The Kalashnikov Concern will present a new motorcycle model for law enforcement agencies at the Army 2017 exhibition. Most likely, this will be a joint Russian-Chinese project, experts interviewed by RBC believe
Photo: Kalashnikov press service
The Kalashnikov concern is working on special versions of Izh motorcycles, a source in the military-industrial industry told RBC. This was confirmed to RBC by the concern’s director of external communications, Sofia Ivanova. “The work is being carried out in the interests of law enforcement agencies,” she clarified. The models will be presented at the international military-technical forum Army 2017, which will be held from August 22 to 27 in the Patriot Park near Moscow, Ivanova added, refusing to disclose other details.
RBC's source in the concern said that there should be three models. “They will have no strollers with compartments for automatic weapons and other things. Judging by the mock-ups that I saw, they will look like mountain bikes,” the source said, noting that the machines are similar in appearance to Japanese Kawasaki mountain bikes. The source also noted that the motorcycles will have different cross-country ability, with one of them “more elevated, others lower.”
Most likely, this will be a Russian-Chinese development, noted experts interviewed by RBC.
Judging by the photo available to RBC, this is an enduro class motorcycle [a motorcycle for special competitions on rough terrain], noted the owner of the AVT-Service motorcycle service, Alexey Trepykhalin. “I doubt that Izhmash developed it itself. Most likely, the engine will be Chinese, the rest will be Russian. It’s easier to give the order to Lifan and Stels so that they can do everything three times cheaper,” says Trepykhalin. In his opinion, such a motorcycle will cost a maximum of 150 thousand rubles.
The publisher of the Moto magazine, Roman Sitnikov, also believes that new motorcycles for security forces will most likely be Russian-Chinese. “As far as I understand, the Kalashnikov concern is only related to modifications. The best option is to take one of the average Chinese ones as a basis. I assume it will be Lifan,” Sitnikov said.
The latest development of this kind, which was carried out in Russia for military purposes, was the Ural motorcycle. It is produced at the Irbit motorcycle plant. “Ural” is a further development of the M-72 motorcycle (a Soviet copy of the German BMW R71). Its “military versions” are “Ural” IMZ-8.1037 Gear-UP and “Ural” IMZ-8.1037 Gear-UP-ATGM. Both motorcycles are equipped with a sidecar, the latter is a carrier of the Konkurs-M anti-tank missile system (ATGM). The launcher with a thermal imaging sight is mounted on a motorcycle sidecar on a special turret. The cost of such a motorcycle is more than 500 thousand rubles.
The military model of the Ural is in production, but in fact it is not supplied to the Russian army due to its high cost, Sitnikov noted. More than 90% of the Irbit plant’s equipment is sold abroad, he added. “Our army is supplied with ATVs and snowmobiles; today the army does not have two- and three-wheeled vehicles,” the expert concluded.
Motorcycles are in service with the armies of, for example, the United States, Germany and China, but in small quantities, noted military expert Vasily Kashin. “Their finest hour was during World War II. They were cheaper than cars and had a fairly high cross-country ability,” Kashin recalled. In his opinion, now in the army it is much more profitable to use light vehicles such as buggies or ATVs. “There are a lot of motorcycles in the Iranian army. But this is rather a consequence of the industrial weakness of this country,” the expert concluded.
With the participation of: Liliya Ungvitskaya
The Kalashnikov concern was tasked with reviving the production of motorcycles.
Of course, many of us have warm feelings for the old Urals, Jupiters, Izhams, but ask any current motorcyclist who has spent years riding BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and what have you , many have long been in love with KTM or Ducati))… ask them: “will he switch to the same “Ural” or “Izh”. In ten out of ten cases, you will, in mild form, be sent for a walk to an address known to everyone.
Sentimentality may be heartfelt and sincere, but in our short summer, every motorcyclist dreams of riding, not turning nuts... Why all this passage, and besides, once again, grown-up men from large offices began to drone on about the revival of motorcycle production in Russia.
And as Alexey Krivoruchko, General Director of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, said:
“We have an order to revive the production of motorcycles. We are doing this, now we are assembling a team and competencies, we already have the first results, but probably in August we are going to announce this project in more detail.”(end of quote).
