Soviet motorcycles of the 20s. The best motorcycles of the USSR

Moto technique has always been considered one of the favorites of most men. In the Soviet Union, the motorcycle played an important role in the lives of many people, so well-known factories produced new models with different characteristics, appearance and design. Today, Soviet motorcycles have gone far into history, but motorcycles of well-known brands of the USSR are still actively used and receive a number of accolades. Any adult man knows such names as Izh, Ural, Java, Minsk or Dnieper. These are all legendary models that were once produced in large numbers.

Soviet motorcycles received a worldwide vocation due to their ease of use, accessibility for most citizens and versatility. After all, not many models were produced, which means that any newcomer in this direction could fix them. Depending on the class of motorcycle, it was intended for the following purposes:

• fast driving around the city and highway;
• transportation of large and heavy cargoes;
• use in agriculture.

The history of the creation of motorcycles in the USSR

Previously, the Soviet motorcycle was considered a real symbol of good feelings and joy, because it was used for various purposes - riding girls, visiting a maternity hospital, transporting potatoes from the field, riding with friends, and so on. The current motorcycles in Russia and other countries are created by well-known foreign companies, but do not forget about the legends of past years, which even today surpass certain novelties in some moments.

The history of world motorcycle technology begins in 1902, when the famous engineer Leitner decided to put a 430 cc engine on a bicycle. The maximum speed then did not exceed 35 km / h. Until 1923, the Soviet motorcycle fleet consisted of only foreign models, but after that, engineer Lvov decided to create the first Soyuz motorcycle. A couple of years later, namely in 1928, a more famous motorcycle with the name Izh was mass-produced. Every year, Soviet motorcycles improved, but in some respects they were uncomfortable or inferior to foreign models. The then IZH models of the 20s had a quite good engine, which reached a volume of 1,200 cubic meters. cm and gave out a power of 25 horses. Even the heavy weight of 290 kg did not prevent him from accelerating well and feeling great on the road.

But over time, new models appeared that won millions of hearts. The best of them were designed and produced at the Izhevsk, Minsk, Kiev and Kovrov factories. We offer some of the most famous and first motorcycle models of the USSR, which are still known.

L-300

One of the very first serial motorcycles, which has been produced since 1930. Unfortunately, this is not a proprietary development of the USSR, the German DKW Luxus 300 was taken as the basis. Unfortunately, the production of the model lasted only 8 years, but enough copies were produced. In the future, the model was used on such a motorcycle as Izh-8.

The technical data of the L-300 was impressive for that time. The engine had a volume of 300 cubes and up to 3,000 rpm. Power was only 6 horsepower, and the maximum speed was limited to 80 km / h. With a light weight of only 125 kg, motor vehicles could consume an average of 4.5 liters per hundred. A motorcycle was produced at the Red October enterprise.

Ural M-62

The presented model belongs to the class of heavy motorcycles, its production lasted later, namely from 1961 to 1965. The Ural M-62 was produced by the Ibritsky Motorcycle Plant. The main advantages of the model include:

• the presence of a more modern gearbox;
• engine power and reliability improved (up to 28 hp);
• suspension travel has increased slightly;
• good speed with heavy weight.

With a considerable weight of 255 kg, engineers were able to design an engine with a maximum speed of 95 km / h. Ural M-62 was equipped with a sidecar and consumed an average of 6 liters per hundred. Subsequently, another improved model M-72 was produced.

Minsk M1A

In Belarus, the most famous Soviet motorcycles were produced in that country - Minsk. They were the best model for many years and remain one of the favorites to this day. But the history of creation began with the first model - Minsk M1A, which, according to rumors, was designed in the image of the German DKW RT125. The first production of the model dates back to 1951. Of all Minsk models around the world and the former USSR, about 6.5 million copies were sold.

Like most Soviet models, this bike had a simple and reliable design, very easy to repair. The engine of the model had a volume of 125 cubic meters and was quite frisky.

