Saddle-type vehicle

Abstract

The design ensures sufficient tank capacity while maintaining rigidity for knee grip with a simple configuration. [Solution] The saddle-type vehicle is provided with a fuel tank (40) having a fuel storage space, a cover member (50) that covers the fuel tank from the outside, and a cushion (74) installed on the side of the fuel tank. The cover member has a knee grip portion (67) that is held between the driver's knees, and the cushion is positioned opposite the inner surface of the knee grip portion.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] As a saddle-type vehicle, one in which a fuel tank is covered with a cover member is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The fuel tank described in Patent Document 1 has an upper and lower split structure composed of an upper panel and a lower panel, and the flanges of the upper panel and the lower panel are seam-welded. A cover member is attached to the vehicle body so as to hide the flange-like joint portion between the upper panel and the lower panel. The cover member is formed by combining left and right side covers made of metal and a center cover made of resin, and the rigidity against the knee grip is enhanced by the metal side covers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the saddle-type vehicle described in Patent Document 1, since the fuel tank is covered with a cover member, the tank width is suppressed and the tank capacity is likely to be small. Further, there is a problem that the cover structure becomes complicated in order to enhance the rigidity against the knee grip.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a saddle-type vehicle that can ensure sufficient tank capacity and can ensure rigidity against the knee grip with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A saddle-type vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a fuel tank having a fuel storage space, a cover member that covers the fuel tank from the outside, and a cushion installed on the side of the fuel tank, wherein the cover member has a knee grip portion that is held between the driver's knees, and the cushion faces the inner surface of the knee grip portion, thereby solving the above problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in a saddle-type vehicle, the fuel tank does not come into direct contact with the cover member due to the cushion on the side of the fuel tank. As a result, the side of the fuel tank is brought closer to the inner surface of the cover member, ensuring the fuel tank capacity and reducing the width of the knee grip area. Furthermore, even if the cover member deforms inward due to the knee grip force, the cover member is supported from the inside by the fuel tank via the cushion. In this way, deformation of the cover member is suppressed with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a left side view of the saddle-type vehicle in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a left side view of the area around the cover member of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a top view of the area around the cover member of this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a left side view of the area around the fuel tank in this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a top view of the area around the fuel tank in this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a rear view of the cover member of this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing the fastened state of the cover member in this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the fastened state of the cover member in this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing the knee grip state in this embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of the front of the vehicle body in Figure 9, taken along line AA. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle has a fuel storage space formed in the fuel tank, and the fuel tank is covered from the outside by a cover member. Cushions are installed on the sides of the fuel tank, and knee grip portions are formed in the cover member to be held between the driver's knees. The cushions face the inner surface of the knee grip portions, and the cushions on the sides of the fuel tank prevent the fuel tank from directly contacting the cover member. As a result, the sides of the fuel tank are brought closer to the inner surface of the cover member, ensuring the tank capacity of the fuel tank and reducing the width of the knee grip portion. Furthermore, even if the cover member deforms inward due to the knee grip force, the cover member is supported from the inside by the fuel tank via the cushions. In this way, deformation of the cover member is suppressed with a simple configuration. [Examples]

[0010] The saddle-type vehicle of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a left side view of the saddle-type vehicle of this embodiment. In the following figures, arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow Re indicates the rear of the vehicle, arrow L indicates the left side of the vehicle, and arrow R indicates the right side of the vehicle. In Figure 1, the driver is indicated by a dashed line.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is constructed by mounting various components such as the engine 30 and electrical system on a vehicle frame 10. A pair of tank rails 12 extend diagonally downward and to the rear from the head pipe 11 of the vehicle frame 10, and a pair of body frames 13 extend downward from the rear of the pair of tank rails 12. In addition, a down frame 14 extends downward from the head pipe 11, and a rearward-bent under loop 15 is connected to the lower part of the down frame 14. The rear end of the under loop 15 is connected to the lower part of the pair of body frames 13, so that the vehicle frame 10 is formed in a cradle shape.

[0012] A steering shaft (not shown) supports a front fork 21 on the head pipe 11 so that it can be steered. A handlebar 22 is provided on the upper part of the front fork 21, and a front wheel 23 is rotatably supported on the lower part of the front fork 21. A fuel tank 40 is placed over a pair of tank rails 12, and the pair of tank rails 12 and the fuel tank 40 are covered by a tank cover 51 and a pair of front side covers (side covers) 61. A seat 24 is installed behind the fuel tank 40, and a seat frame (not shown) that supports the seat 24 from below is covered from the side by a pair of rear side covers 27.