The project will probably be financed by Vnesheconombank. The Chairman of VEB has already become acquainted with the civilian line of the Kalashnikov concern. Negotiations on investment in civilian projects of the defense enterprise are ongoing. But it is already known that after inspecting the production, the chairman of Vnesheconombank concluded: there will be cooperation.
And as the general director of Kalashnikov Concern JSC clarified: if they start making motorcycles in Izhevsk again, it will be only under the IZH brand.
Of course, the idea of reviving motorcycle production in itself is not bad. The only trouble is that, in fact, there is nothing special to revive. We should talk about building a new production facility from scratch, taking into account modern technologies and requirements. If they start churning out the antediluvian IZH, then it will be possible to sell it only by tightly closing the border to the import of imported motor vehicles. And we know how to do this, which cannot be said about motorcycles.
Conclusion: you should not delay and buy your favorite BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Ducati and other enemy two-wheeled products. So far, our “military” has not turned off the tap at all. Although, maybe they’ll talk, kick the air, “cut up” the budget money and calm down? As has happened more than once in the wake of the “revival of motorcycle production.”
For reference: the Ural motorcycle is still produced at the Irbit Motorcycle Plant. The smoking room is alive!! Today, about 200 pieces are produced per year. Why so few? Yes, because no one needs them in Russia. All “Urals” go abroad to a few fans who are ready to part with more than 700,000 rubles (excluding delivery). And here the question once again arises: what exactly are they going to revive at the Kalashnikov Concern? We are waiting for August, most likely they will show something at the Army 2018 exhibition. We will be sincerely glad if it is not some remade Chinese motorcycle, but at least something more solid, say, a Harley-Davidson or Honda Gold Wing...))
Let's refresh our memory which motorcycles were among the most popular in the USSR behind the Iron Curtain:
"IZH Planet Sport" 1973,
which tried to be similar to Japanese motorcycles of the 60-70s
ZID-175 4ShP
For starters, the first domestic ATV ZID-175 4ShP, a child of the “dashing nineties”, is an excellent illustration of what happens when talented gunsmiths undertake to produce motorcycles
More than 1 million Jawa motorcycles of various models were delivered to the USSR, but the 360 was the most beloved and desired
IZ Planet, 1962
The founder of a whole family, produced until 2008 (IZH Planet 7)
Vyatka VP-150
Production began in 1956, the prototype was the Italian Vespa scooter model 150GL model 1954.
Specialists of the Kalashnikov concern have proven that they can design not only the best weapons in the world, but also modern vehicles. The latest development is a huge black motorcycle with the famous IZH emblem.
Domestic motorcyclists were upset when in 2008 it was announced that the production of IZH motorcycles would cease. And this year, the Kalashnikov concern presented a new bike that leaves no one indifferent with its appearance and outstanding characteristics.
The design of the motorcycle is impressive. It is very long and wide (dimensions 290x94x125 centimeters). The black motorcycle, thanks to its faceted outer panels, looks like a vehicle for Darth Vader or Batman. The front and rear wheels are covered with huge covers so that when driving the rotating parts are practically invisible.
The new IZH has a petrol boxer engine with a power of 110 kW (150 hp), developing a torque of 180 N∙m. Thanks to this engine, a car weighing 510 kilograms accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. And the maximum speed of a motorcycle from Izhevsk is 250 km/h.
Representatives of the plant initially claimed that the motorcycle was made simply as a concept, but the automotive press suggested that the new IZH could be used as a motorcycle escort as part of the government's Cortezh transport system.
The Kalashnikov concern is working on special versions of Izh motorcycles, a source in the military-industrial industry said. This was confirmed by the concern’s director of external communications, Sofia Ivanova.
The work is being carried out in the interests of law enforcement agencies
She clarified. The models will be presented at the international military-technical forum Army 2017, which will be held from August 22 to 27 in the Patriot Park near Moscow, Ivanova added, refusing to disclose other details, reports.
The concern reported that there should be three models.
They will have no strollers with compartments for automatic weapons and other things. From the mockups I've seen they'll look like mountain bikes
The interlocutor said, noting that the cars look similar to Japanese Kawasaki mountain bikes. The source also noted that the motorcycles will have different cross-country ability, with one of them “more elevated, others lower.”