Izh Planet Sport

The Izhevsk Motor Plant was engaged in the release of this legend, which first showed the novelty in 1973. During the creation, special emphasis was placed on speed, so for the Soviet racer it was a real "Sport". In appearance, we can say that the model was distinguished by a slightly sporty design, taken from foreign models of the 60s.

For a long time of production, Izh Planet Sport was produced in large quantities, and was later exported to other countries. The main feature was of course the maximum speed, which was up to 140 km / h.

Java 360

Later Soviet time speaks of the era of Java fans. In the 70s, it was one of the best motorcycles on which every third Soviet biker rode. The manufacturer itself has produced more than 1 million copies, which have won the hearts of thousands of people. The most beautiful, reliable and powerful was Jawa 360.

The most interesting were considered modifications with a side carriage, with a chrome and rich red color. Depending on the modification, engines of 250 and 350 cubic meters were distinguished. The engine was not frisky and powerful, it was not in vain that the saying "I bought Java - dig a hole" went around.

Dnipro 11

And this model of Soviet motorcycles, although universal in design and operation, was most in demand among rockers. The first Soviet considered Dnepr 11 one of the best, the production of the motorcycle took place in Kyiv.

The design of the motorcycle is simple and easy to repair, most also tried to tune the model, which was quite successful with little effort. An interesting fact is that Soviet Dnepr 11 motorcycles can still be found on the roads in working order.

Motorcycles for the citizens of the USSR played a very important role. Often, they were the only way to gain freedom of movement. They went to work, on vacation to the sea, met children from the hospital and rolled girls in the villages.

Modern bikers have switched to foreign-made sportbikes or choppers and are completely unaware of the history of domestic motorcycles. We decided that it was time to stop for a couple of minutes and remember the 10 most popular, most beloved and most popular motorcycles from the distant USSR.

1. L-300 "Red October". The very first.

The very first serial Soviet motorcycle was the L-300 "Red October".
the first motorcycle of the ussr
At the beginning of 1930, Leningrad designers prepared its drawings, inspired by the most reliable bike of that time - the German DKW Luxus 300. And in the fall of that year, the first batch of L-300 was ready.
The motorcycle was produced until 1938, and then the no less legendary IZH-8 was created on its basis. This “descendant” of the L-300 even got on the silver coins of… New Zealand.
By the way, the name IZH-7 was borne by all the same L-300s, which, in parallel with the Leningrad enterprise Krasny Oktyabr, were produced in Izhevsk.

2. M-72. The most combative

M-72 was not the first army motorcycle in the USSR. In 1934, the assembly of the first Soviet heavy model PMZ-A-750 began, and in 1939, the “understudy” of the British BSA and, as is considered, the best pre-war motorcycle in the Union, TiZ-AM-600.

However, it was the M-72, the design of which was “peeped” from the German BMW R71 (it was them that the Wehrmacht was equipped with), that came out in the tragic year 1941, and were produced throughout the war. And then they also seriously served the people for civilian purposes - the last copies left the assembly line already in 1960.
From 1941 to 1945, the M-72 was carried by fighters armed with anti-tank missile systems, machine guns or light mortars. From the first post-war years - and long after - these motorcycles became the main police transport. And since 1954, ordinary Soviet citizens could buy them for their own needs.
"Descendants" M-72 at the beginning of the "zero" ordered the Republican Guard of Saddam Hussein. But I didn’t have time to use it - and combat motorcycles “went to the people”. At the request of customers, Iraqi auto repair shops put additional “active and passive protection” on the Urals - armor and a machine gun.

3. "Minsk M1A". First Belarusian

And to this day, the Minsk races remain the most “popular” motorcycle in Belarus. They run along the roads of the entire former Union, and not only. But most of them, of course, in their homeland.

