The IZH motorcycle is a domestic vehicle that has shown its best qualities over the years. Models of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant were produced in a variety of classes. Among them were ordinary road ones for rural and urban areas, sports ones for racing competitions, some models were also produced for law enforcement agencies. Motorcycles of the state enterprise “Izhmash” are still very popular among the people to this day. IZH was nicknamed “donkey”. When purchased, it was mainly adapted for subsidiary farming. Craftsmen immediately appeared who remodeled the stroller, put a box on the chassis instead of the standard one, and loaded much more cargo into it.
History of IZH motorcycles
The history of serial production of IZH began in 1946. At that time, approximately 11 million motorcycles of various modifications were produced in the city of Izhevsk. The legendary IZH-49 was especially popular among the population at that time.
© Svetlana Siletskaya / Photobank Lori
Manufacturers included in the design a rear suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and a telescopic front fork. IZH-49 was considered a comfortable vehicle, reliable and durable.
Not based on the IZH-49 model, the IZH-56 was developed and released in 1956.
Subsequently, in 1962, based on the IZH-56, a new model, the IZH Planet, was put into production.” On the basis of IZH-56, in 1957, sports motorcycles with tubular frames and pendulum suspensions began to go into production. Such modifications include: - IZH-57-K - intended for cross-country racing, engine power 18 hp; — IZH-57-M — 18 hp, intended for multi-day competitions; - IZH-54-A - 20 hp power, rear wheel 16 (size in inches), and front wheel 19 (size in inches), intended for road racing competitions; — IZH-60-M — intended for multi-day competitions, engine power 19 hp; — IZH-60-MS was also intended for multi-day competitions, power 19 hp, equipped with a six-speed gearbox. Later, other modifications of IZh motorcycles began to be developed: IZH-Jupiter, IZH-Planet Sport and others.
Engine
The Izh Planet-5 motorcycle is equipped with an engine that at low speeds has very decent traction by today's standards. Its main characteristics are as follows:
- Single-cylinder - engines of this type have always been and remain the most commonly used for classic motorcycles.
- Two-stroke - single-cylinder two-stroke engines are superior to their four-stroke competitors in power, as well as low cost and many tuning options, but are inferior to them in reliability, service life, fuel consumption, environmental friendliness and maintenance requirements.
- Carburetor - despite the fact that cars with carburetor engines are a thing of the past, carburetors continue to be used on motor vehicles
- Air cooling
- Displacement : 346 cm3 - the volume of modern single-cylinder engines is usually not lower than 50 and not higher than 700 cm3.
- Acceptable fuel: gasoline with a minimum octane number of 76
- Power: up to 22 hp
- Required proportion of oil and gasoline (their mixture should be poured into the fuel tank): 1/30–1/70.
- Compression (compression ratio of the contents of the combustion chamber): no less than 8.5
- Rotation speed: 8450 rpm
It is the engine that provides the Izh Planet-5 with acceleration of up to 100 km/h and other speed and traction qualities that do not allow it to lag behind its competitors.
Owner reviews
Oleg, 54 years old, St. Petersburg
In my youth I was the owner of Planet-5, so I decided to purchase and restore a similar motorcycle. We managed to find a 1988 copy that had not been modified or damaged in an accident. We had to restore the paintwork that had been damaged by storing the equipment in a damp garage. There were problems finding spare parts; there are a lot of Chinese components on the market with poor workmanship. I use the motorcycle for periodic trips to various events dedicated to old motorcycles.
Kirill, 38 years old, Tula
In the village there is a Planet-5 motorcycle with a side trailer, which was bought by relatives in 1991. The equipment is used for transporting small loads, going out into nature or picking mushrooms. I fill it with a mixture of A-92 gasoline and special oil for 2-stroke engines. I have no problems starting, but there are pockets of corrosion on the fenders and body of the trailer. At the beginning of the summer season and in the fall, I carry out maintenance in accordance with the factory instructions. I want to restore the motorcycle to its original form, but I don’t have free time.
Model "IZH Planeta-3-01"
Starting in 1977, a new modification of our hero was launched into the series. The following improvements have been made:
- Possibility to adjust the height of the front fender above the wheel.
- For the rear shock absorbers, it is now possible to change the spring preload. Three locking positions were provided. This allowed the rear suspension to have travel despite the load the bike was carrying. This innovation was especially important for motorcyclists who drove with a load on bad roads.
- The engine was boosted and its power increased by 2 liters. pp., which, in turn, led to a change in the shape of the cooling fins and their increase.
- The motorcycle's handlebars also underwent changes: in the new version, a rear-view mirror was standardly installed on it, and special rubber balls were added to the ends of the control handles, which prevented hand injuries when the motorcycle fell. Also, the change in the shape of the steering wheel was dictated by an increase in the level of comfort for the motorcyclist.
- Standard arches were installed, which were supposed to protect the driver in an accident.
Over four years, about 400 thousand motorcycles of this modification were produced.
Advantages and disadvantages
pros
- Comfortable fit.
- Good maneuverability.
- Unpretentiousness.
- Price.
- Repairability.
Minuses
- Small resource.
- Noisy engine.
- Toxic engine.
- Outdated model.
- Tight clutch.
- Vibrations.
- Motorcycle weight.
