IZH 56 (1956-1962) Specs, Performance & Photos

The IZH 56 was a motorcycle manufactured in the Soviet Union by IZHmash for seven years between 1956 and 1962. The IZH 56 was a new model then and significantly different from its predecessor, the IZH 49.

The IZH 56 was designed as a road machine for cross-country travel. Due to its quickly removable sidecar, it was suitable for solo riders, two riders, and three riders. In 1962, the IZH 56 was replaced by the IZH Planeta, which was based on it.

The bike's visual department was characterized by features such as a round headlight up front, a two-piece dual seat, a dual exhaust system, a center stand, and wire-spoke wheels with conventional tires.

The bike was manufactured around a steel frame that housed the suspension system. The system comprised a traditional telescopic fork on the front end and dual side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear, offering optimum riding characteristics.

In the braking department, the motorcycle's 19-inch spoke wheels were fitted with a drum braking unit on both front and rear, providing optimum braking performance.

In the power department, the 1956 IZH 56 had installed a 346cc two-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine at its core, boasting 13 hp at 4,200 rpm and 9 Nm (7 lb-ft) torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine was fed by a carburetor and assisted by a four-speed manual transmission linked to the rear end via a final chain drive.