[0013] A swingarm 25 is pivotably supported on the body frame 13. The swingarm 25 extends rearward from the body frame 13, and a rear wheel 26 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swingarm 25. The engine 30 is suspended inside the vehicle frame 10 via a number of suspension brackets (not shown). A cylinder assembly, consisting of a cylinder 32, a cylinder head 33, and a cylinder head cover 34, is mounted on the upper surface of the crankcase 31 of the engine 30. An exhaust pipe 35 extends downward from the front left side of the cylinder head 33, passes to the right side of the cylinder 32, and connects to a muffler 36 at the rear of the vehicle.

[0014] Incidentally, typical off-road vehicles employ a semi-cradle type frame, with the fuel tank mounted across a single tank rail. The fuel tank has a horseshoe-shaped cross-section, with a narrow bottom. However, the wide sides of the fuel tank are used as knee grip areas, eliminating the need for a cover to enclose the fuel tank. While a carburetor setup can easily accommodate a fuel tank with a narrow bottom, a fuel injection (FI) setup requires an in-tank pump at the bottom of the fuel tank, making a narrow, horseshoe-shaped fuel tank impractical.

[0015] In the off-road vehicle with FI specifications, a double-cradle type vehicle body frame is adopted, and a vertically divided fuel tank is often mounted on the vehicle body frame. The vertically divided fuel tank is formed by seam-welding the flanges of the upper panel and the lower panel. Therefore, a cover member is required to cover the flange of the fuel tank, which tends to reduce the tank width, decrease the tank capacity, and make it difficult to ensure the rigidity against the knee grip force. Thus, in this embodiment, a cushion is installed on the side surface of the fuel tank to narrow the distance between the fuel tank and the cover member, and the knee grip force is received by the fuel tank via the cushion.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 8, the fixing structure of the cover member will be described. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the periphery of the cover member in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a top view of the periphery of the cover member in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the periphery of the fuel tank in this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top view of the periphery of the fuel tank in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the cover member in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the cover member is latched in this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state where the cover member is latched in this embodiment. Note that FIG. 4 shows the state where the tank cover, the pair of front side covers, and the seat in FIG. 2 are removed, and FIG. 5 shows the state where the tank cover, the pair of front side covers, and the seat in FIG. 3 are removed.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at the upper part of the vehicle body frame 10, a pair of tank rails 12 extend obliquely downward rearward from the upper rear side of the head pipe 11, and a single down frame 14 extends downward from the lower rear side of the head pipe 11. The middle part of the pair of tank rails 12 and the middle part of the down frame 14 are connected via a pair of reinforcing bridges 16 (see FIG. 4). A fuel tank 40 is supported by the pair of tank rails 12, and a cover member 50 is provided to cover the fuel tank 40 and the pair of tank rails 12 from the outside. A knee grip portion 67 that is sandwiched between the knees of the driver 5 is formed on the cover member 50.

[0018] The cover member 50 is formed from a tank cover 51 that covers the fuel tank 40 from above and a pair of front side covers 61 that cover the fuel tank 40 from both sides. The tank cover 51 mainly covers the area around the tank cap 41 and the upper sides of the fuel tank 40, while the pair of front side covers 61 mainly cover the frame portion in front of the fuel tank 40 and the lower sides of the fuel tank 40. Both the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are made of resin, which allows for greater freedom in shape. The vehicle's appearance is enhanced by the fact that the cover member 50 is composed of a tank cover 51 and a pair of front side covers 61.

[0019] A knee grip area 67 is formed across the tank cover 51 and a pair of front side covers 61. The knee grip area 67 indicates a predetermined area where the driver's knees naturally make contact when riding the saddle-type vehicle 1, and the knee grip area 67 is provided in the range from the midpoint to the rear end of the fuel tank 40 in the front-rear direction. The pair of front side covers 61 are fixed to a pair of bridges 16 by fixing parts 66 of the knee grip area 67. Since the pair of front side covers 61 are supported from the inside by the vehicle frame 10, deformation is suppressed even if a strong knee grip force is applied to the pair of front side covers 61 and the tank cover 51.

[0020] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fuel tank 40 is a two-piece tank with an upper panel 42 and a lower panel 43 joined together. The upper panel 42 bulges upward in a dome shape, and the lower panel 43 bulges downward in a dome shape, and the upper panel 42 and the lower panel 43 form a fuel storage space. The outer edges of the upper panel 42 and the lower panel 43 are seam-welded, and a flange 44 is formed at the joint between the upper panel 42 and the lower panel 43. In a side view, the flange 44 of the fuel tank 40 is curved in a downward-bulging arc shape, and the flange 44 is hidden by the tank cover 51 and a pair of front side covers 61.

