The Muravy motorcycle is a rare domestic-made automotive equipment that even today may be indispensable for owners of personal plots. Despite its "advanced age", it has several advantages compared to many models.
History of creation
In the Soviet years, the Tula plant in large quantities produced passenger and freight scooters like a scooter. Many of the modifications were limited to experimental series, and never went into mass production. However, one of them - the cargo motorcycle "Ant", affectionately so-called among the people, did not belong to their category. This small "hard worker" was very popular not only in the USSR, but also abroad. Demand for it gradually increased and in the nineties export of assembly models of these cargo motorcycles to Colombia, Argentina and Mexico began. In a short period of time, almost thirteen thousand full pieces were delivered to these countries. The quality of this Soviet scooter was even liked by the Argentine secret services, who ordered the Ant motorcycle for the police with a special cabin and a covered body with windows for passengers.
Specifications
The enclosed cabin, which was mounted on the Ant motorcycle, was assembled from welded stamped steel sheets. She weighed fifty kilograms. A fairly large panoramic glass equipped with a manual wiper did not limit the viewing angle of the driver. The cab door had a rubber seal to close it tightly and retain heat inside. The driver's seat - soft - made this model very comfortable at that time. At the same time, in the cabin, even in burning frost, a temperature of eight degrees remained.
"Ant" - a motorcycle whose price was low even in the Soviet years, is quite maneuverable due to the reverse gear. Its turning radius is only three and a half meters, and its weight, when compared with heavy motorcycles with side trailers having a weight of three hundred and twenty kilograms, is significantly less - only two hundred and forty. This facilitates the task of the driver, who is carrying out unexpected repairs on the road: a motorcycle can be laid on its side without difficulty and effort.
It is just as easy to replace damaged tires, since the disc wheels consist of two halves pulled together by bolts. Therefore, to mount the spare tire with the camera, you only need to disconnect these halves.
Modifications
Motorcycle "Ant", in addition to the standard, had several other interesting modifications. For example, in the mid-nineties, a model with a plastic cabin was released. Another, cheaper variety, was made with removable windshields. Of the other brothers of the Tula brainchild, one can distinguish the Ant-4 motorcycle. Its engine, designed for eighty thousand kilometers, was powered by diesel fuel. In addition, this model was equipped with a significantly more spacious cabin.
The “Ant” motorcycle, whose photo is stored in the museum of the plant, could tow up to six hundred kilograms of cargo, so it was supposed to be used not only in urban conditions, but also during rural work. However, things did not go further than development.
Today, many lovers of this rare motor vehicle buy the Ant very cheaply, restore it, upgrade it to their liking, and sometimes even carry out tuning. And for a long time he will be a reliable assistant in the household, especially in rural areas.