Motorcycle with swing-out brake calipers

Abstract

A motorcycle or bicycle having a fork with swappable trail adjustment blocks which hold the front axle to the fork. Trail can be adjusted without removing the forks or even loosening them in the triple clamps, and without altering ride height or rake angle. Brake caliper mounts are swapped when the trail adjustment blocks are swapped, moving the brake calipers the same distance and direction as the axle, to maintain a constant radial distance from the axle to the brake pads. The brake caliper mounts pivot on the forks, enabling the brake calipers to be swung outward so the wheel can be changed without removing the brake calipers from the forks.

1 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a frame including a steering tube;    a front suspension coupled to the steering tube;    a front axle coupled to the front suspension;    a wheel coupled to the front axle;    at least one brake rotor coupled to the front wheel;    at least one brake caliper; and    means for rotatably coupling the brake caliper to the front suspension;    whereby the brake caliper can be pivoted aside when not engaged with its corresponding brake rotor.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the means for rotatably coupling comprises at least one caliper mount each including, 
 a body,  
 a cylindrical first post extending from the body,  
 a cylindrical second post extending from the body at a substantially 90 degree angle with respect to the cylindrical first post; and  
   the front suspension includes at least one hole adapted to rotatably mate with the cylindrical first post of a corresponding caliper mount.    
   
   
       3 . The vehicle of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the means for rotatably coupling comprises two caliper mounts; and    the front suspension includes two coaxial holes adapted to rotatably mate with the cylindrical first posts of the two caliper mounts.    
   
   
       4 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle comprises a motorcycle.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle comprises a bicycle.  
   
   
       6 . A motorcycle comprising: 
 a frame including a steering head;    a front axle;    a pair of forks each including, 
 an upper end coupled to the steering head, and  
 a lower end coupled to the front axle;  
   a front wheel coupled to the axle;    a first brake rotor coupled to the front wheel;    a first brake caliper disposed about the first brake rotor; and    first brake caliper mounts pivotably coupling the first brake caliper to the lower end of one of the forks, whereby the first brake caliper can be swung aside to permit installation of the front wheel without removing the first brake caliper from the one fork.    
   
   
       7 . The motorcycle of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a second brake rotor coupled to the front wheel;    a second brake caliper disposed about the second brake rotor; and    second brake caliper mounts pivotably coupling the second brake caliper to the lower end of the other fork, whereby the second brake caliper, too, can be swung aside to permit installation of the front wheel without removing the second brake caliper from the other fork.    
   
   
       8 . The motorcycle of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a first pair of trail adjustment blocks each coupling the axle to the lower end of a respective one of the forks;    wherein the brake caliper mounts are sized to appropriately position the brake calipers with respect to the brake rotors.    
   
   
       9 . The motorcycle of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a second pair of trail adjustment blocks which can be substituted in place of the first pair of trail adjustment blocks to change a trail geometry of the motorcycle by moving the front axle; and    third and fourth brake caliper mounts which can be substituted in place of the first and second brake caliper mounts, respectively, to move the brake calipers in substantially a same vector as the second pair of trail adjustment blocks move the front axle.    
   
   
       10 . The motorcycle of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the brake calipers are radially mounted.    
   
   
       11 . The motorcycle of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the trail adjustment blocks mate with the forks in a manner substantially parallel with the ground, whereby changing between trail adjustment blocks does not substantially alter a ride height geometry of the motorcycle.    
   
   
       12 . The motorcycle of  claim 7  wherein: 
 the brake caliper mounts include are coupled to the forks by pins of the brake caliper mounts being inserted into holes in the forks, whereby the pins can pivot within the holes.