"Voskhod-3M" - the most popular motorcycle of Soviet youth in the countryside

Soviet light motorcycles were represented by two models - these are Minsk and Voskhod. The first were produced in Minsk, the second in Kovrov. Both bikes had one common ancestor - the German motorcycle DKW-RT125.


Here are just Kovrov engineers globally modernized it, adding as many as 50 "cubes" to the engine size. It happened in 1956. But the Minsk designers stopped at 125 cm3, like the German model. By the way, the M1A motorcycle was transferred to the MMVZ from Moscow, along with equipment for its production.

"Minsk" in the USSR was valued more. It was structurally simpler, consumed less fuel and did not need "fine" settings immediately after purchase. "Sunrise" was more capricious and did not tolerate people who were far from technology. Although, if this motorcycle is properly configured once, it surpassed the Minsk in terms of dynamics, not inferior in reliability.


Today we will talk about Voskhod-3M, the most massive bike in the history of the Degtyarev Plant. Of course, for ZiD, the production of motorcycles was a side production, but commercially successful.

Features and design

"Voskhod-3M" appeared in 1983, replacing the previous model. The letter "M" in the index means the word "modernized". By the way, by the time production started, every fourth motorcycle produced in the USSR was a Voskhod.

During the development of the new model, the designers sought to solve several issues:

✅ Get rid of "childhood diseases"
✅ Keep the interchangeability of most components and parts
✅ Make the structure more durable

Engineers were aware that the main buyer of their motorcycle is a villager. But to make it interesting to the townspeople, the designers worked on the appearance. The new bike began to look more modern.


In any case, the design of Voskhod did not reach the level of Izh Planet / Jupiter, and even more so, Java. But next to the Minsk MMVZ-3.112, the Kovrov motorcycle looked quite modern.

Differences

In addition to appearance, the new Voskhod had a number of technical features. To be honest, it’s even strange why the creators decided to call the motorcycle modernized, and not the next generation.

Having received a lot of letters from customers dissatisfied with the low efficiency of the brake system and its unreliability, the engineers finalized the assembly. Now the drums had a diameter of 160 mm instead of 125 mm. The axis of the foot lever on the "Voskhod-3M" of the new model rotated in special nylon bushings.


There were many complaints from rural residents about the wheels of Kovrov motorcycles. Say, the bearings could not withstand the harsh conditions, and the spokes broke. Remembering how motorcycles were generally exploited in the countryside, there is nothing surprising in this. After all, young people often bought cheap Voskhods, so they drove fast, not paying attention to road bumps.

The model received new, stronger spokes and reinforced hubs. The bearings in them had rubber cuffs, which in theory completely excluded the ingress of dirt. In practice, of course, this was not always the case. But the knot has definitely become much more reliable.

The chain drive was left the same - interchangeable with other Voskhod and Kovrovets motorcycles. The only change is the appearance of a new damping unit between the driven star and the wheel. This reduced jerking during transmission operation.

Redesigned rear wheel suspension. New springs have become more energy-intensive, and shock absorbers are now adjustable. In practice, none of the owners bothered with this.


They decided to put the gas tank with a volume increased by 2 liters. This gave almost 50 extra kilometers. By the way, the fuel consumption on the motorcycle was declared at an average of 4,2 liters. to a "hundred". Too much for a 175cc, but don't forget that this is a two-stroke model. By the way, the gas tank received special rubber spacers. This reduced the vibrations transmitted to the driver's knees.

The front shield has become a different design - lighter and more airy, in the style of Izh and "Java" of those years. The “gas” handle was made short-stroke. This, by the way, was taken from sports modifications of Kovrov motorcycles. Although, the use of such a system on a road model is a dubious improvement. The bike should not heat up and consume a lot of fuel, and with short-stroke "gas" these problems are exacerbated.

The Voskhod-3M engine began to run quieter. This was achieved by improving the intake system. The generator has also been improved, although its index has not changed.

Engine and gearbox

The Voskhod-3M motor remained the same as on the previous model. 175 cm3 and 14 l. With. allowed to accelerate to 105 km / h. Some owners claimed that the motor is capable of accelerating the bike up to 120 km / h. According to the speedometer, of course, which was a little fib, overestimating the speed.


It is believed that the engine is capricious, but in fact it is reliable, subject to the rules of operation. A simple air-cooled XNUMX-stroke machine is distinguished by traction at low revs. Just what you need for a village motorcycle. The engine, like most "single-barreled" ones, does not like high speeds - a wild vibration begins.

As for the gearbox, it is a four-speed, taken from the previous model. Unlike the "Minsk" checkpoint, this one does not like unskilled interference. It is worth tightening the bolts incorrectly and setting the gaps in the same way - problems begin with the inclusion of 4th gear. And then the whole node went out of order, especially since the youth solved the issue radically - by repeated pressing and through force.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main plus of any Soviet motorcycle, not excluding Voskhod-3M, is maintainability and simplicity of design. If the owner is not afraid to get his hands dirty, then the bike can be repaired literally in the field or near the house.


The problem is that Voskhod-3M will often have to be repaired, and it is already difficult to get high-quality, and indeed, any spare parts. Stocks from village sheds and garages help. In Soviet times, it was customary to buy parts for the future. So some heirs are selling grandfather's and father's details literally for a penny.


Another advantage of "Sunrise" is nostalgia. It is not recommended to buy such a bike for every day, except that it is cheap and it is no longer clear which model. If you take a motorcycle for restoration and restoration, then it will cost too much to then cut through it on it every day.

Cons:

✅ Capriciousness compared to the Soviet Minsks
✅ High fuel consumption for its volume
✅ Strong vibrations
✅ Periodic breakdowns

However, for those who remember Voskhod-3M from their youth, all these shortcomings are insignificant. For them, this technique is valuable already by its presence. The look of a motorcycle and the sound of a two-stroke engine can take you back 30 years.

Voskhod-3M owners are divided into two categories. Some constantly scold the technique, arguing that this is the worst Soviet motorcycle. They say that the level of comfort is minimal, shaking at high speeds is enough, and in general, once a week the bike breaks down with enviable constancy.


Others claim that this is the best Soviet motorcycle in its class. Its margin of safety is an order of magnitude higher than Minsk, its speed and dynamics too.

The fact is that Voskhod-3M needs to be set up correctly. It is better to replace the Soviet carburetor with a Czech one, from Java.

The purchase of Voskhod-3M is recommended for those who want to learn how to repair motorcycles. This bike will allow you to fully enjoy this process. And now they cost from 12 to 120 thousand rubles, depending on the condition.