The half-century anniversary of the motorcycles "Minsk" jumped a long time ago (the first models already fully deserve the name "vintage"), and very soon, on July 12, they will celebrate their 61st birthday.
The first Belarusian "bike" was the Minsk M1A, which had many "relatives" not only in the USSR, but also abroad. The "ancestor" of the motorcycle was developed in 1939 by the Germans. DKW RT125 turned out to be so successful that analogues of this motorcycle were produced under different names in 7 countries of the world, including the USA, England and Japan.
By the way, Richard Hammond, one of the hosts of the famous British show Top Gear, tested one of the old “Minsk racers” in harsh conditions. He rode it from south to north almost all of Vietnam. Summary of the charismatic "car maniac": "This is the AK-47 among motorcycles - reliable, simple, easy to repair. It is made specifically for those countries where there are no roads.”

4. IZH Planet Sport. The fastest and most technologically advanced.

In 1973, the Izhevsk Motor Plant surprised the whole country by showing the first Soviet motorcycle with a sports bias, Planet Sport. Unlike all earlier motorcycles, which were modeled after German models, the Planet Sport was clearly trying to be like the Japanese motorcycles of the 60s and 70s.

Due to the high quality of workmanship, IZH Planet Sport was actively sold in export markets, for example, in the UK, the Netherlands and Finland. Soviet bikers accelerated on them up to 140 km / h, which was an incredible speed in those days.

5. Sunrise. Most rustic.

Motorcycles "Voskhod" began to be produced in the city of Kovrov, Vladimir Region, in 1957. These were very unpretentious single-cylinder motorcycles (173.7 cm3 engine). The Dyagterev plant constantly improved this model, launching on the market after Voskhod its upgraded versions Voskhod-2, Voskhod-3, Voskhod-3M. The last Voskhod motorcycle was the 3M-01 model with a 15 hp engine.

Because of their reliability, Voskhod motorcycles became real workers in thousands of Soviet villages. Even now, you can easily find a Voskhod motorcycle there in good condition.

6. M-62. The choice of the police.

The Soviet police, fair and incorruptible, in the 50s and 60s mostly traveled on motorcycles with a sidecar. The M-62, produced by the Irbit Motorcycle Plant, was the most popular choice for the servants of the law. Its four-stroke engine produced 28 hp.

An interesting fact is that ordinary citizens of the USSR were not allowed to operate the Urals without a sidecar at that time. Still, these bikes were pretty heavy to handle. But the police used motorcycles without sidecars, which looked very cool in the eyes of Soviet boys. How can you not want to become a policeman!

7. Tula-200. For hunters and fishermen.

The Soviet motorcycle industry did not produce ATVs (some small-scale models, however, were still produced, read below), but for the needs of hunters and fishermen, a very unusual Tula-200 motorcycle with wide off-road wheels was produced. The mass distribution of such motorcycles occurred in 1986-1988.

The engine was taken from the Tulitsa scooter, increasing its power to 13 hp. This made it possible to accelerate at 200k to 90 km / h. 10-12 thousand of these bikes were produced per year, the last of which rolled off the assembly line of the plant in 1996. By the way, even a trike was produced on the basis of Tula-200!

8. IZH-49. The most survivable.

Reliable, durable, beautiful. The sound of his engine for the ear of a Soviet person was akin to the sound of a Harley-Davidson engine for Americans. Their release began in 1951. At its core, it was an improved design of the German DKW NZ 350 motorcycle. IZH-49 won great love from the population and was used in all corners of the vast Soviet Union.

On its basis, versions with a sidecar were produced, as well as sports motorcycles for cross-country and road racing. Now IZH-49 are collector's items. Their prices start from 100 thousand rubles.

9. M-1A "Moscow". The first post-war

After the war, the Moscow Bicycle Plant mastered the production of a copy of the German DKW RT125 motorcycle with a 125 cc engine. M-1A "Moskva" became the first post-war motorcycle of the USSR. It was a simple and lightweight motorcycle that did not require a lot of metal and rubber to produce.

Such motorcycles were used in large quantities to train motorcyclists in DOSAAF schools. Perhaps your grandfather studied just like that. In 1951, production was transferred to Minsk to a bicycle factory built there. An almost identical model was produced in Kovrov under the designation K-125.

