According to a well-established tradition, the best examples of motorcycle technology are used to accompany the convoys of state leaders. However, only a few countries in the world are capable of producing their own transport of such high class. Russia is among them. In the spring, new electric motorcycles Aurus Merlon will appear in the presidential motorcade. Their creation became a landmark event for the domestic motorcycle industry, with a history spanning more than 125 years.
Imperial Russia: Bicycle or Motorcycle
The first domestic motorcycle in our country was created in the XIX century by the inventor Alexander Leitner. He owned a factory named “Russia,” the main profile of which was the production of bicycles. Sensing the societal needs, in 1895 under the same brand, Leitner started producing bicycles equipped with engines.
These are considered the first prototypes of domestic motorcycles. However, the market could not appreciate the new invention, and this direction did not receive widespread development.
Real motorcycles began to be made in the Russian Empire only at the beginning of the XX century at the Moscow “Dux” plant. The Swiss motorcycle Moto-Reve served as the basis, which translates to “Moto-Dream.” The domestic equivalent was named “Moto-Rev-Dux.”
The two-cylinder V-shaped engine with a power of 2 hp allowed the bike to reach a speed of up to 60 km/h. From 1909 to 1915, the company produced about 600 motorcycles. The engines were imported, but all other components were entirely of Russian origin. The bikes, designed for tourist trips, enjoyed stable demand and, in terms of characteristics, were not inferior to foreign motorcycle brands of that time.
“Moto-Rev-Dux” / Photo: polymus.ru
First Serial Motorcycle “L-300”
After the 1917 revolution, all factories and plants in the country were nationalized. This fate also befell the “Dux” plant. At the updated facility, renamed “State Plant No. 1,” a group of engineers developed an experimental model of the first Soviet motorcycle, “Soyuz.”
The motorcycle was produced in a single copy and performed well during the Second Test Motor Run in 1925. Unfortunately, it was not put into production due to the low power of the engine and certain weaknesses in the design.
The first Soviet motorcycle “Soyuz” / Photo from Andrey Myatiev’s book “Motorcycles of the USSR. 1924-1945.”
Nevertheless, the authorities were confident that motorcycles were one of the most convenient and promising forms of individual transport for civilian and military purposes. However, developing reliable domestic models took a long time and was expensive. Therefore, they decided to take a simple path: take a successful Western model, modify it, and put it into mass production.
In the early 1930s, one of the best motorcycles in the world was considered the German DKW Luxus 300. Several samples were purchased in Germany. Leningrad designers disassembled them to the last detail and then prepared drawings for the first Soviet serial motorcycle “L-300” with a 300 cubic centimeter engine.
The technical characteristics were impressive. The bike could accelerate to a speed of 80 km/h with a weight of 125 kg. The fuel consumption was only four liters per 100 km. The motorcycle was handed over to mass production in the fall of 1931.
Throughout its history, “L-300” participated in races and motor runs multiple times. It was actively used in the Red Army during the battles at Khalkhin Gol and during the Great Patriotic War. It was from this motorcycle that the majority of the USSR residents became acquainted with motorcycle technology.
By 1939, 19,000 units were produced, after which “L-300” was recognized as morally outdated. It was succeeded by new models – “L-500” and racing modifications “L-8,” capable of reaching speeds of up to 140 km/h.
The first serial Soviet motorcycle “L-300” / Photo: motos-of-war.ru
“Izh” – The Soviet Million Miler
Simultaneously with the start of “L-300” production, under the guidance of P.V. Mozharov in Izhevsk, the first five models of “Izh” motorcycles were developed for participation in the All-Union Motorcycle Run in 1929.
These bikes had a three-speed gearbox and V-shaped engines with capacities of 500, 750, and 1200 cubic centimeters. During the motorcycle run, the bikes easily covered a distance of 3000 km. However, the mass production of bikes under the “Izh” brand only began after the discontinuation of “L-300.”
