Four-wheel drive motorcycles: real off-road vehicles

Welcome to my website! Today I present to your attention a short excursion about motorcycles with 2X2 all-wheel drive.

All-wheel drive motorcycle concepts are no longer as new as many people think.
Many companies and custom workshops have bothered with this issue in the motorcycle industry. Until now, no one has found a completely adequate solution, but nevertheless, numerous attempts to create a motorcycle with two (sometimes three) driving wheels cannot be considered unsuccessful. The same situation once developed in the automotive industry and many believed that all-wheel drive would not take root! But despite this, after a long search for solutions, the concept of all-wheel drive on cars has become quite commonplace, and some cars cannot be imagined without the 4X4

. That is, many skeptics turned out to be wrong.

The popularity of all-wheel drive cars did not appear immediately. After the end of World War II, the positive qualities of army SUVs were appreciated in civilian life and the reviving national economy of our country. In the UK and the USA, surplus army equipment received to help farmers and rural residents found support due to the maneuverability of such equipment. Rover

were the first to pay attention to this trend, and in response to this,

Land Rover

appeared 1948 - the first civilian SUV. Subsequently, many manufacturers produced (or attempted) all-wheel drive vehicles for special purposes and civilian needs of the population.

The evolution of four-wheel drive as an off-road vehicle was broken in the late 1970s

by
Audi
and in
the 80s

Quattro
models appeared .

Land Rover, Audi, Jeep, Subaru

and other manufacturers are working to improve all-wheel drive to this day.
But unfortunately, none of the motorcycle manufacturers have made any effort to create a production
all-wheel drive motorcycle.
And this surprise is compounded by the fact that some niche 2WD
motorcycles have been very well received and received many positive reviews. Some motorcycles from well-known and large companies often impress with their characteristics, but this still remains an exclusive and niche production.

And now let's get down to the list of ten all-wheel drive motorcycles, be it a ready-made 2WD motorcycle or a converted one using KIT kits, as well as prototypes that did not make it into production.

Ural

Despite the fact that there are three wheels and two drive wheels does not mean all-wheel drive, but this is the most suitable concept on this list. Like civilian motorcycles, the Ural after World War II became a descendant of the German BMW R75. It is still in production and is probably the most successful 2WD motorcycle ever built. Since we are talking about all models and conversions, many probably watched videos and photos of the converted Ural into 3WD

Bobby Haas and his Haas Moto Museum

Today, something similar is happening in the world of motorcycle customization. One of the luminaries is Bobby Haas and his Haas Moto Museum in Dallas.

Bobby has managed to amass a collection of more than 130 unusual motorcycles, and sometimes he gives them away for conversion. Khazan is one of his protégés, Craig Rodsmith is another. It was his incredible front-wheel drive motorcycle that recently became a permanent resident of the hallowed halls.

This is a classic story of patron and artist working in tandem. It started last year when Bobby suffered from a bout of insomnia during the Handbuilt Show, which is held annually in Austin, Texas.

Bobby Haas says:

After a sleepless night, I went online. And I came across vintage photographs of an Art Deco motorcycle created by a group of German engineers in the 1930s.

It was a Killinger und Freund motorcycle, built in Munich between the two world wars.

Suzuki XF5

In the 80s and early 90s, Suzuki could be the company that would lead the quattro revolution in 2WD motorcycle construction. A number of all-wheel drive concept bikes were produced, and in 1991, three models appeared using the same technology. These are the utilitarian XF4 motorcycle, the indistinct and ugly Xf425 and the XF5 enduro. The 200 cc two-stroke XF5 enduro shown in the photo received the most adequate design. The drive to the front wheel is carried out using a telescopic shaft running along the left fork leg of the motorcycle. The drive of the shaft itself is carried out by a chain transmission. All this made the motorcycle heavier by 7.8 kg.

Another domestic model

Dnepr-16 is another Soviet bike with a sidecar. The model stands out thanks to the rubberized stroller springs and a load capacity of 200 kg. Such a vehicle will be an excellent option for leisure and work.

