Motorcycle "Ant" is a rare automotive of domestic production, which even today can be irreplaceable for the owners of household plots. Despite its "advanced age," it has several advantages over many models.
History of creation
In the Soviet years, Tula plant produced large quantities of passenger and cargo scooters of the type of scooter. Many of the modifications were limited to experimental series, and not going into mass production. However, one of them - the cargo bike "Ant", affectionately so-called among the people, did not belong to their category. This small "hard worker" enjoyed great popularity not only in the USSR, but also beyond. Demand for it gradually increased and in the nineties export of assembly models of these cargo bikes to Colombia, Argentina and Mexico began. In a short time almost thirteen thousand full pieces were delivered to these countries. The quality of this Soviet scooter was like even the Argentine special services, which for police ordered the "Ant" motorcycle with a special booth and a covered body with windows for passengers.
Characteristics
The closed cockpit, which was installed on the motorcycle "Ant", was assembled from welded steel stamped sheets. She weighed fifty kilograms. A fairly large in size panoramic glass, equipped with a manual windshield wiper, did not limit the angle of the driver's view. The cab door had a rubber seal for its tight closing and keeping inside the heat. The driver's seat - soft - made this model for those times very comfortable. At the same time in the cabin, even in a burning frost, the temperature was kept at eight degrees.
"Ant" - a motorcycle, the price of which was low even in the Soviet years, maneuverable enough due to the back door. Its turning radius is only three and a half meters, and its mass when compared with heavy motorcycles with side trailers weighing three hundred and twenty kilograms, significantly less - only two hundred and forty. This makes it easier for the driver to carry out unexpected repairs on the road: the motorcycle can be laid on its side without difficulty and effort. It is also easy to replace damaged tires, since the disk wheels consist of two halves, bolted together. Therefore, to mount the spare parts with the camera, you just have to separate these halves.
Modifications
Motorcycle "Ant", in addition to the standard, had several other interesting modifications. For example, in the mid-nineties a model was produced that had a plastic cabin. Another, cheaper version, was produced with removable windscreens. Of the other brothers of the Tula offspring, one can distinguish a motorcycle "Ant-4". His engine, designed for eighty thousand kilometers, worked on diesel fuel. In addition, this model was equipped with a significantly more spacious cabin. The motorcycle "Ant", a photo of which is stored in the museum of the plant, could tow up to six hundred kilograms of cargo, so it was intended to be used not only in urban conditions, but also during rural work. However, further developments did not go well.
Today, many fans of this rare automotive equipment buy the "Ant" cheaply, restore it, modernize 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 the countryside.