10. Jawa 360. The most beautiful.

In the 70s, every third motorcyclist went to Java. In total, more than 1 million Jawa motorcycles of various models were delivered to the USSR, but the 360 ​​was the most beautiful of all. Now cherry motorcycles with chrome gas tanks are called "Old Lady". Particularly valuable are specimens with a fiberglass side carriage. They produced versions with a 1-cylinder engine (250/260) or with a 2-cylinder engine (350/360).

By the way, Java often got into various movies. For example, it is on the Jawa 360 that Gesha Kozodoev takes Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov fishing on the White Rock in the film The Diamond Arm.
11. IZH Planet. The ancestor of the series.

In 1962, the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant launched the production of a fundamentally new model for itself, Izh Planet. It was the first generation of these motorcycles that set the vector for the development of a whole family that was produced until 2008 (IZH Planet 7).

12. Java 350/638. Motorcycle roaring 90s.

The last of the "Yav", sold in the USSR, 638, also became a "people's" motorcycle. Having managed to come out just before perestroika, in 1984, this model often appeared in harsh films of the late 1980s and early 1990s. So "Java 350 638" can be seen in the drama "Accident - the daughter of a cop" and the action movie "Rats, or the Night Mafia." The motorcycle is even dedicated to the song "Java" by the popular group "Gas Sector" in those years.

13. Vyatka VP-150. Italian elegance.

The last one in our review is not a motorcycle at all, but a scooter. Vyatka VP-150, the prototype of which was the Italian Vespa scooter, is rightfully considered the most elegant two-wheeled vehicle of the USSR.

It was a quiet and very comfortable scooter, which was easily controlled even by women. On the basis of Vyatka, they made a whole range of three-wheeled scooters with various bodies, which were actively used in urban cargo transportation.

Mopeds at the Riga plant "Sarkana zvaigzne" began to be produced back in 1958. Many boys dreamed that their parents would give them a moped for their birthday. And so they did, so mopeds, and especially Riga-13, became the first vehicle for many.

Riga-13 began to be produced in 1983. Equipped with a 1.3 hp engine, it accelerated to only 40 km/h. To start from a standstill and move uphill, the “biker” was recommended to help the engine by turning the pedals. Riga-13 was produced until 1998, becoming the most massive model of the plant.

15. "Ant". Truck for everyone.

On the basis of Tula scooters, the Tula Machine-Building Plant produced a huge number of three-wheeled Ant cargo scooters. It was a breakthrough for the Soviet Union, because the sale of vans and station wagons to citizens of the USSR was prohibited. So such scooters were almost the only way to transport small consignments.

TMZ produced a huge number of such scooters. They were equipped with flatbeds, tipper bodies, vans and even tanks. They are popular even now.

Surprisingly, in our country, despite the complete absence of roads in some places, ATVs have never been mass-produced. Almost the only more or less serial copy was the ZID-175 4ShP, produced at the Dyagterev Plant.

The design was not very successful: a weak engine, complex transmission elements. This is probably why such ATVs have not received wide distribution.

The 80s were a wonderful time, not because the USSR was then, but because we were 16 years old then. The first sex, the first vodka, the first earned ruble and .. the first motorcycle. Let's remember - the smell of whose exhaust gases drove us crazy, and made our girlfriends so accommodating, but the opposite is true of parents and traffic cops.

"Vyatka VP-150". Most stylish

For starters - not a motorcycle, but the very first and at the same time the most stylish of their younger brothers in the entire history of the USSR. Vyatka VP-150, produced from 1957 to 1966, is a copy of the "best scooter of all times" of the Italian Vespa GS150.

L-300 "Red October". The very first

The very first serial Soviet motorcycle was the L-300 "Red October".