It will also be interesting: Review of the Voskhod 2 motorcycle: motorcycle legend of the USSR

Rokon

The Ural is of course the most successful serial motorcycle with two driving wheels but the Rokon

, since the 60s, has come the closest to attempting to produce an SUV on two wheels.
The only drawback in the history of Rokon
is the simplification of the front wheel drive scheme by getting rid of the suspension altogether.
But recently, new models have received front suspension. (on the picture)

Electric drive

This option of all-wheel drive on touring vehicles became available relatively recently.

The BMW company has created a concept with all-wheel drive using a hybrid scheme, when an electric motor is built into the front wheel with the possibility of energy recovery (charging the battery during braking). This design is implemented on the BMW R1200GS Hybrid bike.

Drysdale 2x2x2

Engineer Ian Drysdale from Australia became famous for his V8

and
2x2x2
.
All motorcycles are named after him and the Drysdale 2x2x2
was an earlier design, with a two-stroke engine built specifically for this motorcycle. Torque is applied to both wheels of the motorcycle using hydraulics. The rotation of both wheels (!!!) was also carried out by a hydraulic drive. According to reviews, controlling this “hydraulic-driven monster” evokes dual sensations of surprise and unusual torque.

Made in Italy

Cagiva Elefant 906 SP

The Italian project was focused on winning the most difficult race in the world - the Paris-Dakar rally raid. In 1990 and 1994, Eddie Oriol managed to win the race on this bike, thus realizing the idea of ​​the ambitious Italians. As a power unit, the motorcycle used a proprietary L-shaped engine from Ducati with an equally proprietary desmodromic valve drive. The 904 cc air-cooled engine produced 78 hp. maximum power at 8000 rpm, and its gas distribution mechanism had only two valves per cylinder. Experts from a well-known motorcycle grandee in the person of Ducati took part in the development of the motorcycle.

KTM 2WD prototype

KTM

in 2004, I also decided
to “turn”
the front wheel using hydraulics.
The company created a prototype motorcycle with a hydraulic pump that is driven by a short chain from a drive sprocket. The hydraulic motor is mounted on the front hub. Pros: only flexible connections. This made it possible to use a conventional front suspension and get away from a heavy chain drive. Over time, KTM
received a patent for a hybrid all-wheel drive motorcycle with an electric motor mounted on the front hub.

All-wheel drive operation due to chain transmission

Rotational power is transmitted to the front wheel through the chain, sprockets and CV joint in the steering unit.

This operating principle has been developed since the mid-60s, when the first mass-produced all-wheel drive off-road motorcycle, Rokon, was created in the USA.

Rokon - the founder of all-terrain vehicles

It’s hard to call it an enduro motorcycle; rather, it’s a two-wheeled all-terrain vehicle – a swamp vehicle, suitable for hunting and fishing. Large, wide tires compensate for the lack of full suspension. These four-wheel drive motorcycles are always slow-moving and, to some extent, can replace an ATV or a 4-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. They are still in demand.

If you like such a hard worker, similar equipment is produced in Russia: “Tarus”, “Argali”.

"Tarus" and "Arhar"

Prices are quite affordable, up to 200 thousand rubles. for a new all-terrain vehicle.

Here we also need to remember the all-wheel drive motorcycle of A. Garagashyan as a unique work of our compatriot.

Winner of the 1995 Russian Championship in sports motorcycle tourism

Wunderlich Hybrid BMW R1200GS

As always, the BMW tuning studio Wunderlich

using
KTM's
electric hybrid. It was used on the BMW R1200GS. A new generation of batteries, generators and electric motors hints at what may be the future of motorcycles. So far, the issue of controlling the power of the front wheel and the comparison of torque with the rear wheel has not been resolved. But it seems to me that this is no longer a problem with the availability of modern software.

Incorrect "Geese"

It's not just the boxer that drives the tourenduro. However, there is no rush here either. The concern has not made single-cylinder motorcycles for 26 years - since it discontinued the 250 cc BMW R27 in 1967. And the “single” BMW F650, released in 1993, was initially announced as a “fanduro” - they say, it’s like an enduro, but not serious. And only the second-generation F650, which debuted in 2000, received the glorious GS index - they say, now the game has gone big. This car was also produced in the Dakar version - with increased suspension travel, larger wheels and off-road tires.