[0021] Below the front half of the flange 44, a flat support surface 45 is formed on the fuel tank 40, aligned with a pair of tank rails 12. The rear half of the flange 44 curves backward, away from the pair of tank rails 12. A pair of front rail cushions 71 are mounted on the front side of the pair of tank rails 12, and a pair of rear rail cushions 72 are mounted on the rear side of the pair of tank rails 12. The front support surface 45 of the fuel tank 40 is supported from below by the pair of front rail cushions 71, and the rear half of the flange 44 of the fuel tank 40 is supported from below by the pair of rear rail cushions 72 via a pair of connecting members 73.

[0022] A pair of front tank cushions (front cushions) 74 and a pair of rear tank cushions (rear cushions) 75 are attached to the flange 44 of the fuel tank 40. The pair of front tank cushions 74 are attached to the middle of the flange 44 in the front-rear direction, and the pair of rear tank cushions 75 are attached to the rear end of the flange 44. The pair of front tank cushions 74 and the pair of rear tank cushions 75 are folded over to cover the side edges of the flange 44. The front tank cushions 74 face the front inner surface of the knee grip portion 67, and the rear tank cushions 75 face the rear inner surface of the knee grip portion 67.

[0023] The flange 44 does not directly contact the inner surfaces of the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61, and the flange 44 is brought closer to the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61. This ensures the tank capacity of the fuel tank 40 and reduces the knee grip width. In addition, contact between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 and the front tank cushion 74 and rear tank cushion 75 is minimized, suppressing the transmission of engine vibrations. Furthermore, the knee grip force is distributed and absorbed by the front tank cushion 74 and rear tank cushion 75, suppressing deformation of the cover member 50. An in-tank type pump 77 is installed on the bottom of the fuel tank 40 (see Figure 10).

[0024] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, at the joint between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61, a step 52 is provided in the tank cover 51 and an overlapping edge 62 is provided in the pair of front side covers 61. The step 52 is formed so that the lower edge 53 of the tank cover 51 fits inside the pair of front side covers 61, and the overlapping edge 62 of the pair of front side covers 61 is formed to overlap the step 52. The surfaces of the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are smoothly connected, making it difficult for the driver's legs to get caught on the joint between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61.

[0025] Multiple fastening points 68 are provided along the joint between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61. At the multiple fastening points 68, multiple hook holes 54 are formed in the lower edge 53 of the tank cover 51, and multiple hooks 63 are formed in the overlapping edge 62 of the pair of front side covers 61. The multiple hook holes 54 are formed by connecting wide elongated holes 55A and narrow elongated holes 55B in the direction extending along the joint. The wide elongated holes 55A are formed to allow the hooks 63 to enter, and the narrow elongated holes 55B are formed to prevent the hooks 63 from coming out. The multiple hooks 63 are bent so that their tips point upward.

[0026] In this case, multiple hooks 63 on the pair of front side covers 61 are inserted into the elongated holes 55A of the multiple hook holes 54 on the tank cover 51. Then, the multiple hooks 63 slide along the seam between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 into the elongated holes 55B of the multiple hook holes 54 and are fastened in place. Because the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are fastened in multiple places, deformation of the seam between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 is suppressed. Since the direction of input of the knee gripping force and the sliding direction of the hooks 63 are different, the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are less likely to come off.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, a first extension portion 64 extends from the front of the pair of front side covers 61 so as to overlap the tank cover 51, and a second extension portion 65 (see Figure 8) extends from the rear of the pair of front side covers 61 so as to overlap the tank cover 51. The first extension portion 64 overlaps the tank cover 51 from the outside, and the second extension portion 65 overlaps the tank cover 51 from the inside. The first and second extension portions 64 and 65 and the tank cover 51 are fastened together with bolts, and the pair of front side covers 61 are fixed to the outside and inside of the tank cover 51, so that the fastening between the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 does not loosen.

[0028] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the positional relationship between the driver's knees and the cover member during knee gripping will be explained. Figure 9 is a side view showing the knee gripping state in this embodiment. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the front part of the vehicle body in Figure 9 along line AA.

[0029] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, in a riding position where the driver 5 straddles the seat 24 of the saddle-type vehicle 1, the driver 5's knees overlap the knee grip portion 67 of the rear half of the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61. The knee grip portion 67 is squeezed between the driver 5's knees and thighs, and a strong knee grip force acts on the knee grip portion 67 inward in the vehicle width direction. Near the driver 5's knees, there is a fixing portion 66 that secures the pair of front side covers 61 to the bridge 16 (see Figure 4), and the knee grip force is absorbed by the bridge 16, suppressing deformation of the pair of front side covers 61.