At the beginning of 1930, Leningrad designers prepared its drawings, inspired by the most reliable bike of that time - the German DKW Luxus 300. And in the fall of that year, the first batch of L-300 was ready.
The motorcycle was produced until 1938, and then the no less legendary IZH-8 was created on its basis. This “descendant” of the L-300 even got on the silver coins of… New Zealand.

By the way, the name IZH-7 was carried by all the same L-300s, which, in parallel with the Leningrad enterprise Krasny Oktyabr, were produced in Izhevsk.

M-72. The most combative

M-72 was not the first army motorcycle in the USSR. In 1934, the assembly of the first Soviet heavy model PMZ-A-750 began, and in 1939, the “understudy” of the British BSA and, as is considered, the best pre-war motorcycle in the Union, TiZ-AM-600.

However, it was the M-72, the design of which was “peeped” from the German BMW R71 (the Wehrmacht was equipped with them), having left in the tragic 1941, they produced the entire war. And then they also seriously served the people for civilian purposes - the last copies left the assembly line as early as 1960.

From 1941 to 1945, M-72s were carried by fighters armed with machine guns or light mortars. By the way, later motorcycles built on the basis of this model began to be armed with portable anti-tank missile systems.

From the first post-war years - and long after that - the M-72 became the main police transport. And since 1954, ordinary Soviet citizens could buy them for their own needs.

"Descendants" M-72 at the beginning of the "zero" ordered the Republican Guard of Saddam Hussein. But I didn’t have time to use it - and combat motorcycles “went to the people”. At the request of customers, Iraqi auto repair shops put additional “active and passive protection” on the Urals - armor and a machine gun.

Izh-49. Universal Model

Izh-49, which appeared in 1951, and today can often be seen on the roads and off-road of the former Soviet Union.

“Probably the best motorcycle for our country!” - and to this day you can hear from Russian motorists. From Belarusians a little less often: you will find the reason for this by reading our rating to the end.

Reliable, tenacious, adapted to any conditions and very sonorous (in the USSR, his "voice" is no less a legend than in the USA - the roar of "Harleys"),

Izh-49 rightfully occupies a worthy place in our top 10.

Izh Planet Sport. The first serial "athlete"

If all previous Soviet motorcycles were only slightly modernized pre-war models, then Izh Planet Sport was clearly created with an eye on contemporary Japanese bikes.

In the guise of the most elegant of the "Izhey" you can find references to the creations of Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki. And even today, almost four decades after the start of production, the sports classic "Izh Planet Sport" does not look archaic.

The fastest and most technologically advanced of all Soviet counterparts, it also looked worthy against the background of foreign models.

Java 360. Most Cinematic

By the 1970s, every third Soviet motorcyclist rode Javas, and it is not surprising that Czechoslovak motorcycles very often fell into the frame.

The main role in Soviet cinema went to the Jawa 360: it is on this model that Gesha Kozodoev is taking Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov on a fishing trip to the White Rock.

"Java 350 638". The main motorcycle of the "roaring 90s"

The last of the Jawas sold in the USSR, Jawa 350 638, also became a "people's" motorcycle.

Having managed to come out just before perestroika, in 1984, this model often appeared in harsh films of the late 1980s and early 1990s. So "Java 350 638" can be seen in the drama "Accident - the daughter of a cop" and the action movie "Rats, or the Night Mafia."

The motorcycle is even dedicated to the song "Java" by the popular group "Gas Sector" in those years.

"Dnepr 11". The most suitable for tuning

When the biker movement in the USSR was just in its infancy (then they called themselves rockers), stern guys in riveted leather, among other motorcycles, especially respected the Dnepr 11.

It was this bike that turned out to be the most suitable for tuning exercises. Modified "heavyweights" can still be found today at various motorcycle shows and on the roads. Fortunately, finding a “basis” for refinement is quite easy.

"Minsk M1A". First Belarusian

And to this day, the Minsk races remain the most “popular” motorcycle in Belarus. They run along the roads of the entire former Union, and not only. But most of them, of course, in their homeland.