In 2005, BMW motorcycles with in-line “twos” debuted, and two years later the new family was complemented by the F800GS and F650GS variants. Moreover, if the first is a real enduro, a worthy successor to the first R800G/S, then the second (in fact, also 800 cc, but derated) is an “SUV” on cast wheels.

While Honda and BMW were battling it out on the Dakar tracks, KTM was heading towards bankruptcy in 1991. The history of the company as a whole is useful to read, I will only say that the path from almost bankruptcy (the company was divided between successors in the areas of radiators, motorcycles, bicycles and tool production) was not easy, but in 2002 KTM wins Dakar, and how! KTM riders win every stage of the Dakar race. Alfie Cox wins two stages and finishes second behind Fabrizio Meoni.

Already in 2003, the 950 Adventure model entered the market. Meanwhile, this year KTM riders continue to win every stage of the Dakar Rally. Alfie Cox leads the first 7 stages, but retires from the race due to a crash on stage 8.

In 2005, the 990 Adventure went on sale, victories in all six world enduro championships went to KTM! Cyril Despres wins Dakar.

In 2006, KTM riders won all stages of the Dakar Rally. Marc Coma takes first place, with the top eight positions all occupied by KTM riders.

2010 - KTM does the impossible and takes home ALL the World Motocross Championship titles.

2011 - Marc Coma wins the motorcycle class in the Dakar Rally for the first time on a KTM 450 Rally, his third victory and 10th for KTM.

2012 - Cyril Despres again wins the motorcycle class in the Dakar Rally on a KTM 450 Rally. 11th victory for KTM and 4th for Despres. In the same year, the presentation of the new KTM Adventure 1190

An impressive comeback, isn't it? KTM should not be discounted.

What happens? “Old” Africa won the hearts of Russians (and not only) not with its outstanding dynamics, nor with its off-road capabilities. Ease of operation and phenomenal reliability—these are the distinctive features of this legendary motorcycle.

Nowadays it is fashionable to have smart machinery in a motorcycle - road mode, off-road mode, rain mode. This trend was set by BMW, the leader in the touring enduro market in recent years. Meanwhile, KTM is already confidently breathing down his neck, and it’s not in vain that the British (I hope) have been conjuring the Triumph Tiger for a long time.

Will the “new” Africa be able to break this line of machinery that thinks for the pilot? Will she do this? Will it win the love of Russians (and not only others), squeezing out competitors and returning to its former greatness? Or will the fate of Super Tenere await her?

Only time will tell, and we will eagerly wait, search, and compare. And make a choice.

That's all, I'm waiting for corrections and comments from knowledgeable people. Thank you for your attention.

Suzuki Nuda

Suzuki

Taking into account the love for all-wheel drive motorcycles in the 80s and early 90s, they developed their most famous concept - the
Suzuki Nuda.
In this development, there were 2 driveshafts from the gearbox, for both the front and rear wheels. The front console suspension made it possible to implement such a technical solution.

Test evaluation of Yamaha XTZ Super Tenere

Dynamics - At the level of enduro racing

Handling - If not for the thin fork!

Comfort - A true all-terrain vehicle

Brakes - Dangerous for an untrained pilot

Ergonomics - as it is

Drive - Match the motorcycle's capabilities

+ excellent performance of a forced engine at any speed

+ good balance of on-road and off-road properties - predictable behavior in all conditions

+ comfortable driving position

- noisy engine requires attention

— excessively powerful front brake is prone to wheel locking

— soft front fork removes the driver from control

= virtually unlimited possibilities in the hands of a skilled pilot.

End?

Africa immediately, from the first seconds, envelops you with an aura of comfort and security. The motorcycle seems to tell you: show me the way, and I’ll do the rest myself. There is no need to fight with him, it is enough to establish a connection with him at the soul level - unity is guaranteed. And then go out onto the highway and drive several hundred kilometers, just for fun. But the comfort of Africa is not the comfort of a luxury tourer; not a single tourer is suitable for Russian roads. And Africa is adapted. And at the same time, it is absolutely reliable, in this very few people can compare with it. There are very few such completed, successful motorcycles.

It's a pity that production was discontinued in 2003.. but now Honda presents us with a new Africa!

So what do we know about the new Africa?

