The IZh-56 of 1956 was a thorough redesign of the Izhevsk 350: a tubular frame, interchangeable wheels, a chain running in a sealed case and an aluminium cylinder. It was built until 1962, 677,428 of them, and it became the basis of the IZh Planeta.
IZh-56 at a glance
| Maker | Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant |
|---|---|
| Production | 1956–1962 |
| Built | 677,428, of which 130,000 with a sidecar |
| Engine | single-cylinder two-stroke, air-cooled, 346 cc |
| Power | 13 hp at 4,200–4,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | four-speed |
| Top speed | over 100 km/h |
| Dry weight | 158 kg |
| Fuel tank | 14 litres |
| Range | 310 km |
| Dimensions | 2,115 × 780 × 1,025 mm |
| Frame | tubular, welded |
History of the IZh-56
A new design, not a facelift
The IZh-56 appeared in 1956 and a pilot batch soon followed. It was created under A. A. Modzelevsky, the first head of the Specialised Design Bureau for motorcycle construction, SKB-61, and differed substantially from what had been built before. The pressed frame became tubular, deep mudguards protected the rider from dust and dirt, and the saddle was of sponge rubber with a cover. The motorcycle came in two versions, with a twin saddle and with separate saddles. The carburettor and air cleaner were hidden under covers which, together with the tool boxes, gave the machine a good look. The wheels now had straight spokes and were interchangeable, and the chain from the gearbox to the rear wheel ran in a sealed case. The engine was 20 per cent more powerful than its predecessor’s, at 13 hp.
What changed underneath
The engine remained a single-cylinder two-stroke, air-cooled, with loop scavenging, a pressed crankshaft and a unit crankcase split along the middle, with the flywheel chamber in front and the gearbox behind. The cylinder, unlike the IZh-49’s, was aluminium. The foot gear lever and kickstarter stayed on the left of the gearbox, but the hand gear lever was no longer carried up to the fuel tank as on the IZh-49; it became a vertical lever on the right of the engine. The frame was tubular and welded, the front fork telescopic with hydraulic dampers, the rear suspension of spring type with hydraulic dampers, the brakes drum type, and the tyres 3.25–19. The leap in range from the IZh-49’s 160–180 km to 310 km came with the same 14-litre tank and the same consumption of up to 4.5 litres per 100 km.
Legacy
The IZh-56 was built until 1962, and 130,000 of the 677,428 machines were fitted with a sidecar. From 1962 the IZh Planeta was developed from it, and the Planeta in turn grew into a family that lasted until 2008. The IZh-56 is of interest to restorers because it marks a stage in the development of Soviet motorcycle building. In 1957 the plant also began a new family of sports motorcycles with a tubular welded frame and swinging-arm rear suspension: the IZh-57K for motocross and the IZh-57M for six-days trials, both with 18 hp; the IZh-54A for road racing with 20 hp and a 16-inch rear wheel; and the IZh-60M and six-speed IZh-60MС for six-days events.
Design and features
- Tubular frame: a proper welded tube frame instead of a pressed one, stronger and lighter in the right places.
- Sealed chain: the final drive chain ran in a case, cutting wear and maintenance.
- Interchangeable wheels: straight-spoke wheels that could be swapped front to rear.
- More power: 13 hp and over 100 km/h, with a 310 km range.
- Two seat layouts: a twin saddle or separate saddles, as the buyer preferred.
IZh-56 versions
- IZh-56 with twin saddle: the standard two-up version.
- IZh-56 with separate saddles: the alternative seating layout.
- IZh-56 with sidecar: 130,000 machines left the plant as outfits.
- IZh-57K: motocross motorcycle of 1957, 18 hp.
- IZh-57M: six-days trials motorcycle, 18 hp.
- IZh-54A and IZh-60M: road-racing and trials derivatives of 20 and 19 hp.
The IZh-56 followed the IZh-49 and was developed into the IZh Planeta. The IZh Jupiter was its two-cylinder stablemate in the range. More are in the IZh collection.
Sources
- Иж-56, Russian Wikipedia: history, design changes, specification, sports versions
- IZh (motorcycle), English Wikipedia: place of the 350 cc models in the IZh range
