Snow bike having a center of mass substantially aligned with the center of mass of a rider for enhanced stability

摘要

A snow bike includes a lightweight engine and transmission to power an endless drive belt (track) around a suspension under the rear of the frame. A unique aspect of the snow bike is that the front/rear weight distribution places less load on the ski and more load on the track, thereby providing lighter steering forces and increased track traction. The snow bike is steered by a fork mounted to a tubular/sheet frame that pivots around an axis and is connected to a ski. The drivetrain directly links the transmission to the track drive wheel, thereby powering the endless track. The centerline of the transmission drive shaft falls to the aft of the drive wheel of the track. This, combined with how the forward track suspension is attached, allows the mass of the track assembly to be more centralized, positioning the center of gravity of the bike nearer to the rider.