Engine: 70 kW (94 hp) at 7500 rpm and 98 Nm at 6000 rpm. The weight of the base model without fuel is from 225 kg, with ABS – up to 232 kg, with DCT – up to 242 kg.

The front fork diameter is 45 mm, and the suspension travel of all three models is 230 mm at the front and 220 mm at the rear - better than the KTM 1190 (which replaced the 990), which is considered the main competitor of the CRF1000L Africa Twin.

Many people will probably be a little upset by these specifications. As you already understood, the Japanese manufacturer focused on travelers and off-roading, so the new Africa is significantly inferior in power to the BMW R1200GS Adventure (125 hp) and KTM 1190 Adventure R (147 hp). Weight is also a contentious issue, especially the extra pounds with the optional DCT option. Although, it should be noted the ability of Honda engineers to make their motorcycles in such a way that the weight of the car seems less than it actually is. The Honda representative office in Europe also announced the cost of the base model - 12,999 €, which is also more expensive than many had hoped.

The history of the GS series from BMW is no less interesting. Back in 1981 (a year before the Africa Twin appeared), the Bavarians were poring over the idea of ​​a touring enduro. While the Japanese sat and conjured over the drawings, the Germans were preparing to use Dakar to present the model in all its glory. The collaboration with the enduro-specializing HPN brought the racing version as many as 2 victories - first place in the more racing version and seventh in the almost production R80G/S

The same driver repeated his success in 1983, also winning the famous American Baja 1000 race. Obviously, the production version of the BMW R80G/S Paris-Dakar soon saw the light, and by the mid-80s, sales of the BMW G/S accounted for approximately a fifth of the total sales of Bavarian motorcycles. However, the issue of making a profit still haunted me and a solution was found quickly.

Yamaha 2-Trac.

Yamaha Company

one of the few built a full-fledged, but small-scale, all-wheel drive motorcycle -
WR450F 2-Trac
.
A scheme similar to the one patented by KTM is used here. Ohlins
hydraulic system transmitted torque to the front wheel.
Yamaha
experimented with this design on a number of its other motorcycles, up to and including the R1.
diagram of torque transmission to the front wheel R1
The company also produced Yamaha, a more powerful TT600R

working on the same principle.
Yamaha TT600R

I bought a motorcycle to ride, not to fall

This article is not quite in Habr format, but, observing the pace at which the number of two-wheelers on the streets of the capital is growing, including among IT workers, I will still take a risk - maybe it will save several lives, which is not so bad.

When I bought my first motorcycle 10 years ago, any encounter with two-wheelers on the road was an event.
Over the past few years, the situation has changed dramatically - traffic jams from motorcycles in the aisles are already an everyday occurrence. I won’t think about why this is happening, but will try to simply share my experience of “surviving in a big city” with those who have just bought it or are just thinking about it. It is quite possible that some things will be useful to fans of electric vehicles. A little bit about yourself.
Or why, as it seems to me, you can listen to my words. Katya has been around for about 10 years now. I drove a lot of things. Plus or minus 18K in Moscow per year in any weather, except for snowfall and very cold weather (at -15 it’s already difficult to start). I participated as a volunteer first in Motocitizen, then in MotoMoscow Road Accident. In the first I worked on statistics (some numbers will be from there, but from memory), for the second I wrote and am somehow trying to support a mobile application for alerting about accidents. I have been in and under a car many times, but much more often I have observed others in similar situations.

Choosing a motorcycle school

It would seem, what does school have to do with it?
In fact, very much so. To obtain a category A license in Russia, you just need to pass the traffic rules theory and skate the area. In theory, everything is clear, but practice, in the vast majority of motorcycle schools, consists solely of training to pass the site, and in the most effective way. Everything would be fine, but the trouble is that the maneuvering and landing skills most suitable for passing it are not only useless in the city - they are harmful. All this leads to the fact that first-season students who have just received their license are retrained on their own, according to the “Brazilian system,” well, if without any loss in health. So for those who have not yet chosen a school, I strongly recommend that your primary attention should not be paid to the cost and promises to “pass the first time,” but to the availability of a driving training program in the city and to reviews in thematic public pages/forums.

How to avoid getting into an accident

No way.
I don’t know a single motorcyclist who has ridden for at least 3-4 seasons and who hasn’t been in an accident at least once. No, perhaps there are such people, but I don’t know them. So the phrase from the headline, which at one time became a local meme, has little to do with reality. Just when you get on a motorcycle, keep in mind that you may very well not get there.

