Izh motorcycles, from the first models to the present day
Izh originate their history in the distant 30s of the last century. In 1928-1929, drawings and prototypes of the first motorcycle models were developed: Izh-1, Izh-2, Izh-3, Izh-4 and Izh-5.
The first models of Izh motorcycles
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These models were produced in a special workshop of the Izhevsk arms factory. Just a few months before the start of the All-Union Motorcycle Ride, engineers and designers managed to develop as many as five models of motorcycles to participate in this motorcycle rally.
Unlike various models of that time, the design and structure of the first Izh motorcycles were quite original and innovative. Three-speed gearbox, mainly V-shaped engines with displacements of 500, 750 and 1200 cubic centimeters, thrust to the drive wheel was transmitted via the crankshaft, with the exception of the Izh-3 model, the thrust on which was transmitted by a chain. A strong stamped frame, the lower part of which served as a protective housing for the muffler (this feature is inherent in all models of the first prototypes of motorcycles from the Izhevsk plant), the front fork combined parallelogram and lever designs at the same time.
All five motorcycles took part in the 2nd All-Union Motorcycle Rally, which took place from September to October in 1929. It’s surprising that in their first run, IZh motorcycles easily crossed the 3,000-kilometer mark.
However, this story was not continued immediately, since after the end of the motorcycle rally, the Izhevsk plant received a very large order. This led to the fact that chief engineer P.V. Mozharov, who developed the drawings and general design for all five first models of Izh motorcycles, moved to Leningrad. There he began developing a new motorcycle, called the L-300. He based the new development on the drawings of a German company, which he brought from Germany after completing an internship abroad.
Start of serial production of Izh motorcycles
A key moment in the history of motorcycles at the Izhevsk plant was the decision of experts from the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR that a large domestic motorcycle plant should be built in Izhevsk. The city had all the necessary facilities and highly qualified specialists for this.
Some time later, on the basis of the weapons factory on Bazarnaya Street, the creation of the Experimental Motorcycle Plant began. By the beginning of May 1933, the newly built plant produced 4 NATI-A-750 motorcycles, developed by the same Mozharov. At the same time, work was underway to continue the line of Izh motorcycles, the first step towards which was the Izh-7 motorcycle, based on documents and drawings brought from Leningrad. These were practically copies of the L-300 model, with a 2-stroke 1-cylinder engine, a three-speed gearbox, a chain drive and the already familiar stamped frame. Ultimately, the Izh-7 turned out to be one of the most successful models developed during the launch of the plant and was chosen as the flagship intended for mass production. In 1934, the motorcycle plant gained momentum and already produced 111 motorcycles.
For four years in a row, until 1938, the Izh-7 motorcycle was a favorite. However, it was replaced by a new model in the form of the Izh-8. They improved the ignition system and electrical wiring, and also improved the technical characteristics of the 300 cc engine, due to which its power increased to 8 hp. Two years later, in 1940, production of the Izh-9 model began, the engine power of which was already 9 hp. In the same year, documents and drawings of the L-8 motorcycle arrived from Leningrad, which was already equipped with a 4-stroke engine with a displacement of 348 cubic meters and a power of 13.5 horsepower. Izh motorcycles received a new lease of life and to develop a new model they decided to use the chassis from the Izh-9 model. The resulting motorcycle was named Izh-12, production of which was to begin in the summer of 1941. However, the outbreak of war stopped the further development of the motorcycle industry.
Post-war period in the history of Izh motorcycles
In 1946, the plant restored its operations and its capacity, having received German drawings, technologies and equipment taken from Germany after its defeat. Work begins on the production of a new model Izh-350, based on the German motorcycle model DKW-350. After adaptation to Soviet electrical appliances and equipment, the motorcycle turned out to be modern and at the same time quite simple for that time. The motorcycle began to be assembled at a weapons factory.
From the 40s to the 60s, Soviet designers made a significant leap in the creation of sports motorcycles. Even though they were based on completely road and factory models, the results were amazing. So, in 1948, the Izh-350S motorcycle was developed and produced, which received a telescope fork, in contrast to the already outdated parallelogram fork. The suspension and technical characteristics of the engine also improved, which gave an increase in power, which increased and reached 14 horsepower. The fifties were rich in innovations in development, so the Izh-49, Izh-50, Izh-54 and Izh-55 models were developed. The power of Izh motorcycles also increased, up to 18 horsepower.
In 1962, production of the Izh Planet motorcycle began, which was maximally unified with the Izh-Jupiter model. Innovations in the use of materials and design of piston group parts, with the help of a contact-oil air cleaner, increased the service life of the cylinder and piston group parts by more than one and a half times. During the 70s, the Izh Planeta-2, Izh Jupiter-2, Izh Planeta-3, Izh Jupiter-3, Izh Jupiter-3K and Izh Planet Sport motorcycles were developed. The most striking achievement of the designers was the Izh Jupiter-3 motorcycle, the power of which increased by almost 40% in comparison with its predecessors. The Izh Planeta-3 and Izh Jupiter-3 models received the USSR state quality mark and in 1975 they were already producing 250 thousand motorcycles per year.
Over the next twenty-five years, the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant increased its capacity, improving existing models and developing new ones. In 2000, the first Izh motorcycle in the chopper style appeared in the factory version. It was Izh 6.113-05 Junker.
Later, in 2008, due to great economic difficulties, the IZhMoto enterprise was mothballed, most of the plant’s capacity was sold to help pay debts to creditors.
PS In 2009, namely in September, IZhMoto had a big date. Exactly 80 years since the release of the first Izh-1 motorcycle.
The complete history of IZH motorcycles
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