[0030] The tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are fastened together, so that the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 do not separate even when subjected to knee gripping force. The flange 44 of the fuel tank 40 is located inside the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61, but the flange 44 is fitted with a front tank cushion 74 and a rear tank cushion 75 (see Figure 5). Even if the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 deform inward, the front tank cushion 74 and the rear tank cushion 75 absorb the deformation, preventing them from hitting the flange 44.

[0031] Furthermore, the flange 44 of the fuel tank 40 extends outward in the vehicle width direction, providing high rigidity against knee gripping forces acting inward in the vehicle width direction. The knee gripping force is absorbed by the flange 44 via the front tank cushion 74 and rear tank cushion 75, suppressing deformation of the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61. Even when the flange 44 is brought close to the inner surfaces of the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61, the flange 44 does not damage the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61. The width dimension of the fuel tank 40 is increased to ensure sufficient tank capacity.

[0032] As described above, in the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the fuel tank 40 does not come into direct contact with the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 due to the front tank cushion 74 and the rear tank cushion 75. Therefore, the tank capacity of the fuel tank 40 is ensured, and the width dimension of the knee grip portion 67 can be reduced. In addition, the tank cover 51 and the pair of front side covers 61 are supported from the inside by the fuel tank 40 via the front tank cushion 74 and the rear tank cushion 75 when subjected to knee gripping force, and deformation is suppressed.

[0033] In this embodiment, a cushion was attached to the flange of the fuel tank, but the cushion only needs to face the inner surface of the knee grip area, and it is sufficient if the cushion is installed on the side of the fuel tank.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a front tank cushion and a rear tank cushion are installed on the flange of the fuel tank, but it is sufficient to have at least one cushion installed on the side of the fuel tank.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fuel tank was formed by joining the upper panel and the lower panel, but the fuel tank only needs to have a fuel storage space. The fuel tank does not need to have a flange.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover member is formed by a tank cover and a pair of front side covers, but the cover member may be formed by a single cover or by four or more covers.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tank cover is provided with a step and the pair of front side covers have overlapping edges, but the tank cover may have overlapping edges and the pair of front side covers may have a step.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tank cover is fastened by hooks on a pair of front side covers and hook holes on the tank cover, but the fastening structure of the tank cover to the pair of front side covers is not particularly limited.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first and second extensions extend from each of the pair of front side covers, but a single extension may extend from each of the pair of front side covers, or three or more extensions may extend.

[0040] In this embodiment, the pair of front side covers are fixed to the bridge at the knee grip area, but the pair of front side covers may also be fixed to the vehicle frame at a location other than the knee grip area.

[0041] Furthermore, the mounting structure of the cover member and the support structure using cushions in this embodiment are not limited to the off-road type saddle-type vehicle described above, but may also be adopted in other types of saddle-type vehicles. Note that the term "saddle-type vehicle" is not limited to all vehicles in which the driver sits straddling the seat, but also includes scooter-type vehicles in which the driver does not sit straddling the seat.

[0042] As described above, the saddle-type vehicle of the first embodiment comprises a fuel tank (40) with a fuel storage space, a cover member (50) that covers the fuel tank from the outside, and cushions (74, 75) installed on the sides of the fuel tank. The cover member has a knee grip portion (67) that is held between the driver's knees, and the cushions face the inner surface of the knee grip portion. With this configuration, the cushions on the sides of the fuel tank prevent the fuel tank from directly contacting the cover member. As a result, the sides of the fuel tank are brought closer to the inner surface of the cover member, ensuring the fuel tank capacity and reducing the width of the knee grip portion. Furthermore, even if the cover member deforms inward due to the knee grip force, the cover member is supported from the inside by the fuel tank via the cushions. In this way, deformation of the cover member is suppressed with a simple configuration.

[0043] In the second embodiment, the fuel tank is formed by joining an upper panel (42) and a lower panel (43) in the first embodiment, and a cushion is attached to the flange (44) that forms the joint between the upper panel and the lower panel. With this configuration, the flange does not come into direct contact with the cover member because the cushion is attached to the flange. As a result, the flange is brought closer to the cover member, ensuring the tank capacity of the fuel tank and reducing the knee grip width. In addition, contact between the cover member and the cushion is minimized, suppressing the transmission of engine vibrations.

[0044] In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the cushions are a front cushion (front tank cushion 74) and a rear cushion (rear tank cushion 75) spaced apart front to rear, with the front cushion facing the front inner surface of the knee grip portion and the rear cushion facing the rear inner surface of the knee grip portion. With this configuration, the knee gripping force is distributed and received by the front cushion and the rear cushion, suppressing deformation of the cover member.