How to reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident

This topic cannot be covered in one article - entire books are devoted to it. I will limit myself to a few tips on the most common mistakes of first-season players. Not the standard “don’t speed”, “don’t drink and drive”, etc., but, let’s say, unwritten rules.

1. Practice emergency braking. Just in the evening, go to an empty area and accelerate-braking-acceleration-braking-acceleration-... You should feel the moment of the rear wheel breaking off with your butt (this is not a figure of speech). The right hand and right leg should be able to independently brake effectively, at the level of reflexes. You have not yet realized the tragedy of the situation, but the rear one is already pinned down, and a moment later the front one starts moving.
   Lyrical digression:

   “To avoid a collision, I put the motorcycle down” - remember this phrase and never use it in conversation with understanding people. When talking to girls, it’s okay - it’s a sin not to post heroic noodles. In the most efficient and controllable(!) way, the motorcycle brakes with its wheels. A motorcycle that has fallen on its side is a bullet with a displaced center of gravity, which is almost not affected by friction. Those. flies far, quickly and along an unpredictable trajectory, often intersecting with a pilot flying along the same trajectory. And it’s plus or minus two hundred kilos for a minute.

2. Don't drive to the right of the right. There you will find open car doors, turns into the yard and “oh, they called me and I decided to park!” The right side of the right lane is the last place a motorist expects to meet someone. And the dead zone there is quite large.
   A little harshness (hereinafter from personal volunteer experience)

   A Kamaz passenger opened the door in a standing traffic jam. The motorcyclist has minus three fingers.

3. Don't drive to the left of the left. There are people turning left and turning around waiting for you. Often through a double solid line and quickly. After all, “Who’s going to overtake me in the oncoming lane (the left side of the left lane)!?” Turning a car left/U-turn is one of the most common and bloodiest types of accidents involving motorcycles. By the way, the photo above is from last Friday, when a patrol car turning left didn’t notice me.
   A little tough

   At random I discovered five from the “We Remember” project - this is a project about those who have gone to the land of the eternal season. Three out of five.

4. The motorcycle was moving to the left of the general flow, a Volkswagen car, moving in the same direction, began to turn in violation of the requirements of the road sign, which only allows driving straight or to the right.

The driver of a Mazda 3 did not let the motorcycle pass when turning left. The driver and passenger of the motorcycle died at the scene of the accident.

5. The driver of a VAZ-2109 car did not give way to a motorcycle when turning. The motorcyclist overturned his motorcycle while braking and ended up between the car and the motorcycle during the collision.

How to increase the likelihood of staying alive after an accident (preferably in one piece)

To paraphrase Ballmer - “Gear!
Equipment! Equipment! Equipment!" According to traffic regulations, a motorcyclist is required to wear a helmet. Unfortunately, many people limit themselves to this. At the most, buy a cool jacket and fashionable gloves. The first season is ordinary: helmet, jacket, gloves... jeans and sneakers. Heartless bastard statistics tell us that the majority of all serious injuries occur on the legs (according to the rather leaky Motocitizen statistics - about 45%). And all because in most cases they are the ones who take the first blow. Well, the landing is because this is the difference in height between a motorcycle and a car. After the first blow, you often still have to slide on a rasp called asphalt.

Moreover, you have to slide with the soft parts of the same legs. There is even such a term - asphalt disease, this is when half of the ass is smeared in a thin layer on the road, and the second contains patches of melted trousers. And yes, the only thing a Chinese helmet that costs a thousand rubles can save you from is a fine for not having one.

A little tough

My first two trips as a volunteer occurred during traumatic foot amputations... In sneakers.
And I personally experienced asphalt sickness - it’s very unpleasant, I must say. By the way, your spine will also be very happy if the blow falls not on it, but on a special protective “back”.
Yes, equipment is quite expensive. A complete and good kit may cost half the price of a motorcycle, but it's really worth it.

Important note - all of the above also applies to your passenger. Even the most beautiful girl becomes a very ugly piece of meat if she rides with you in a miniskirt over her bare head. Believe me, I saw it.

What to do if you are in an accident and survive

The peculiarity of accidents involving a motorcycle is that immediately after the accident and for half an hour after, the pilot contains a huge dose of adrenaline. There have been cases when a person jumped up on broken legs and rushed to lift a motorcycle using only his muscles, without a frame. And after 10 minutes it turned green and turned off.

1. The first and most important rule is to make sure you are okay. If there is the slightest suspicion, strange pain, unclear perception of the world - lie down in a safe place and wait for an ambulance. There was a case (I was not personally present) - the pilot bruised his stomach, it didn’t seem to hurt, he refused the ambulance, no matter how much they asked him, and in the evening, already from home, he left in a sad car. The sad car is the same as the cheerful one, also with a red stripe, but without a flashing light. Because there is no need to rush anymore.
2. A very common misconception, typical not only of first-season drivers, is “I was driving in the middle of the road, so that means it’s my fault.” No and no again. In 70% of cases of motorcycle/auto accidents (statistics from volunteer trips), if there is a knowledgeable person with a cool head on the spot (and not a pilot whose adrenaline is going through the roof), the car is found guilty. There is no need to immediately take the blame upon yourself. With this you will please the traffic cop, you will greatly please Mamzel, who did not look in the mirror when changing lanes, and you will greatly upset your insurance company, and then, upon realization, yourself. Call your friends, or better yet, “MotoMoscow/MotoRussia Road Accident”, for example, and wait for the volunteers who ate the dog on this matter.
3. Don't lift your motorcycle without a very good reason. The traffic police officer will document and describe the accident based on the facts of what he sees. And exactly those photos that he takes will be used. A raised motorcycle is an opportunity for the second participant to distort the facts, and for investigators this is generally tantamount to the destruction of evidence.

Well, a few words about the rules of good manners and some misconceptions

1. If they catch up with you in the aisle, let them pass. If you drive on principle without noticing anyone, then at best you will be considered an idiot, and at worst, after 15 minutes of nausea, the liter sport will begin to overtake you in the next aisle. I wrote above what this leads to.
2. If you see an accident with a two-wheeler, slow down and ask if they need help. Remember that he is most likely feeling very bad right now and has little understanding of what is going on.
3. If you saw an accident with a two-wheeler where someone had already stopped and showed you with his hand “drive on” - drive on. With a high degree of probability, this is a visiting volunteer whom the traffic police officers do not drive away as long as he helps them not to create a crowd of loitering motorcyclists on the spot.
4. For lovers of non-stock forward flow and long-range xenon at night, a separate boiler in hell has been prepared.
5. In the traffic rules there is no such thing as “row spacing” - there is driving in a row and changing lanes while crossing the markings. According to traffic rules, two vehicles can be parked parallel in the same row if a safe lateral interval is maintained. The safe lateral interval is not regulated in any way.
6. Well, the most important thing. Remember that no one owes you anything. Before demanding respect from motorists, first learn to respect their right not to let you pass.

That's all. Don't fly faster than your guardian angel.

useful links

Testing of helmets: Safety Helmet Assessment & Rating Program Volunteer organization for assistance in case of accidents with motor vehicles: MotoMoscow/MotoRussia Road accidents Another volunteer organization: Motocitizen Project “Remember” Lee Parks “Full Control” UPD from comments: Helmet, debriefing David Hough, “Road strategy"

Christini.

A truly all-wheel drive motorcycle, this is a model from the American company Christini.

They have been converting motorcycles to all-wheel drive for many years, and also produce kits for such modifications.
The system is similar to the Suzuki XF5 with a chain drive from the drive sprocket to a telescopic shaft running along the front of the motorcycle, transmitting torque to the motorcycle wheel hub through a gearbox. It sounds complicated, but the system is quite lightweight and fits a variety of makes and models of motorcycles. Christini
makes several models of pre-converted bikes and sells RIT kits, including modified frames.
Christini,
specializing in off-road motorcycles, also made a road racer in
2008
to prove that all-wheel drive could help racers on asphalt.

Advantages and disadvantages of the vehicle

Among the main reasons why the Ural with a leading sidecar is very popular are:

• excellent cross-country ability (the probability of getting stuck anywhere is almost zero);
• good load capacity;
• improved management;
• smoother and softer dynamics.

But the Ural all-wheel drive motorcycle also has some disadvantages. First of all, there is a more complex chassis design. In addition, there is no way to detach the stroller. At the same time, there are clearly more advantages. Especially for those who love driving on difficult roads.

Do-it-yourself trikes: how to make them from which motorcycles

Homemade tricycles are a common phenomenon in Russia and abroad.
Only the base is different. In our latitudes, Java, Izh, Dnieper, and Ural are more often chosen for upgrades. Thanks to the powerful opposition engine, the Dnieper and the Ural often give life to a new miracle of technology. For a less powerful model, a moped engine is suitable. Another reason for this choice is minimal costs. Few people decide to cut an imported bike for the sake of experiment. To design the axle, you will need a profile pipe and drawings of trikes, which can be found on the Internet. Sometimes the “donors” for the axles are old bicycles, and the engines are Zaporozhets and Zhigulis.

Despite the small costs of hardware, you need to prepare for additional expenses: purchases, installation of seats, lights, if desired - chrome plating, if necessary, drive on the roads - registration with the traffic police.

About ease of use

The khaki coloring will be invisible in the forest or in the reeds near a pond, so the “Ural Gear Up” can be safely equipped for hunting or put the necessary fishing gear in it. With a weight of 365 kg, you can take a lot of payload and luggage with you.

This model is significantly weighted by the developers, which allows you to transport everything you need and makes the car as stable as possible. Therefore, you can safely make maneuvers and not be afraid that the agegate may skid and it will turn over.

If necessary, it can be set to the parking brake or the sidecar wheel drive can be disconnected, thereby transforming the Ural into a two-wheeled bike.

Sports tourist

The type of motorcycle is intermediate between sports and touring. Powerful and controllable bikes are equipped for a comfortable ride. The weight of this class is around 210–280 kg. Good aerodynamics and a smoother engine than sportbikes are undoubtedly attractive features of this model. The steering wheel is raised to a comfortable position. On motorcycles you can cover a thousand kilometers without fatigue. A spacious tank allows you to drive without stopping for a long time. Can be used for long trips and as a sports car.

Disadvantages of sports-tourist motorcycles:

• high price for motorcycles;
• insufficient maneuverability in the city due to the heavy weight;
• expensive maintenance, tire replacement.

DIY ATV frame drawings

The false tank has a complex shape. It was not possible to bend it out of hardboard. Therefore, having wrapped the engine with plastic film, I began to fill the space intended for it with layers of polyurethane foam. After each layer, drying is mandatory, otherwise the thick volume of foam may not dry out inside. Filled until the layers went beyond the contour. Finally, after the foam had completely dried, I began to draw out the desired shape with a knife. The edges were smoothed with coarse sandpaper.

Part of the Oka dashboard was used under the instrument panel. I secured it to the blank also using polyurethane foam. Since the foam is large-porous, the pores were filled with gypsum and then processed. When the shape of the blank began to correspond to the intended design and its surface became more or less smooth, I coated the blank with PF-115 paint. Since I was not going to make a matrix for gluing the body kit on the block, but immediately glued the body kit on it, followed by finishing the surface to an ideal state, putting plaster and painting the block could be neglected.

So, the blockhead is ready and to glue a high-quality product, it was required: 10 kg of epoxy resin, 1 kg of plasticizer for it and 1 kg of hardener, 15 linear meters of thin fiberglass fabric, 5 m of glass mat, brushes, gloves. It is highly advisable to wear breathing protection. And the more expensive they are, the more reliable they are. But, as you know, you can’t buy experience, so I gained it in the process of work.

I used transparent tape as a separating layer between the block and the product. The whole idiot covered it with stripes carefully, without any omissions. It only took 1.5 rolls of wide tape.

I diluted the resin in 200 - 300 grams with a hardener and plasticizer. I used measuring cups and syringes, which is not very convenient. Before this, I cut strips of fiberglass in such sizes that large canvases would lie on flat surfaces, and on uneven surfaces, pieces of fabric could repeat them without making folds. By the way, fiberglass stretches moderately along the diagonal of the weaves, “flowing around” the desired shape.

First, I thickly coated one area of ​​the blockhead with epoxy resin, placed fiberglass on it and impregnated the top with resin again. The adjacent piece of fabric was glued using the same technology with an overlap of 3 - 5 cm. We had to work quickly - the resin sets quite quickly, and the higher its temperature, the faster. Yes, I also heated the resin a little near a powerful lighting lamp for better fluidity.

After covering the blockhead with fiberglass in one layer, I began to cover it with glass mat. The fiberglass mat I got was quite thick, and it turned out to be good for gaining the thickness of the product. But it does not hug uneven surfaces, so I used it only on flat (or slightly sloping) surfaces and without overlap. Impregnation with resin was carried out in the same way as when working with fiberglass. Just keep in mind that it takes a lot of resin to impregnate glass mat, so you need to dilute it more. After gluing the glass mat, uneven surfaces were glued in several layers with cloth. Each subsequent layer was applied after the previous one had set a little, so that the resin would not leak. And since the process of gluing the body kit took more than one day, after a day of break it was necessary to “roughen” the surface with coarse sandpaper and degrease it - after all, the resin cures completely during this time. The final layers on top of the mat were again covered with fiberglass, and not even just one layer.

After the glued body kit had completely dried, I made cuts in it, dividing the product into three parts: rear fenders and rear, false tank with seat, front fenders and front end

Carefully, slightly prying and pulling with his hands while picking, he separated the product piece by piece without much effort from the block

Now, having removed the parts, I began to process them separately, bringing them to the desired result. In general, ordinary preparatory and painting work using “all” technology: first, rough grinding with the removal of large bulges of resin and fiberglass; then painstakingly filling the recesses with putty and fiberglass; then grinding the outer surface and priming with a plasticizer. Finally - metallic painting and varnish with a plasticizer.

The blockhead also carefully cut it off and put it in the far corner - just in case. The body kit was attached to specially made and welded “in place” mounts on the frame.

Finally, I welded front and rear luggage racks from thin-walled steel pipes with an outer diameter of 20 mm, and in addition to them, “kangaroo bars” that replaced the bumpers.

Tourist

Models designed for comfortable long trips with a large engine. The seating position on such brands is comfortable, with an easy-to-use dashboard. The transport is equipped with additional devices that may be useful during travel. The load on the hands is minimal due to the direct landing. The weight is large, 300–400 kg, the engine is powerful, many models have a cardan drive. A spacious tank and wind protection attract motorcycle enthusiasts, and the trunk allows you to take what you need on the road. There is a heated steering wheel and seats. Some models are produced with reverse gear and airbags. A prominent representative of the tourist is the Honda Gold Wing.

Flaws:

• the high cost of the motorcycle itself and its operation;
• heavy weight;
• reduced level of controllability.

7: 1974 YAMAHA MX250

If we talk about Yamaha motocross motorcycles, their history began in 1968 and is inextricably linked with America. The Japanese brand's first DT1 model was released in 1968, thanks in large part to Don Jones, who built a motorcycle from his own drawings for his son Gary and subsequently sent one example to Japan to the Yamaha factory to develop their first production motocross model. This was the company's starting point in the American motocross industry and the creation of a series of models with the YZ index.

Model MX250

The 1974 model was based on the motorcycle on which Gary Jones won the Inter-Am series title in 1971. Also that year, Yamaha introduced the first production factory replica of the YZ250A with a mono-shock absorber and long-travel suspension. It was an expensive and exotic motorcycle with a lot of potential. Available in very limited quantities and aimed more at professional racers than the general public.

Considering that in those years the bulk of motocross motorcycles supplied by Yamaha in the United States were 360cc models, the 1974 MX250 model is quite rare, and today its estimated value is $14,000.

ATVs

An all-terrain vehicle is a small vehicle similar to a motorcycle. ATVs have:

• more than two wheels;
• tires are designed for low pressure;
• handlebars like a bicycle;
• the driver sits astride the seat.

All-terrain vehicles can be single or double. Divided into:

• ATVs - all-terrain vehicles with 4 wheels, off-road motor vehicles;
• tricycles or trikes - all-terrain vehicles, respectively, on three wheels;
• specialized all-terrain vehicles - with 5–8 wheels or tracked ones.

The main manufacturers of all-terrain vehicles include Bombardier, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.