The half-century anniversary of the motorcycles "Minsk" jumped a long time ago (the first models already fully deserve the name "vintage"), and very soon, on July 12, they will celebrate their 61st birthday.

The first Belarusian "bike" was the Minsk M1A, which had many "relatives" not only in the USSR, but also abroad. The "ancestor" of the motorcycle was developed in 1939 by the Germans. DKW RT125 turned out to be so successful that analogues of this motorcycle were produced under different names in 7 countries of the world, including the USA, England and Japan.

By the way, Richard Hammond, one of the hosts of the famous British show Top Gear, tested one of the old “Minsk racers” in harsh conditions. He rode it from south to north almost all of Vietnam. Summary of the charismatic "car maniac": "This is the AK-47 among motorcycles - reliable, simple, easy to repair. It is made specifically for those countries where there are no roads.”

We recall the ten most famous motorcycles that were once the kings of the roads and country roads of a vast country.

In the Soviet Union, mopeds, and even more so motorcycles, were truly cult gizmos. Sometimes, they gave the owners a lot of trouble: they often broke down, it was tight with spare parts, but they were taken care of, something was constantly sorted out in them, so that, after having plenty of stuff with iron, turn the throttle, hear the crackling sound of the exhaust, smell gasoline and break out on expanses of the universe.

It was freedom, and, therefore, true happiness. They rode motorcycles to work, dancing, hunting, fishing, they rode the girls, or they could wave to the sea.

Motorcycles were more affordable than cars, not only in terms of money. In times of total shortages, they did appear in sports stores, but it was necessary to seize the moment: such goods were sold out almost instantly.

Below is rather not a rating, but a “group portrait” of motor vehicles, which has become one of the symbols of the Soviet era. The technique of that time is now rare, but in the villages you can still find, for example, "Izh Planet Sport" or the Czech "Java".

Well, how do you already feel the aroma of the era? Then go ahead!

M-1A "Moscow"

Let's try to build this excursion into the motorcycle past of a great country in chronological order. Let's take the post-war period, well, simply because it is clearer and closer to us.

The motor industry was revived on the basis of the best examples of captured equipment. And a lot of it was brought to the USSR. And now, at the Moscow Bicycle Plant, they are mastering the production of a copy of the German DKW RT125 motorcycle with a 125 cc engine.

The device is called M-1A "Moscow". This is the first post-war motorcycle of the USSR - simple and light, which did not require a lot of metal and rubber.

Motorcyclists were trained on such equipment in DOSAAF schools. In 1951, production was transferred to Minsk to a newly built bicycle factory. Almost the same model with the K-125 index was produced in Kovrov.

Izh-49

In 1951, the production of the Izh-49 model was launched in Izhevsk. As a basis, as in the case of the "Moscow", they took a captured apparatus. True, the DKW NZ 350 has undergone some improvements that have only made it better - under our brand, of course.

The motorcycle turned out to be reliable, very tenacious and incredibly beautiful. Even today he is able to conquer a true biker with his appearance - what a fit, what well-balanced lines ... Yes, it was a car!

The plant produced versions with a sidecar, sports - for cross-country and highway. Possessing them now is not for everyone: Izh-49 has a collection value. You can buy it for no less than 100 thousand rubles. At the same time, the price tends to rise.

"Izh Planet"

1962 The Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant is starting to assemble a fundamentally new model for itself, the Izh Planet, which became the ancestor of a whole family produced until 2008 (Izh Planet 7).

Created on the basis of Izh-56, a middle-class motorcycle was intended for driving on roads with different surfaces. The warranty mileage of Izh Planeta increased by 2,000 km compared to its predecessor, and the service life of the cylinder-piston group parts increased by one and a half times (due to the use of a contact-oil air cleaner).

A new gas tank, an easily removable saddle, mufflers were installed. Instead of stamped front and rear fenders, stamped-welded ones were used.

