All-wheel drive Russian motorcycle Scout-5 – revival of Izh is possible
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All-wheel drive Russian motorcycle Scout-5 – revival of Izh is possible

At one time, there were three large motorcycle factories in Russia – Izhevsk, Kovrov and Irbit. A couple more could easily be added to them – Minsk and Kiev. All of this was the territory of the USSR, so they were managed from Moscow.


Much has changed since then. Only the Irbit plant has remained afloat. ZiD, for which the production of two-wheeled vehicles was a sideline, also seems to be doing motorcycles. But they are Chinese, it is only assembly. They say that for one model the frame is welded from domestic steel.

The Belarusian motorcycle and bicycle plant also seems to be working, but they also assemble Chinese equipment. Moreover, now "Minsk" has nothing in common with the legendary plant, except for the name. The manufacturer has been bankrupt for several years, and its successor is an LLC, that is, a private company that received the rights to the brand.

All-wheel drive Russian motorcycle Scout-5 – revival of Izh is possibleThe tires and all-wheel drive make it clear that the Scout 5 is designed for off-road use. Photo: youtube.com

And only Ural motorcycles are produced in a full cycle. True, they cost as much as a new one car, and there are many foreign units and assemblies there. But this is already a full-fledged image product.

There have been numerous attempts to revive motorcycle production in Russia. Sometimes it seemed that it would even work, like Stels. But now this manufacturer has abandoned motorcycles.

But in Izhevsk there is a brand that believes that it will succeed. It is not for nothing that they work in a city once famous for its bikes. This is IZHTEKHMASH. And today we will tell you about the Scout-5 motorcycle.

About the manufacturer


It is worth starting with the fact that there are two brands in Izhevsk with almost the same name. The first is IzhTekhMash. The company was founded in 2001 and deals with pump and compressor pipes.

The Scout-5 motorcycle's tank holds only 6 liters of fuel. Photo: youtube.com

But motorcycles are made at the IZHTEKHMASH enterprise. This is another brand, which initially positioned itself as a manufacturer of two-wheeled motorized vehicles. The company was founded in 2010.

IZHTECHMASH produces:

✅ Scout series motorcycles
✅ Motorized towing vehicles
✅ Motor winches

We are interested in bikes, especially since they are specific to the manufacturer. These are off-road models created for tourists, hunters, fishermen and those who like to have fun.

The Scout-5's front drive is not connected to the rear drive and can work if the latter breaks down. Photo: youtube.com

Some call the Scout series motorcycles the Russian analogue of the Honda Monkey, or rather, our vision of how this bestseller should look. But there is much to be debated here. Firstly, the Scouts have more in common with the Honda Zoomer, but the latter is a scooter. And in general, the “legs grow” here rather from military motorcycles from the USA, which are also popular on the civilian market.

What is ROKON


It is not known who came up with the idea of ​​making two-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, but it is believed that they were invented by Charles Fan. In the early 1950s, apparently inspired by the exploits of military intelligence officers and commandos, the inventor presented his motor tractor to the public.

That's right - not a motorcycle, because this vehicle had a number of features. For example, all-wheel drive, and not like the models with a sidecar, but on all wheels. In addition, Charles Fan's invention is also conditionally "water-floating". Thanks to the hollow wheel disks, the all-terrain vehicle stayed on the water and served as a raft.

American motorcycle ROKON for comparison. Photo: youtube.com

But the main thing is the all-wheel drive system. No one has ever thought of this before – to transfer torque to all wheels at once. Moreover, if one chain breaks, the all-terrain vehicle becomes a single-drive one and can still take the owner home.

In the late 1950s, serial production of the equipment was established by Nethercutt Industries, a company created specifically for this purpose. The model was called Trail-Breaker, which translates as "Pathfinder".

The motorcycle became popular with the military, but civilians rarely paid attention to it. Everything changed with the change of owners. The company Nethercutt Industries was bought and called ROKON. This happened in 1963.

