.

[0078] With this configuration, when a passenger places their feet on the step 18 while boarding, the O2 sensor 70 is not positioned in the path of the passenger's legs. Therefore, contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the legs can be suppressed.

[0079] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the vehicle includes an exhaust pipe cover 61 that covers the exhaust pipe 60, a silencer 62 connected to the exhaust pipe 60 at the rear side of the vehicle, and a silencer cover 63 that covers the silencer 62. The O2 sensor 70 is positioned on the exhaust pipe 60 between the exhaust pipe cover 61 and the silencer cover 63 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0080] With this configuration, the front side of the O2 sensor 70 is protected by the exhaust pipe cover 61, and the rear side of the O2 sensor 70 is protected by the muffler cover 63. This prevents contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the vehicle's leg.

[0081] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, a fuel tank 44 is provided below the seat 34.

[0082] This configuration makes it easier to secure a wide gap between the seat 34 and the O2 sensor 70. Therefore, even when the O2 sensor 70 is positioned above the exhaust pipe 60, the O2 sensor 70 is not located directly below the seat 34. Consequently, contact between the O2 sensor 70 and the leg can be suppressed.

[0083] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 includes a sensor cable 71 routed inward in the vehicle width direction, and the sensor cable 71 is routed inside the lower cover 52 through the entry hole 52c1 of the lower cover 52.

[0084] This configuration minimizes the exposure of the sensor cable 71 routed from the O2 sensor 70. This prevents contact between the sensor cable 71 and the legs.

[0085] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the sensor cable 71 overlaps with the seat 34 when viewed from above.

[0086] With this configuration, the sensor cable 71 routed from the O2 sensor 70 is not exposed in the path of the occupant's leg. Therefore, contact between the sensor cable 71 and the leg can be suppressed.

[0087] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor 70 is covered from above by an O2 sensor cover 80, and the front and rear sides of the O2 sensor 70 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, as well as the outer side in the vehicle's width direction, are covered by the O2 sensor cover 80, and an opening 83 is provided on the inner side of the O2 sensor cover 80 in the vehicle's width direction.

[0088] With this configuration, even if an occupant's leg comes into contact with the O2 sensor 70, the O2 sensor cover 80 prevents the leg from directly contacting the O2 sensor 70. Furthermore, it prevents water, sand, mud, etc. from entering the inlet hole 52c1 of the lower cover 52 formed on the inside of the O2 sensor 70 in the vehicle width direction, and from directly coming into contact with the O2 sensor 70 and the sensor cable 71. Therefore, damage to the O2 sensor 70 can be suppressed. In addition, by covering the area around the O2 sensor 70 with the O2 sensor cover 80, the O2 sensor 70 can be made less conspicuous, improving its appearance. Moreover, the inside of the O2 sensor 70 in the vehicle width direction is not covered by the O2 sensor cover 80. As a result, the weight of the O2 sensor cover 80 can be reduced, and overheating of the sensor can be suppressed.

[0089] In the above-described saddle-type vehicle, the O2 sensor cover 80 is provided with a hole 81a on its side, the O2 sensor cover 80 and the lower cover 52 are separated by a gap, and both ends (flange portions 84) of the O2 sensor cover 80 in the vehicle's front-rear direction are fastened and fixed to the exhaust pipe 60.

[0090] With this configuration, the O2 sensor 70 can be visually inspected through the hole 81a in the O2 sensor cover 80. Therefore, if there is an abnormality in the O2 sensor 70, the abnormality can be detected by visual inspection. In addition, the hole 81a allows heat transferred from the exhaust pipe 60 to the O2 sensor cover 80 to be dissipated. Furthermore, by providing a gap between the O2 sensor cover 80 and the lower cover 52, airflow passes between the O2 sensor cover 80 and the lower cover 52 during driving. Therefore, the O2 sensor 70 can be cooled by the airflow. Thus, overheating of the O2 sensor 70 can be further suppressed. Also, since the O2 sensor cover 80 is fixed to the exhaust pipe 60 on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle, the O2 sensor cover 80 can be firmly fixed to the exhaust pipe 60. Therefore, even if the O2 sensor cover 80 is subjected to impact, deformation and detachment of the O2 sensor cover 80 can be suppressed.

