In a leaning vehicle, a shock absorber tower is disposed further forward in a vehicle-body-frame frontward direction than an upper-left-arm-member supported part at which an upper-left arm member to which a first end part of a left shock absorber is connected is supported by the vehicle body frame, and an upper-right-arm-member supported part at which an upper-right arm member to which a first end part of a right shock absorber is connected is supported by the vehicle body frame.

In a leaning vehicle, a shock absorber tower is disposed further forward in a vehicle-body-frame frontward direction than an upper-left-arm-member supported part at which an upper-left arm member to which a first end part of a left shock absorber is connected is supported by the vehicle body frame, and an upper-right-arm-member supported part at which an upper-right arm member to which a first end part of a right shock absorber is connected is supported by the vehicle body frame.

Embodiments of the present invention describe a recreational vehicle spindle, including a spindle body having one or more sockets in the spindle body, and an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a steering component. The spindle also includes a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a ski or wheel. The one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.

A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.

A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.

A three-wheeled vehicle having a front wheel assembly attached to a chassis. The chassis includes a rotational control shaft having a rotational axis that is generally directed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The rotational control shaft is integrated with or secured to the chassis in a non-rotational manner and passes through the front wheel assembly in a rotationally-free manner, such that the rotational control shaft can rotate about its rotational axis. The front wheel assembly includes one or more lean control motors, which are operably configured to rotate the rotational control shaft about its rotational axis thereby causing the chassis to lean from side to side to improve the handling ability of the vehicle. Some embodiments include a lean control system configured to automatically control the degree of rotation of the chassis.

A vehicle includes a control switch that is configured to generate an operation signal, and a controller that is electrically connected to the control switch to receive the operation signal therefrom, and that is configured to, in response to receipt of the operation signal, transmit a control signal to a tilting mechanism for making the tilting mechanism operate in one of a locked state and an unlocked state. After the vehicle is powered on, the controller is further configured to, when the controller has continuously received the operation signal for a predetermined reception time, determine that the control switch is abnormal, stop transmitting the control signal and control a warning unit to output a warning signal.

A vehicle includes a control switch that is configured to generate an operation signal, and a controller that is electrically connected to the control switch to receive the operation signal therefrom, and that is configured to, in response to receipt of the operation signal, transmit a control signal to a tilting mechanism for making the tilting mechanism operate in one of a locked state and an unlocked state. After the vehicle is powered on, the controller is further configured to, when the controller has continuously received the operation signal for a predetermined reception time, determine that the control switch is abnormal, stop transmitting the control signal and control a warning unit to output a warning signal.

A leaning vehicle, including a vehicle body, one steerable front wheel and two rear wheels, or two steerable front wheels and one or two rear wheels, a suspension mechanism, a steering mechanism, a steering controller, and an up-down direction acceleration detector attached to the vehicle body or the suspension mechanism. The two steerable front wheels or the two rear wheels are arranged side by side to form a left-right pair of wheels. The up-down direction acceleration detector detects an acceleration in an up-down direction of the leaning vehicle or the vehicle body, generated as one wheel in the left-right pair of wheels passes a bump or a pothole in a road. The steering controller so controls the one or two steerable front wheels that the one or two steerable front wheels are in a free-steering state, so as to swivel around a steering axis freely, based on the detected acceleration.

A leaning vehicle, including a vehicle body, one steerable front wheel and two rear wheels, or two steerable front wheels and one or two rear wheels, a suspension mechanism, a steering mechanism, a steering controller, and an up-down direction acceleration detector attached to the vehicle body or the suspension mechanism. The two steerable front wheels or the two rear wheels are arranged side by side to form a left-right pair of wheels. The up-down direction acceleration detector detects an acceleration in an up-down direction of the leaning vehicle or the vehicle body, generated as one wheel in the left-right pair of wheels passes a bump or a pothole in a road. The steering controller so controls the one or two steerable front wheels that the one or two steerable front wheels are in a free-steering state, so as to swivel around a steering axis freely, based on the detected acceleration.