Izh Planeta was powered by a single-cylinder, two-stroke air-cooled engine. The crankshaft is prefabricated, pressed. Carter - block type. The crank chamber is in the front, and the gearbox is in the back. The crankcase consists of two halves with a connector along the middle longitudinal plane. The foot shift and kickstarter pedals are located on the left side of the gearbox housing.

The motorcycle was produced until 1966, a total of 405,303 copies were produced - a pretty decent circulation for those times.

"Izh Planet Sport"

In 1973, the Izhevsk people again pleased the country's motorcyclists by releasing the first Soviet motorcycle with a sporty character. The model was called "Planet Sport".

Interestingly, unlike all earlier motorcycles, which were created in the image and likeness of German models, Planet Sport echoed Japanese motorcycles of the 60s and 70s of the last century.

Izh Planet Sport has taken a serious step towards build quality. Thanks to this, it was actively sold in export markets. The car was evaluated in the UK, the Netherlands and Finland. They say that Soviet bikers accelerated on this machine up to 140 km/h!

"Sunrise"

In 1957, Voskhod motorcycles began to be produced in the city of Kovrov, Vladimir Region. Very unpretentious, with a single-cylinder engine of 173.7 "cubes", they fell in love with the motorized public.

In addition, the Dyagterev plant constantly upgraded this model, releasing the Voskhod-2, Voskhod-3, Voskhod-3 M versions. The last Voskhod motorcycle was the 3 M-01 model with a 15 horsepower engine.

Outwardly, the "Sunrise" was inferior to the "Izham", but due to its reliability, they became indispensable in the countryside. And to this day in Russian villages you can meet "Sunrise". And not just to meet, but to ride.

"M-62"

In the 50s and 60s of the last century, the Soviet police actively used in their work motorcycles with a sidecar "M-62", which were produced by the Irbit Motorcycle Plant. The four-stroke engine of this car produced as many as 28 “horses”.

By the way, ordinary citizens of the USSR were not allowed to operate the Urals without a sidecar at that time. The fact is that these motorcycles were quite heavy to manage. But the police rode them without wheelchairs, which looked very cool.

"M-62" can be seen in the film "Beware of the Car", he was especially good in the scene of the chase for the "twenty-first" "Volga", stolen by the Soviet Robin Hood Yuri Detochkin.

"Tula-200"

In 1986 - 1988, a very unusual Tula-200 motorcycle was produced in the Soviet Union, which was distinguished by wide off-road wheels. They were needed because the model was intended for hunters and fishermen.

They took the engine from the Tulitsa scooter, boosting it to 13 hp. This made it possible to accelerate to 90 km / h, although for such an apparatus, speed was not the main indicator, where cross-country ability was more important.

10,000 -12,000 thousand of these bikes were produced per year. The last one rolled off the production line in 1996.

Java 360

Perhaps the ultimate dream of a Soviet motorized man is the Czech apparatus Jawa. A friendly country made sure that every third motorcyclist rode this beauty in the USSR - in total, more than a million "Java" of various models and versions were delivered to the country.

The production of a new series of motorcycles "Java" models 250-623 and 350-633, which differed in the original design, began in 1970. Motorcycles had a spinal frame and an engine with a separate lubrication system. In 1973, the Java 350-634 model with a duplex closed frame and a new motor was launched into the series. The production of motorcycles with an engine capacity of 250 cm³ has ceased.

After modernization in 1984, the model received the index 638 and, with minor changes, continues to be produced to this day.

Many early examples of the motorcycle are still alive today, especially those with a fiberglass sidecar.

Java 350/638

Jawa 350 - 638 - the last Czech motorcycle sold in the USSR, where it also became popular. Having managed to come out just before perestroika, in 1984, this model often starred in harsh films of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Outwardly, the motorcycle was relatively simple, but with a twist. A large headlight with round turn signals protruding on the sides and, located on top, the wells of the dashboard looked very harmonious.

The tank was voluminous, but the forms were neat, in the back of it there were quite large pads for the driver's knees. But the most important thing that was on the tank was the inscription "Jawa".

