A drive unit includes a decelerator rotatably supported by a housing, the decelerator including a first transmission gear, a second transmission gear having teeth of a smaller number than that of the first transmission gear, and a transmission shaft to transmit a rotation of the first transmission gear to the second transmission gear; and a bearing supporting the first transmission gear in the housing such that the first transmission gear is rotatable. A distance, in a first direction in which the transmission shaft extends in the housing, from a reference plane to teeth of the first transmission gear is less than a distance in the first direction from the reference plane to an innermost portion of the bearing, in which the reference plane passes through an outermost portion of the bearing and is perpendicular to the first direction.

The power transmission mechanism includes a non-contact power transmission mechanism and a mechanical power transmission mechanism, both of which are provided in parallel on a power unit side or a rear wheel side. The mechanical power transmission mechanism has a crown gear and a pinion that are meshed at the time of low-speed rotation of the engine and are separated at the time of medium-high speed rotation thereof.

The power transmission mechanism includes a non-contact power transmission mechanism and a mechanical power transmission mechanism, both of which are provided in parallel on a power unit side or a rear wheel side. The mechanical power transmission mechanism has a crown gear and a pinion that are meshed at the time of low-speed rotation of the engine and are separated at the time of medium-high speed rotation thereof.

A rack driven human powered vehicle utilizes a rack and pinion system to provide a more efficient method of propulsion. The rack and pinion system may take the linear momentum of at least one driving rack and may transfer it to rotational momentum for at least one freewheel sprocket which may turn the wheel providing momentum for the vehicle.

A rack driven human powered vehicle utilizes a rack and pinion system to provide a more efficient method of propulsion. The rack and pinion system may take the linear momentum of at least one driving rack and may transfer it to rotational momentum for at least one freewheel sprocket which may turn the wheel providing momentum for the vehicle.

A method for controlling engine braking in a vehicle comprises: determining a position of a throttle operator; determining a speed of the vehicle; and determining an engine braking mode selected. In response to the position of the throttle operator being a fully released position and the selected braking mode being a first engine braking mode: controlling an engine and a position of a throttle valve according to the first engine braking mode for applying a first level of engine braking. In response to the position of the throttle operator being the fully released position and the selected braking mode being the second engine braking mode: controlling the engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode based at least on the speed of the vehicle for applying a second level of engine braking. A vehicle implementing the method is also disclosed.

In a saddle riding vehicle including: a sprocket driven by a power transmission member; a sprocket support member that supports the sprocket and that is connected with a wheel; a damper member that is housed in a recessed portion in a hub of the wheel and disposed between the hub and the sprocket support member, the damper member being deformed through a relative rotation between the hub and the sprocket support member; and a resistance mechanism that dampens the relative rotation between the hub and the sprocket support member, the sprocket support member includes an extension portion that covers an outer periphery of the hub from an outside in a radial direction, and the resistance mechanism is disposed between an inner periphery of the extension portion and the outer periphery of the hub.

In a saddle riding vehicle including: a sprocket driven by a power transmission member; a sprocket support member that supports the sprocket and that is connected with a wheel; a damper member that is housed in a recessed portion in a hub of the wheel and disposed between the hub and the sprocket support member, the damper member being deformed through a relative rotation between the hub and the sprocket support member; and a resistance mechanism that dampens the relative rotation between the hub and the sprocket support member, the sprocket support member includes an extension portion that covers an outer periphery of the hub from an outside in a radial direction, and the resistance mechanism is disposed between an inner periphery of the extension portion and the outer periphery of the hub.

Vehicle includes a frame, a seat arranged on the frame, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame, an elongate directional slider, a pedal on the directional slider that slides between first and second positions, a main drive chain connected to the first wheel, a main drive sprocket that rotates the main drive chain and thus the first wheel, a flywheel that rotates the main drive sprocket, and an energy generating system that converts sliding of the pedal on the directional slider into rotational force to rotate the flywheel. The energy generating system may include a first electrical coil assembly connected to the pedal, a second electrical coil assembly in connection with the directional slider and that cooperates with the first electrical coil assembly to cause generation of electricity, and an electrical motor that is powered by the generated electricity and is coupled to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel.

Vehicle includes a frame, a seat arranged on the frame, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame, an elongate directional slider, a pedal on the directional slider that slides between first and second positions, a main drive chain connected to the first wheel, a main drive sprocket that rotates the main drive chain and thus the first wheel, a flywheel that rotates the main drive sprocket, and an energy generating system that converts sliding of the pedal on the directional slider into rotational force to rotate the flywheel. The energy generating system may include a first electrical coil assembly connected to the pedal, a second electrical coil assembly in connection with the directional slider and that cooperates with the first electrical coil assembly to cause generation of electricity, and an electrical motor that is powered by the generated electricity and is coupled to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel.