Back in 1987, the Izhevsk plant produced the legend of Soviet motorcycle technology - the IZH Planet 5 motorcycle. To this day, this model is in good demand; since then, hundreds of thousands of Izhovs have been sold.
The characteristics of the motorcycle are so good that from the moment of purchase the vehicle could be used both on rural roads and in the city, as evidenced by the powerful engine and modern design. Even with modern technology, Izh can compete and even win in some parameters. With an engine of only 1 cylinder, the motorcycle is capable of producing a considerable 22 horsepower. Fuel consumption at an average speed of 90 km/h is 5 liters. As for the factory maximum, the characteristics of Izh Planet 5 allow it to reach a speed of up to 120 km per hour. Thanks to its reliable design and high-quality Soviet assembly, the transport is unpretentious and easy to maintain after difficult operation.
Tuning Izh Planet 5. Preparation.
If you bought an expensive Japanese motorcycle, tuning it will become difficult, and you won’t be able to carry out the upgrade yourself. Do-it-yourself tuning of Izh Planet 5 is quite simple, you will only need to have a small set of equipment and from an old Soviet transport you will get a modern and powerful motorcycle. Any tuning consists of two types - external and internal (change in technical characteristics). Let's look first at the first option, namely modernizing the appearance.
Tuning the Izh Planet 5 motorcycle
Launched into mass production in 1987 immediately after the fifth Jupiter, the IZH Planet 5 motorcycle became a combination of all the advantages of previous IZHs of different generations, including the IZH Planet Sport. This is probably why the fifth Planet is so popular among our bikers. The superiority of the Fifth Planet over other IZh motorcycles was achieved thanks to its advanced exterior at that time. At first glance, it would seem that the appearance of the shields and tank has changed, but nevertheless, these changes look stylish. Please note that this is not a tuning or modification, but a motorcycle on the assembly line. The most eye-catching detail is the seat; it now looks more impressive and beautiful than before. And most importantly, the landing is now more comfortable.
Unlike the fifth Jupiter, the engine of Planet-5 remained single-cylinder, two-stroke. According to statistics, this motor is more reliable than that of Jupiter! And its 22 hp. allow you to pull considerable loads. It consumes fuel economically - at a speed of 90 km/h - 5 liters per hundred kilometers.
When the question comes about motorcycle tuning of Izh Planet 5, it is usually divided into internal (engine) and external. Since external tuning is not so complicated and each biker chooses for himself what and how to change in the appearance of his iron horse, internal tuning, as a rule, has only one modification, which we will talk about further.
The first step is to achieve more power by reducing the weight of the motorcycle - you need to remove all unnecessary parts that only make the motorcycle heavier. It would be nice to install a front fork from Java with increased travel. To increase rear wheel travel, you also need to install long-travel shock absorbers. It is also necessary to make changes to the resonator so that it starts working at 4 – 5 thousand rpm.
You need to re-press the crankshaft (even if you don’t want to make drastic changes). Still, it’s better to re-press it and don’t forget to silver-plate the upper ring and the lower separator. Processes such as balancing and alignment should not even require a reminder, since it is always mandatory. To increase the service life of the crankshaft main bearings, it is better to replace them with Java ones from the secondary shaft.
Next, you need to bore the cylinder liner to increase the engine displacement. You need to bore it to 76 mm; a piston from Planet Sport (PS) will fit a sleeve of this size. In this case, there is no need to touch the purge and windows since the piston from the PS automatically changes the phase angle. Such changes will make the engine behave very differently. The motorcycle that our mechanic worked on began to accelerate to 160 km/h after modifications! On the power stand, such a forced engine showed 42 horsepower at 5950 rpm. It just turned out to be a cross-country PS 500, which have been discontinued for a long time. You need to remember that a forced motor will literally break the regular drive chain, so it needs to be replaced with a better quality chain, available from Planet Sports. Also, when the engine is boosted, the clutch basket will automatically require modifications (it will not fit from the PS). Under forced engine conditions, these discs will wear out very quickly. There is an option to install a thicker metal disk instead of one textolite disk. This should allow the springs to tighten more tightly. There will be no slipping, and a heavy clutch will be the price to pay for a forced engine.
If you are a top-class mechanic, then you can try installing supercharging, which was installed on pre-war motorcycles. But it is so difficult that not every craftsman can make such a motorcycle tuning for Izh Planet 5.
External tuning of Izh Planet 5
Often, to improve the appearance, styling of individual elements is used, and let's start with the muffler. Previously, a muffler kit was made, including chrome pipes and various attachments. Having found such a kit, you will not only get a beautiful appearance, but also improve the performance of the exhaust system, and the engine will run even more stable and smoother. Therefore, we recommend starting tuning with the exhaust pipe.
Next, they most often replace the rear shock absorbers by installing a higher size. Raising the motorcycle will significantly reduce the pressure on the engine and gas tank, so replacing the shock absorbers is also necessary. But it is worth considering that for proper operation you will have to balance the wheels. Let's look at other changes in the appearance of IZH Planet 5.
