Rear suspension for motorcycles

Claim 1

A rear suspension for a motorcycle comprising a suspension arm supported for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis that extends transversely to said motorcycle, a rear wheel journalled by said suspension arm for rotation about an axis that is parallel to said first axis, and a suspension element for yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said suspension arm, the improvement comprising linkage means for loading said suspension element upon pivotal movement of said suspension arm comprising a bellcrank having its intermediate pivotal connection to said suspension arm for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis that is disposed rearwardly from said first pivot axis and below a line interconnecting said first pivot axis with said wheel axis of rotation, one arm of said bellcrank having a pivotal connection to one end of said suspension element about a third pivot axis for loading said suspension element upon pivotal movement of said bellcrank about said second pivot axis, said third pivot axis being disposed rearwardly of said second pivot axis and above the line connecting said first pivot axis with said wheel axis of rotation, the other arm of said bellcrank having a connection to one end of a link at a fourth pivot axis, said fourth pivot axis lying forwardly of said second and third pivot axis and being disposed below the line interconnecting said first pivot axis with said wheel rotational axis, and means connecting the other end of said link to said motorcycle for pivotal movement about a fixed fifth pivotal axis that is disposed below the line connecting said first pivot axis and said rear wheel axis and to the rear of said fourth pivot axis when said vehicle is unladened.