From Karpaty-1 to modification Sport - an overview of popular mopeds of the USSR

The Karpaty brand moped is known to all men who grew up in the USSR. And in the 90s, this technique was still enough in the countryside, so the average kid understood it.


Today we have an overview of the Karpaty models, once produced in the Soviet Union at the Lvov Motor Plant.

Moped or Mokik?

By default, we call small-capacity two-wheeled vehicles mopeds. Some distinguish a separate group - scooters. But a moped is a vehicle with pedals and propelled by them.



Nowadays, classic mopeds are not found on sale, there are only bicycles with outboard motors.



In the USSR, pedal models were not respected, but mokiki were considered “cool”. Although, in the cities, any moped, and even a bicycle with an engine, was the subject of envy.

But within the framework of this article, we will call the Carpathians in different ways, because that is how it is accepted.

The first model and its varieties

Mokik debuted in 1981. Karpaty has become the most popular and large-scale moped in the history of the Lviv Motor Plant. It was assembled until 1986, then a new model appeared on the assembly line - Karpaty-2.

Over the years of production, the moped had different indices. They were assigned after modifications and upgrades, as a rule, after replacing the engine.
The motors installed in the Carpathians differed from each other, but their performance characteristics remained approximately at the same level. The working volume never exceeded 50 cm3, power - no more than 1,8 liters. With.



The Leningrad branch of the Institute of Technical Aesthetics helped the Lvov Motor Plant develop Karpaty-1 Sport. She received the factory index LMZ-2.160C.



Outwardly, the moped looked sporty, although in the 80s this term was understood as motocross.

Differences Karpaty-1 Sport from the base model:

• ? Reinforcing brace on the steering wheel
  
• ? High front mudguard
  
• ? Raised exhaust pipe
  
• ? Special handle for dragging a moped
  

This modification was more expensive, it was rarely seen on sale, so the appearance of a mokik delighted the boys. There were legends that Karpaty-1 Sport was at least twice as fast. But in fact, the engines on all modifications of the same year of manufacture are the same.



They also produced the Karpaty-1 Cross model. This version was not available for free sale, but was distributed among motorcycle sections. The mokik was distinguished by the absence of light devices, a speedometer and had a large rear sprocket to increase traction.



The warranty mileage of the moped by the end of production was brought to 8 km, and before the overhaul, these models nursed about 000 km.
The moped looked elegant and aristocratic thanks to the chrome parts.

Painted the model in colors:

• ? Red
  
• ? Orange
  
• ? Yellow
  
• ? Green and others
  

The mopeds of the Lvov plant did not differ in high reliability. Therefore, they were always on sale, unlike the models of the Riga Motor Plant.

Model Karpaty-2

Since 1986, the Karpaty-2 model has rolled off the assembly line. This version was modified and equipped with V-50/V-50M or V-501/V-501M engines. The first was with a manual gearshift, the second - with a foot. The basic modification received the index LMZ-2.161.

It was decided to discontinue the Karpaty-1 Tourist model, instead they began to assemble the Lux modification. She received a reinforced trunk and direction indicators.



The appearance of Karpaty-2 Sport remained almost unchanged. They also produced cross modifications, but they also did not go on free sale.

Moped problems

Strange as it may seem, but time has affected the build quality of Karpaty mopeds negatively. Although there were enough complaints about the first generation models, the second generation had many more of them. Despite the more modern engines, the welding quality of the Karpaty-2 frame was terrible. They broke even under teenagers, not to mention adults, of whom a large number moved on this model.

On Karpaty-1, the most problematic place was with the "ears" on the frame, where the engine cylinder was attached. I had to digest.
On the second generation model, the frame could burst or crack anywhere, especially after jumps. Adult men already knew about this problem. Many digested and strengthened weak points immediately after buying a moped.

Despite the minuses, the technique was desirable for the Soviet boys, especially since this is not a “hole” with pedals, but a mokik.

How did the guys buy such equipment?

The Karpaty moped cost from 220 to 260 rubles, depending on the modification and year of manufacture. Towards the end of the 80s, the price gradually increased. In the city, teenagers could rarely afford to buy such equipment new. But in the villages there were no problems with this - there the boys earned money in the summer on the collective farm, or by handing over the gifts of the forest.



In the city, they usually bought a heavily used moped, and at the same time it cost 100-150 rubles. The acquisition of new technology was considered a sign of the absence of "straight hands" and envied, calling the happy owner a sissy.

The most advantageous option was to buy a moped for 20-50 rubles in a disassembled or incomplete form. Then the equipment was repaired in the yard by joint efforts. Adult men of different ages helped the guys with repairs, and everything was done for free.
Often a compassionate driver found a moped engine in the garage and gave it to the kids. Another could do it with a frame on wheels. Mental times were, and the drivers always helped each other.

The finished unit was then finalized to the best of their ability, in accordance with the trends of courtyard fashion. The steering wheel was increased in size, a jumper was placed on it. Not everyone guessed that this strengthens the design, but in the USSR there were enough guys involved in motocross.
Those whose parents or brothers worked in factories as turners could order new steps and handles of the original look from them. The needles were intertwined with wire, fur and fringe were attached to the steering wheel.

Why did adults take the Carpathians?

Mopeds of the Lviv Motor Plant were bought by adults much more often than teenagers. As a rule, these are guys from 40 years old and above, who work in factories and love to take a bottle.



Mokiks could be driven without a license, so the traffic police did not pay attention to them. The minimum consumption of a gasoline-oil mixture, the ability to move around under the shove, a quick way to get to work - all this ensured mokiku's popularity.

No less loved the Carpathians and fishermen. On weekends, they busily hurried out of the cities, loaded with backpacks and fishing rods. The technique made it possible to get to the most inaccessible reservoir, if it got stuck, it was pulled out manually without any problems.



Mopeds were operated by the Carpathians and people who do not have rights, no matter for what reason.

How much is it now?

Mokik of the Lviv Motor Plant can now be purchased for 15-30 thousand rubles. Equipment for this amount will be very battered by life, but closer to the highest price range, it gets better. However, there is not much to choose from, there are rarely more than 5 copies on sale.

Some restore old equipment, someone introduces more modern engines from Chinese models into the frame.



Moped Karpaty is not suitable for everyday use, especially in its original condition. Spare parts are not available, and they are expensive. But it is suitable as a collector's item and for rare trips on weekends. One smell of a two-stroke exhaust can bring you back to a happy Soviet childhood!