Izh Planeta-Sport - Brezhnev's favorite motorcycle

Soviet motorcycles did not shine with variety, but everyone could choose a model to their taste. There were cheap bikes like "Minsk" or "Voskhod". For those who needed a helper around the village, a heavy boxer was recommended - Ural or Dnepr.


There were intermediate models - this is Izh. They met with strollers or "loners". Well, Java was supplied to the USSR in huge quantities along with CZ, but these are no longer domestic motorcycles. Czech bikes were faster than Soviet ones.

In 1973, Izh Planet-Sport appeared - a motorcycle that has become an icon. Although the production of the model ceased in 1984, until 1991 it was the best bike in the USSR.

Truth and legends about the "Dog"

The stylish bike was made with an eye on the Japanese models of the early 1970s. Many say that Izh Planet-Sport cost more than Java.
Yes, in relation to motorcycles of the first years of production, this is true. But then an order came “from above” to reduce the price to 1000 rubles from 1050. They say that a domestic bike cannot cost more than a foreign Java.



The cost has decreased, but the motorcycles have become worse - they abandoned a number of Japanese components and a separate lubrication system.
There were rumors that Izh Planet-Sport was developed for sale abroad in the first place. Yes, there were such ideas, only exports turned out to be many times less than planned.

But the motorcycle was bought in different countries, even outside the “socialist camp”:

• ? USA
  
• ? England
  
• ? Germany
  
• ? Netherlands
  
• ? France
  
• ? Finland
  

The main advantage of the bike was its speed and dynamic characteristics at a low price.



The main legend associated with the "Dog" (the so-called motorcycle) is the participation in its production of the head of the party. Whether this is true or not is unknown, documentary evidence has not been preserved.



The appearance of Izh Planet-Sport did not please the Soviet citizens. Say, people do not need a high-speed motorcycle, this is a bias towards dudes and parasites. Comrade Suslov received a complaint and the production of the bike almost stopped.



The legend is doubtful:

• ? Brezhnev was over 65 years old, which of him is a motorcyclist?
  
• ? The bike was originally planned for export - the country needs a currency
  
• ? Complaining sounds ridiculous
  

But such a version exists, we will not refuse it.

The appearance of the motorcycle

Not everyone likes the appearance of Izh Planet-Sport, but for the first half of the 1970s it was something! The stylish look of the model copies Japanese bikes such as Kawasaki A1 Samurai, Suzuki T250 Super Six and Yamaha 350R5.



Stilyagi and other “golden youth” looked down on Soviet motorcycles, preferring JAWA, but they suddenly realized that a better bike had appeared. Izh Planet-Sport looked more modern, was faster, and overtook Czech motorcycles on the track.

Well, the inscriptions in English on a number of parts and assemblies are chic! Japanese carburetor and consoles, foreign optics, separate lubrication system, foreign electronics!



Differences between early copies and later ones:

• ? Japanese carburetor
  
• ? foreign optics
  
• ? Separate lubrication system
  
• ? Rubber engine mounts
  

In general, a typical bike from the Land of the Rising Sun of the late 1960s! It is not surprising that at all times it was the first modifications of Izh Planet-Sport that were valued.

How will he perform now?

Of course, modern motorcycles are more powerful, but Izh Planet-Sport differs in character from Planets, Jupiters and JAWA of different models.
Starting a bike is more difficult than a Czech bike and Izh Jupiter. But those who had a single-cylinder "Planet" will recognize the skittish kickstarter. If it's cold, then the "Dog" may not start the first time, and you need to quickly remove the leg, otherwise the lever kicks like a stubborn donkey!





The motorcycle accelerates to 100 km / h in 11 seconds, but the feeling is indescribable. Due to the road landing, light weight and lack of a windshield, it is scary to ride.

It immediately becomes clear why this model was crashed so often in the USSR - the roads were bad, only a helmet, young riders, a desire to impress girls ... Yes, it’s easy to lift Planet-Sport onto the rear wheel of Izh, for many it happened unexpectedly.
But the "Dog" is controlled like bike, at least for those who have previously ridden powerful road bikes, not to mention sportbikes.

Like any motorcycle with one cylinder, Izh Planet-Sport can get vibrations at speeds above 110 km / h on long trips along the highway. But the philosophy of this bike is different - it's a dude who should surprise with dynamics in his time, and so it was.



But it’s not worth comparing Izh with modern technology - here the box does not work clearly, and the brakes are weak. But with the sounds of a two-stroke engine, an experienced motorcyclist, as it were, returns to his youth, where there were no Japanese bikes. Therefore, 11 seconds to 100 km / h are perceived, probably, as 2-3 on a modern model.

But you never cease to be surprised at how versatile Izh Planet-Sport turned out to be. It seems that he was sporty for his time, but you can ride a motorcycle in the countryside without problems and with pleasure.

Not enduro, of course, but not a Chinese road builder either. At the "Dog" on the bumps, nothing rattles and does not fall off. One feels some kind of solidity and strength of the structure in everything. Although, Java motorcycles broke down less often - this is a fact.

But JAWA is more for travelers, and Izh Planet-Sport is for rockers, hooligans, rebels and dudes!

Why was the bike discontinued in 1984?

Many still do not understand why such a high-quality and modern for those years motorcycle was discontinued in 1984. Primitive "Planets" and "Jupiters" were assembled until 2008!



There are many legends about this:

• ? Demand fell, the motorcycle was not bought
  
• ? The bike was too traumatic for its owners and their passengers
  
• ? This is an unspoken command from the traffic police, they say, they could not catch up with this model
  

In fact, everything is much simpler - the economic component is to blame. The motorcycle was unprofitable in production. They were not allowed to raise the price, foreign components were expensive.

In addition, all the years the assembly was carried out manually - the conveyor under Izh Planet-Sport was never built, and such labor is always more expensive. It is quite possible that a motorcycle would have been bought for 1200-1300 rubles, but in the USSR it was impossible to simply increase the cost for something expensive.
At the same time, "Dog" was produced for 11 years, despite the unprofitability.

You can buy Izh Planet-Sport now, but it is difficult to find an option in good condition. After all, the most "fresh" motorcycles of 1984 release. They ask for a bike from 40 rubles to 000.



You can take the “Dog” only as a weekend motorcycle, you should not use it daily, it will cost too much!