Motorcycle frame

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Motorcycle frames come in a variety of shapes and materials, frames have been made from titanium, aluminium, magnesium, steel and carbon-fibre along with combinations of these materials.

Contents

[edit] Frame Materials

[edit] Steel

Examples

Early Honda CBR600

[edit] Aluminium

Examples

Honda VFR750

[edit] Aluminium and carbon-fibre

Examples

Bimota SB8K (composed of two aluminium alloy beams and carbon fibre plates)

[edit] Carbon Fibre

Bimota TESI 3D

[edit] Titanium

Examples

1971 Titanium Husqvarna

[edit] Magnesium

Examples

Elfr 1986

[edit] Magnesium and Aluminium

Examples

Aprilia ETV 1000 Caponord (aluminium alloy welded on to aluminium-magnesium alloy castings)

[edit] Frame Types

[edit] Single cradle

The motorcycle engine is held in a single cradle with a single spine.

[edit] Half-duplex cradle frame

The motorcycle engine is held in a double cradle with a single spine and single downtube.

Examples

[edit] (Full) duplex cradle frame

The motorcycle engine is held in a full by two separate cradles, normally with a single spine.

Examples

[edit] Double cradle or perimeter frame

Two cradles follow the perimeter

Examples

[edit] Spine or backbone frame

The motorcycle engine is suspended from a single spine.

Examples

Honda CD200-T Benly Lots of (new) Triumphs.

[edit] Beam

Twin beams join headstock to swingarm pivot in as straight and short a line as possible.

Examples

[edit] Monocoque

Supports structural load using the frames external skin.

Examples

Honda NR500

[edit] Trellis

Similar to the beam frame, connectting the steering head and swingarm pivot point directly as possible. The frame is made up of a large number of short steel (or aluminium) tubes welded together to form a trellis.

Examples