Most likely, this will be a Russian-Chinese development, experts noted.
The publisher of Moto magazine, Roman Sitnikov, believes that new motorcycles for security forces will most likely be Russian-Chinese.
As far as I understand, the Kalashnikov concern is only related to modifications. The best option is to take one of the average Chinese ones as a basis. I guess it will be Lifan
Sitnikov said.
The latest development of this kind, which was carried out in Russia for military purposes, was the Ural motorcycle. It is produced at the Irbit motorcycle plant. “Ural” is a further development of the M-72 motorcycle (a Soviet copy of the German BMW R71). Its “military versions” are “Ural” IMZ-8.1037 Gear-UP and “Ural” IMZ-8.1037 Gear-UP-ATGM. Both motorcycles are equipped with a sidecar, the latter is a carrier of the Konkurs-M anti-tank missile system (ATGM). The launcher with a thermal imaging sight is mounted on a motorcycle sidecar on a special turret. The cost of such a motorcycle is more than 500 thousand rubles.
The military model of the Ural is in production, but in fact it is not supplied to the Russian army due to its high cost, Sitnikov noted. More than 90% of the Irbit plant’s equipment is sold abroad, he added. “Our army is supplied with ATVs and snowmobiles; today the army does not have two- and three-wheeled vehicles,” the expert concluded.
Motorcycles are in service with the armies of, for example, the United States, Germany and China, but in small quantities, noted military expert Vasily Kashin.
Their finest hour was during World War II. They were cheaper than cars and had a fairly high cross-country ability
Reminded Kashin. In his opinion, now in the army it is much more profitable to use light vehicles such as buggies or ATVs -
There are a lot of motorcycles in the Iranian army. But this is rather a consequence of the industrial weakness of this country
The expert concluded.
Kalashnikov is known primarily as a weapons manufacturer, but recently the Concern has been actively developing other promising areas. In addition to automatic and sniper weapons, hunting rifles and sporting rifles, Kalashnikov creates remote-controlled combat modules, unmanned aerial vehicles and special-purpose boats. The Concern's area of activity also includes motor vehicles, and very modern ones at that.
It was in Izhevsk in 1929 that the very first domestic motorcycles were manufactured under the Izh brand. Mass production of motorcycles began at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant in 1946. In total, over six decades, more than 10 million different models were produced. Thus, the Izhmash enterprise was known far beyond the borders of our country not only due to the production of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, but also motorcycles.
Today, Kalashnikov is working to revive the production of Izh motorcycles, which was closed in 2008. Let us recall that in July, plans to restore motorcycle production at the Concern were outlined by the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov. In an interview with the TASS agency, he recalled the once popular Izh-Planet motorcycle, which was produced at Izhmash in the 1960s. “Kalashnikov is also restoring motorcycle production. You probably remember how popular “Izh-Planet” was at one time. Now the task has been set: to revive what was, to bring it to the modern level,” noted the head of the State Corporation.
At the end of August this year, at the Army 2017 forum, the Kalashnikov Concern presented a new motorcycle model with an electric power plant to a wide audience. Immediately after the forum, several of these motorcycles were handed over to the Moscow police for testing in real conditions. In addition, the concept of a new heavy motorcycle was shown at the Army 2017 forum.
A prototype of this model was recently presented at the exhibition “Russia, looking to the future” in the Central Exhibition Hall “Manege”. In particular, the heavy Izh motorcycle produced by the Kalashnikov Concern was demonstrated to Vladimir Putin.
The new model has a bright futuristic design - streamlined shapes, large wheel covers, and an elongated silhouette. The length of the motorcycle reaches almost 3 meters, and the weight exceeds half a ton. At the same time, the maximum speed of the motorcycle reaches 250 km/h, and it accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds.
The first batch of heavy Izh motorcycles will be released in 2018. It is expected that it will be used as part of the “Cortege” project, which involves the development of Russian executive vehicles - a limousine, SUV, minivan and sedan - for top officials of the state.
Thus, the Kalashnikov Concern is faced with the task of not only reviving the production of motorcycles, but also taking it to a new level, creating new modern and competitive models.