[0045] The fourth embodiment is one of the first to third embodiments in which the cover member is formed by a tank cover (51) that covers the fuel tank from above and a pair of side covers (front side covers 61) that cover the fuel tank from both sides, and a knee grip portion is formed across the tank cover and the side covers. With this configuration, the appearance of the vehicle is enhanced because the cover member is composed of a tank cover and a pair of side covers.

[0046] The fifth aspect is a configuration of the fourth aspect in which, at the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers, a step (52) is provided on either the tank cover or the pair of side covers, and an overlapping edge (62) that overlaps the step is provided on the other side. With this configuration, the surfaces of the tank cover and the pair of side covers are smoothly connected, making it less likely for the driver's legs to get caught on the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers.

[0047] In the sixth embodiment, a hook hole (54) is formed in the step and a hook (63) is formed on the overlapping edge, and the hook slides into the hook hole and fastens along the joint of the tank cover and the pair of side covers. With this configuration, the direction of input of the knee gripping force and the direction of sliding of the hook are different, making it difficult for the tank cover and the pair of side covers to come off.

[0048] The seventh embodiment is one of the fourth to sixth embodiments, in which multiple fastening points (68) are provided along the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers. With this configuration, deformation of the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers is suppressed because the tank cover and the pair of side covers are fastened together at multiple points.

[0049] The eighth aspect is one of the fourth to seventh aspects, in which a plurality of extensions (64, 65) extend from a pair of side covers so as to overlap the tank cover, and the plurality of extensions and the tank cover are fastened together. With this configuration, loosening of the fastening between the tank cover and the pair of side covers is prevented.

[0050] The ninth aspect is the eighth aspect, in which the plurality of extensions are a first extension (64) that overlaps the tank cover from the outside and a second extension (65) that overlaps the tank cover from the inside. With this configuration, a pair of side covers are fixed to the outside and inside of the tank cover, preventing loosening of the fastenings between the tank cover and the pair of side covers.

[0051] The tenth embodiment is one of the embodiments from the fourth to the ninth embodiment in which a pair of side covers are fixed to the vehicle frame (10) at the knee grip portion. With this configuration, since the pair of side covers are supported by the vehicle frame from the inside, deformation is suppressed even when a strong knee grip force is applied to the pair of side covers and the tank cover.

[0052] Although this embodiment has been described, other embodiments may include combinations of the above embodiment and its modifications, either entirely or partially.

[0053] Furthermore, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified, substituted, or transformed in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Moreover, if the technical idea can be realized in a different way by advances in the technology or by other derived technologies, it may be implemented by that method. Accordingly, the claims cover all embodiments that may fall within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1: Saddle-type vehicle 5: Driver 10: Vehicle frame 40: Fuel tank 42: Upper Panel 43: Lower Panel 44: Flange 50: Cover component 51: Tank cover 52: Step 54: Hook hole 61: Front side cover (side cover) 62: Overlapping edges 63: Hook 64: First extension 65: Second extension 66: Fixed part 67: Knee grip area 68: Locking point 74: Front tank cushion (front cushion) 75: Rear tank cushion (rear cushion)

Claims

1. A fuel tank in which a fuel storage space is formed, A cover member that covers the fuel tank from the outside, The fuel tank is equipped with a cushion installed on the side of the fuel tank, The cover member has a knee grip portion that is held between the driver's knees. A saddle-type vehicle characterized in that the cushion is facing the inner surface of the knee grip portion.

2. The fuel tank is formed by joining an upper panel and a lower panel. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the cushion is attached to the flange that forms the joint between the upper panel and the lower panel.

3. The cushions are front cushions and rear cushions spaced apart front to back. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front cushion faces the front inner surface of the knee grip portion, and the rear cushion faces the rear inner surface of the knee grip portion.

4. The cover member is formed by a tank cover that covers the fuel tank from above and a pair of side covers that cover the fuel tank from both sides. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knee grip portion is formed extending over the tank cover and the side cover.

5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that at the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers, a step is provided on either the tank cover or the pair of side covers, and an overlapping edge that overlaps the step is provided on the other.

6. A hook hole is formed in the step, and a hook is formed on the overlapping edge. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the hook slides into and is fastened to the hook hole along the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers.

7. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of fastening points are provided along the joint between the tank cover and the pair of side covers.

8. Multiple extensions extend from the pair of side covers so as to overlap the tank cover, The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the plurality of extensions and the tank cover are fastened together.

9. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the plurality of extensions are a first extension that overlaps the tank cover from the outside and a second extension that overlaps the tank cover from the inside.

10. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the pair of side covers are fixed to the vehicle frame at the knee grip portion.

Images