In Izhevsk, by the decision of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet, an Experimental Motorcycle Plant was built, where the production of “Izh-7” was launched. Next, in 1938, the famous “Izh-8” was released, some specimens of which are still in working condition. This was already a domestic bike with a 300 cubic centimeter engine and a power of 8 hp. From this moment, new models of “Izh” motorcycles were regularly coming off the factory floor.
In the 1950s, “Izh-55” motorcycles had a power of 18 hp, and in the 1970s, the dream of many Soviet citizens was to acquire models such as “Izh Planeta,” “Izh Jupiter,” and “Izh Planeta-Sport.” In the mid-1970s, 250,000 motorcycles of this brand were produced annually, and in 1991, the 10-millionth bike rolled off the factory floor. Unfortunately, in 2008, the production of motorcycles under the popular Soviet brand was discontinued.
“IZH-8” / Photo: Yandex
Electric Bike in the Presidential Convoy
Today, the Kalashnikov Concern decided to revive the production of the legendary domestic motorcycle brand. In 2017, the company presented the heavy escort motorcycle “Izh Kortezh.” Externally, the bike looks very brutal and even futuristic. Its weight is 510 kg, and the engine power is 150 hp, with a maximum speed of up to 250 km/h. It was intended that “Izh Kortezh” would be part of the presidential escort group. However, later this honorary role was given to the electric motorcycle Aurus Merlon.
Heavy escort motorcycle “Izh Cortezh” / Photo: Kalashnikov concern
The new luxury-class electric motorcycle Aurus Merlon was developed by engineers from the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute. Already in May of this year, eight of these motorcycles are expected to enter the special-purpose garage.
Aurus Merlon weighs 350 kg and is designed for a travel distance of up to 200 km at temperatures ranging from -25 to +40ºC. As Vice Premier, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov stated to the Russia 24 channel:
“If we talk about more massive production volumes, we expect to gradually introduce this motorcycle to the market at the end of 2024 – beginning of 2025.”
The cost of Aurus Merlon is expected to be in the range of 10-12 million rubles.
Electric motorcycle Aurus Merlon / Photo: merlon.nami.ru
Prospects of the Russian Motorcycle Industry
When talking about modern domestic motorcycles, it’s important to emphasize that their production is not limited to premium technology. Currently, there are quite a few Russian manufacturers in the country producing bikes of various classes and price ranges on a mass scale.
Road and sport motorcycles under the brand Irbis are produced in the Moscow region. The company “AVM” from St. Petersburg serially manufactures lightweight mopeds and motorcycles. The company Stels from Lyubertsy produces more than 15 varieties of motorcycles. In Kaliningrad, the enterprise Baltmotors operates successfully, offering various motorcycle technology under its own brand. There are companies producing off-road motorcycles with all-wheel drive: “Tarus” from Kaluga, Lebedev Motors from St. Petersburg, and “Vasyugan” from Novosibirsk.
Commenting on the development of the domestic motorcycle market, Dmitry Khitrov, the organizer of the International Exhibition “Motovesna-2024,” stated:
“Today, the domestic motorcycle industry is largely in the shadow of manufacturers from Western and Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, many good specialists who once went abroad are returning to Russia and actively participating in the development of motorcycle technology production.”
In addition, Russia has many talented customizing enthusiasts. For example, the custom project “Insomnia” by the Moscow workshop Zillers Garage in 2018, surpassing competitors from 33 countries, became the world champion in Cologne. These positive trends inspire hope for the successful development of the domestic motorcycle industry, whose best examples can be seen at the “Motovesna-2024” exhibition.
According to market experts’ assessments, motorcycle production in Russia has taken a significant step forward over the past decade. Today, domestic manufacturers offer a wide range of bikes for various social groups – from touring motorcycles for long trips to urban scooters.
The introduction of modern technologies and innovative solutions allows Russian bikes to be in demand in the domestic market and creates the potential for successful competition with global industry leaders.
By Dmitry Sokolov