[0091] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, the shapes of the O2 sensor cover 80, the upper cover 51, and the lower cover 52 are not particularly limited. The power unit of this embodiment may also be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles.

[0092] The aforementioned saddle-type vehicles include all vehicles on which the driver straddles the vehicle body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). Furthermore, it includes not only scooter-type vehicles with a straddling space, but also vehicles with a straddling section. It may also be applied to vehicles that use an electric motor as their power source. This can be applied to vehicles equipped with various types of reciprocating engines, such as single-cylinder engines, multi-cylinder engines such as parallel or V-type engines, and longitudinally mounted engines with the crankshaft aligned along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. For example, the engine may have cylinders tilted forward, backward, or to the left or right in the vertical direction, or cylinders positioned approximately horizontally facing forward, or any other configuration. Furthermore, the configuration in the above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0093] 1 vehicle 18 steps 34 seats 34a Front end of the seat 44 Fuel Tank 50 Straddle section 51 Top cover 52 Lower cover (body cover) 52c Lateral part (upper edge) 52c1 Retraction hole (opening) 60 Exhaust pipe 60a Upper extension part 60c Rear extension 61 Exhaust pipe cover 62 Silencer 63 Silencer cover 70 O2 Sensor 71 Sensor cable (cord-like component) 80 O2 Sensor Cover 81 Side part 81a Hole 82 Upper end 83 Opening 84 Flange section

Claims

1. The seats (34) where the crew sits, A step (18) is positioned below the aforementioned seat (34) and on which the occupant places their feet, A straddle portion (50) located in front of the seat (34) and forming a straddle space (K1), An exhaust pipe (60) is positioned below the seat (34) and above the step (18), The O2 sensor (70) is located in the exhaust pipe (60), Equipped with, The O2 sensor (70) is located on the rearward side of the vehicle compared to the straddle portion (50), characterized in that it is a saddle-type vehicle.

2. The straddle portion (50) includes a vehicle body cover (52) positioned below the seat (34), The exhaust pipe (60) is positioned below the upper edge (52c) of the vehicle body cover (52) when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The O2 sensor (70) is positioned above the exhaust pipe (60). The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper end of the O2 sensor (70) is located below the upper edge portion (52c).

3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the O2 sensor (70) is positioned at an angle such that its upper end (82) is located on the side of the vehicle body cover (52).

4. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the O2 sensor (70) is positioned further rearward than the front end (34a) of the seat (34).

5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the O2 sensor (70) is positioned further rearward than the step (18).

6. An exhaust pipe cover (61) that covers the exhaust pipe (60), At the rear end of the exhaust pipe (60), a silencer (62) is connected to the exhaust pipe (60), A silencer cover (63) that covers the silencer (62), Equipped with, The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the O2 sensor (70) is positioned on the exhaust pipe (60) between the exhaust pipe cover (61) and the muffler cover (63) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a fuel tank (44) is provided below the seat (34).

8. The O2 sensor (70) includes a cable-like member (71) routed inward in the vehicle width direction, The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cable-like member (71) is routed through the opening (52c1) of the vehicle body cover (52) and into the interior of the vehicle body cover (52).

9. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the cable-like member (71) overlaps with the seat (34) when viewed from above.

10. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the O2 sensor (70) is covered from above by an O2 sensor cover (80), and the front and rear sides of the O2 sensor (70) in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the outer side in the vehicle width direction are covered by the O2 sensor cover (80), and an opening (83) is provided on the inner side of the O2 sensor cover (80) in the vehicle width direction.

11. The O2 sensor cover (80) is provided with a hole (81a) on its side, The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the O2 sensor cover (80) and the vehicle body cover (52) are provided with a gap between them, and both ends (84) of the O2 sensor cover (80) in the vehicle's front-rear direction are fastened and fixed to the exhaust pipe (60).

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