- For better sportiness, the height of the front wing is increased.
- An additional tuning will be the replacement of standard round turn signals with rectangular ones.
- A modern type of external styling is the installation of xenon. With it, the vehicle will not only be more beautiful, but also safer on the road.
- Most often, Izh Planet 5 owners install an updated windshield. Just one detail will give the motorcycle a new look.
- To make Izh behave better on the road, newer and higher quality tires are installed instead of old ones.
Xenon on Izh
As you can see, tuning Izh Planet 5, photos of which are sufficient, show that there are enough opportunities for modernization, and you can limit yourself not only to the above methods. Almost everything can be changed, it depends on your imagination and desire. Some craftsmen even created a sports body for the motorcycle, thanks to which you can’t even tell that it’s an Izh.
Appearance
Despite the fact that IZH Planeta-5 is one of the best examples of domestic production in terms of design, it still differs unfavorably from foreign motorcycles. To change the appearance of the Planet for the better, you can take the following actions:
- Install double-sided bars - in case of a fall, they will protect the driver and protect the motorcycle from serious damage.
- Install xenon. This will not only help in illuminating the track, but will make the motorcycle more visible and, as a result, increase the safety of the driver.
- Not all modifications of IZH Planet-5 have knee pads. In order to close the holes that form the safety arches, two shields should be cut out of light tin or durable plastic. This change will reduce dirt on the engine and rider and improve the appearance of the motorcycle.
- Replace factory turn signals. In its original configuration, IZH Planet-5 has rather inconspicuous round turn signals; they can be replaced with more modern rectangular ones.
- Replace the windshield. Thanks to this, the motorcycle will literally be transformed.
- Raising the rear of the motorcycle and the front fender slightly will give the Planet a more sporty look.
- Change tires to more modern ones.
All of the above will radically change the appearance of the Planet. Only you can decide what your bike will look like. When tuning an IZH 5 motorcycle, you can choose which parts of the original design you want to replace and which ones you want to leave.
Technical tuning Izh Planet 5
Any vehicle can be changed and its technical data can be improved. The engine and other elements of Izh Planet 5 are especially amenable to changes, because thanks to the high-quality and simple assembly of the engine, changing its components will be quite simple. Let's start with engine tuning, which will increase the performance of your vehicle.
To increase engine power, the first step is to repress the crankshaft. The result will be an increase in engine performance by 15%. You can read about this on the forums, or ask experienced people. The second option for engine styling is to install bearings from another motorcycle, namely the Java 350. It is strongly recommended to carry out such tuning only when you plan to operate the Izh on large and high-speed rides, because this change threatens to deteriorate the exhaust system.
Repressing the crankshaft Izh planet 5
Also, a standard increase in the power of any vehicle is the boring of the cylinder, so the Izh Planet 5 motorcycle, after increasing the volume to 75 mm, will receive a significant increase in speed, in most cases the maximum figure is 160 km per hour.
Let's go further, and the next option for tuning Izh Planet 5 will be to improve the boost system. To do this, you need to install an expensive foreign-made air filter. We also recommend installing new gaskets that will hold air.
This is where the main options for external and internal tuning of Izh Planet 5 with your own hands, photos and videos of which pretty much end. You can make other changes at your discretion, but any modernization can be either beneficial or detrimental to the motorcycle. Therefore, consult with knowledgeable people and choose your version of modification.
Improved technical characteristics
- Engine
- Cylinder
- Clutch
- Supercharging
- Piston
The Planet-5 engine is convenient for processing. Of course, owners always want to increase power. To do this, it is worth repressing the crankshaft, replacing the original bearings with bearings from the Java secondary shaft.
When disassembling, it is worth silvering the upper ring and the lower separator. After tuning the engine, its service life is reduced. So if you use the motorcycle for normal speed riding, you should not change anything in the engine, as this will greatly reduce the life of the tires and rear clutch.
To increase the volume of the cylinder, cut off its upper part and bore the liner to 76 mm. After pumping the engine, the Planet can accelerate to 160 km/h.
The factory clutch of the IZH Planet-5 copes well with normal loads. If you drive a lot and drive aggressively, you should think about replacing the clutch. Under increased load, the disks quickly fail, so it is worth replacing one of them with a thicker metal one. This will lead to a stronger compression of the springs, in which there will be no slipping and the clutch will be more difficult to squeeze.
Advanced mechanics can change the boost system. When tuning the IZH Planet motorcycle, do not forget to replace the air filter with a foreign one. High-quality air purification will increase the power of your “iron horse” and prevent the engine from overheating.
Lubricating the piston will increase friction between the side wall and the cylinder bore.
Thus, after spending some time and money on tuning the IZH Planet-5 motorcycle, you will get an excellent “iron friend”. “Planet” initially has good technical characteristics - excellent traction, high power, resistance to any type of road.
Add to this an affordable price, ease of maintenance and availability of the necessary parts, plus your skills and imagination - and you will get a motorcycle that will serve you faithfully in Russian off-road conditions for many years.