The 638 had a double flat seat divided in the middle by a passenger strap that he had to hold on to.

The two-cylinder engine was completely open for viewing, all its constituent elements were clearly visible, although its openness played an important role - the engine was air-cooled.

The advantages of this motorcycle could be attributed to a stylish look, to which Soviet motorcycles were very far away.

"Vyatka VP-150"

This is not a motorcycle, but a not very long path is connected with it, but, nevertheless, an era in the life of the country.

In 1956, the designers of the Vyatka-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant, together with specialists from the Central Experimental Design Bureau (CEKB) of motorcycle construction from Serpukhov, Moscow Region (now Motoprom OJSC), began work on a 150 cm³ class scooter.

Time was running out, there was no experience in creating such devices. Therefore, the Italian scooter Vespa 150GS of 1955 was taken as a prototype. Measurements were taken from it, drawings were made according to the finished scooter.

Recall that Vespa (Italian wasp, hornet) is a cult Italian scooter, which has been produced by Piaggio since April 1946 and still is. The founder of the European scooter design school, the first successful scooter in the world.

This device was impossibly beautiful, had a quiet and smooth ride. It was easily controlled even by women.

By the way, on the basis of "Vyatka" they made a whole range of three-wheeled scooters with various bodies. They served as commercial vehicles for the delivery of compact cargo - light, economical, maneuverable.

P.S. Almost every model that we talked about deserves a separate historical essay. In this case, we did not set such a goal, confining ourselves to a cursory review, which, we hope, gave some idea of ​​​​what our grandfathers, fathers, and sometimes ourselves drove.

Strangely, in the Soviet Union, where there was never a biker subculture as such, motorcycle production remained at a very good level.

Their factories appeared in Irbit, Izhevsk, Kovrov and Minsk. For Java, the guys were ready to sell their souls (no one believed in such matters at that time anyway), for the heavy Ural or Voskhod, no less difficult battles were going on in the village. We decided to collect for you some cult bikes of those times, when looking at which even the most seasoned manager will feel (even for a second) an angel flying into the distance.

Perhaps this handsome man has become almost the only direct competitor of the legendary Java. The motorcycle was produced by the Czechoslovak arms factory Ceska Zbrojovka and came to the USSR only in 1960.

The Czechoslovak company Jawa won the tender for the supply of motorcycles to the Soviet Union. By 1976, two million Yavs were crisscrossing the roads of the country - without exaggeration, cult motorcycles among young people. Most of all they loved the Java-368 model, released in 1984. 26 hp two-stroke engine allowed to develop a speed of 120 km / h.

As a prototype, Soviet designers did not hesitate to borrow the scheme and appearance of the German handsome DKW RT-125. Almost immediately after the war, the conveyor production of "Sunrise" began at the plant. Degtyarev. I must say that from the same factory, the only one in the USSR, limited batches of bikes for motocross were subsequently produced.

Lovers of rarities are still chasing a well-preserved model of this motorcycle. The contours of the "Pannonia" were so unusual for their time that the motorcycle instantly became a cult. The most popular model was the Pannonia 250 TLF: 18 liter tank, 350 cc engine and sidecar made it ideal for long journeys.

IZH

This is another illegitimate son of the German DKW NC-350. Modernized motorcycles received real recognition in the USSR, and the IZH-Planeta-Sport model, capable of accelerating to hundreds in just 11 seconds, has become just a dream for many.

From 1957 to 1966, fashionistas of the USSR could easily compete with English mods and Italian dudes. The Vyatka VP-150 motor scooter was an almost complete copy of the famous Vespa GS150 and was the ultimate dream of the capital's youth.

Until 1964, Ural motorcycles were used only for military purposes. Moreover, an ordinary citizen was obliged to register with the military when buying a Ural, but it was completely forbidden to use it without a stroller. Despite all this, later the Urals found their niche among young people: heavy, like tanks on two wheels, they could get through any off-road.