Drive arrangement for motorcycles and the like

Claim 1

Drive arrangement for motorcycle type vehicles, of the type having an engine, a clutch spaced from the engine, a transmission coupled to the clutch and driven by the engine through the clutch, and at least one drive wheel spaced from the transmission and driven by the transmission for propelling the vehicle, and said clutch having an engaged condition wherein the transmission is driven through the clutch, and a disengaged condition wherein driving of the transmission is prevented by the clutch, the improvement comprising, in combination: said clutch having an input gear for transmitting power from said engine to said clutch to drive said transmission for said engaged condition of said clutch, and said input gear comprising: a rotable, cylindrical tubular input sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end, and a first axial width between said first end and said second end; a cylindrical member coupled to said sleeve adjacent one of said first end and said second end thereof for transmitting rotary motion from said cylindrical sleeve into said clutch, and said cylindrical sleeve cantilevered from said cylindrical member; and a plurality of premary belt engaging pulley teeth on said outer surface of said cylindrical sleeve extending substantially said first axial width; said engine has an output gear having a second axial width and having a plurality of primary belt engaging gear teeth thereon and said gear teeth extending substantially said second axial width; a primary, flexible, endless belt means having a primary belt width and further comprising a plurality of primary belt teeth thereon extending said primary belt width for engaging said belt engaging teeth of said output gear of said engine and said pulley teeth of said cylindrical sleeve of said clutch to transmit power from said engine to said clutch.