Since then, all-terrain vehicles have been promoted primarily on the civilian market, having realized what sales this promises. As an advertisement, the equipment was given out to the hosts of Animal Planet. By the way, they still periodically use it to study wildlife.

ROKON doesn't shine with stylish design. Photo: youtube.com

ROKON motorcycles are good in every way, except for one thing – the price. And it is off the charts even on the manufacturer’s website – on average 10 thousand dollars (1,03 million rubles). To this you have to add the cost of transportation, customs clearance, and the intermediary’s margin, who will bring all this to Russia.

In light of the above, Scout ATVs look like an alternative. At the same time, they are no more expensive than Chinese analogues and have a durable frame made of Russian steel.

Features of Scout-5


The main "feature" of this model is the all-wheel drive. Unlike other all-terrain vehicles in the line, the Scout-5 is most similar to the ROKON.

Apparently, potential buyers also appreciated this nuance - this model is no longer on the manufacturer's website. However, some online stores have single copies. They ask for about 200 thousand rubles on average.

The Scout-5 motorcycle engine is similar to a moped engine. Photo: youtube.com

It is difficult to say whether the Scout-5 will appear in the lineup in 2025. Most likely, yes, because the model is in demand. But it is impossible to say with XNUMX% certainty.

Another feature of the Scout-5 is that it looks more like a classic motorcycle than a strange two-wheeled cart. It should be noted that in terms of design, the domestic equipment even wins over the American ROKON.

There is one problem - the Scout-5 does not have a PTS, so it is not allowed on public roads. However, for many buyers this is not a problem. It is unlikely that roads will be built to the places where they drive in the foreseeable future.

Of course, you can't call Scout-5 a completely Russian development. Apart from the use of Chinese components and assemblies, the motorcycle is not entirely original in design. Although, calling it a "clone" of ROKON is also not worth it. Rather, something based on it.

This is what a grown man looks like on a Scout-5 motorcycle. Photo: youtube.com

And the most important thing is the domestic base. A strong frame made of thick pipes, metal that does not bend on potholes under the weight of a heavy owner.

Мотор


The Scout-5 engine, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, is Chinese. Quite atypical for the early line - it is horizontal, single-cylinder. But it is not a moped power unit, at least not quite.

Firstly, it has air-oil cooling, which is not typical for such a cubic capacity. Secondly, the gearbox is semi-automatic. This means that you do not need to squeeze the clutch when shifting. The same engines and gearboxes are installed on the KAYO BULL-2B ATVs.

Scout-5 is not afraid of even such puddles. Photo: youtube.com

The power unit capacity is 140 cm3, and its power is 13 hp. The speed of the equipment is 55 km/h. The declared fuel consumption is 1,5 liters per 100 km. A full tank is enough for 400 km of travel.

The engine is started with an electric starter. It does not have a kick, as well as a primitive rope. In general, it will be difficult to start the equipment without a battery, except with a "push".

Other performance characteristics


The Scout-5 suspension is not typical for motorcycles. There is a monoshock absorber, but it is hidden inside the frame. It turns out that the parts of the all-terrain vehicle are balanced with each other and swing.

The front drive can be turned off - so that the equipment uses less gasoline. Even in this case, high and wide tires are enough to pass difficult off-road sections. Moreover, the equipment has a reverse mode. Do not forget that its engine and gearbox are from an ATV.

Scout-5 will also be relevant in winter. Photo: youtube.com

Scout-5 is created according to a simplified scheme. This means that it can be repaired by hand without any problems.

So can the Scout-5 be called an attempt to revive Izhevsk motorcycles? Of course, especially since there are several models in the line, some even with PTS.

But the bikes from IZHTEKHMASH are far from being "people's" bikes. And they are unlikely to become so, although if the manufacturer continues to develop the model range, everything is possible. After all, affordable motorcycles are the main component for the Russian consumer.
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