The main disadvantage of the model is the ill-conceived electrical supply system. The maximum voltage that the generator develops at a power of 350 W and high engine speeds reaches 30 V, which is quite enough to damage the battery charging system.
Simplicity = reliability
Considering that these motorcycle models have not been produced since 1985, and you won’t see this iron horse on the roads, we can conclude: it turned out to be reliable and durable. As mentioned above, the engine was simple, the tubular frame was reliable, the front telescopic fork and rear spring shock absorber made it relatively comfortable to feel off-road. Minimalism also affected the instrument panel: there are only two lamps on it - neutral speed (green) and the one that signals the operation of the generator - red.
There is also a speedometer, which has a green backlight. Looking at the photo of IZH Planet-3, we can say that the designers of that time were also a little designers: the appearance of the motorcycle contains chrome parts, from modification to modification not only the appearance changes, but also the appearance of the stroller undergoes changes.
Thanks to its survivability and ability to ride off-road, IZH Planeta-3 is now popular among bikers who tune motorcycles. They repurpose them and turn them into choppers. This means that for a long time on our (and not only our) roads it will be possible to see this legend, created by conscientious workers of the Ural.
Adjustment data in millimeters - mm
Gap between breaker contacts - 0.4 - 0.6 Gap between spark plug electrodes - 0.6 - 0.75 Free play at the end of the clutch lever - 5 - 10 Free play at the end of the handbrake lever - 10 - 20 Free play at the end foot brake lever -10 – 25 Free play of throttle and corrector cables – 1 – 2 Ignition timing to t.m.t. — 3.0 — 3.5 Rear wheel drive chain slack — 20 — 30 Air pressure in tires, MPa: front — 0.15+0.01 rear — 0.21+0.01.
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Design and appearance
In appearance, the motorcycle corresponds to the classical Soviet school. The fuel tank with rubber linings and a large manufacturer's emblem harmoniously flows into a flat seat, behind which there is a small casing with a combination lamp.
A plastic instrument panel with a speedometer, ignition switch and warning lamps is installed. Spoke wheels with aluminum brake drums emphasize the retro style, which even alloy wheels, installed since the mid-90s, cannot spoil.
Exterior view of the IZH Planeta-5 motorcycle.
Engine with one cylinder having a diameter of 72 mm.
Transmission
The motorcycle was equipped with a multi-plate clutch (6 or 7 friction pairs) located in an oil bath. To open the disks, a worm or cam type drive was used from a lever on the steering wheel.
The gearbox with 4 forward gears was located in a single crankcase with the engine.
Torque was transmitted to the rear wheel by a closed chain, which required periodic washing and lubrication. To select speeds, a double-arm lever with a foot drive was used, located on the side of the crankcase of the power unit.
Gearbox with 4 gears
Chassis and brakes
The motorcycle was equipped with a space frame welded from steel pipes. The front wheel has a telescopic fork and a pair of hydraulic shock absorbers with additional springs.
On some cars with a disc front brake, a pneumatic stiffness regulator was used. The rear wheel was equipped with a lever suspension with 2 shock absorbers with a spring and a hydraulic cavity filled with oil.
At the front, a drum shoe brake with a manual cable drive was used. The disc mechanism was equipped with a floating bracket with hydraulic control using a lever on the steering wheel.
The rear wheel and side trailer were equipped with foot-operated drum brakes. The ABS system was installed on experimental units that were not sold at retail.
Wheels
Initially, the motorcycle used spoked wheels with discs with a diameter of 18″, regardless of the installation location. With the introduction of the disc brake, the original wheel with spokes began to be installed in front, and then a cast aluminum alloy.
Tires measuring 3.5x18" were standard; on the tourist version, a 3.75x18" tire with a developed tread pattern was installed at the rear. When using a front alloy wheel, a standard 3.25x18″ tire was used.
Spoked wheels with 18″ diameter discs are installed.
Electronics
The motorcycle was equipped with a battery contact or electronic contactless ignition system. The voltage in the on-board network was 12 V, the negative terminals were connected to the frame.
A generator with a power of 70 to 140 W and a lead-acid battery with a capacity of 9 Ah were used as power sources. The lighting system included a headlight and a combined rear lamp.
There were direction indicators and a sound signal. A separate connector was provided for connecting the electrical circuits of the onboard trailer.
Dashboard of IZH Planet-5.
Weight and dimensions
Basic parameters of a single motorcycle:
- length – 2200 mm;
- width – 810 mm;
- height (without windshield) – 1200 mm;
- base – 1450 mm;
- ground clearance - 135 mm;
- dry weight – 162 kg;
- permissible load – 170 kg.
Controllability
The motorcycle has good maneuverability, corresponding to its dynamic capabilities. The technology reacts sensitively to steering wheel deviation, but requires precise adjustment of tire pressure and proper functioning of shock absorbers. When installing a side trailer, maneuverability is impaired.
Fuel consumption
The fuel supply was stored in a tank with a capacity of 18 liters; a mixture of gasoline and oil was used as fuel. Some motorcycles were equipped with a motor with a separate lubrication system, which supplied oil with a pump depending on the riding mode.
When driving on a flat highway at an average speed of about 90 km/h, the consumption was about 5 liters of fuel; in urban mode with sudden starts, the parameter reached 6.5–7 liters per 100 km.
