Individual motor transport in the Soviet Union, like personal cars, remained in the background for a long time. Until the late 1970s, the situation with mopeds practically did not change — the market was in a state of peculiar stagnation. At the same time, it was quite possible to purchase a motorcycle or scooter if desired: they were sold freely, without queues, and at a relatively affordable price.
However, on the eve of the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet industry unexpectedly changed the situation. The country began to mass-produce mini-motorcycles under several brands at once. For many, this came as a surprise: the technology turned out to be modern and noticeably different from the usual solutions.
The quality of the new mopeds was especially striking — even to the most demanding experts of that time, who were actually teenagers. They became the main audience for these machines. Young people gradually switched from bicycles equipped with D-5 and D-6 engines to more expensive, but at the same time much more modern and safer mopeds. Moreover, the cost of such equipment remained relatively affordable: the price of an average moped was approximately two salaries of a qualified worker.
"Riga-12"
The Riga "Krasnaya Zvezda" plant was, perhaps, the only enterprise in the USSR that was fully focused on the production of bicycles and mopeds. This narrow specialization had a positive effect on the quality of products. By the beginning of the moped boom in the early 1980s, the "Riga-5", "Riga-12", "Riga-16", and "Riga-22" models were considered among the best in the country.
Mopeds of this series were distinguished by their characteristic bicycle layout. They had a light frame, a small fuel tank, and large narrow wheels resembling bicycle wheels. Riding the two-speed "Riga-12" was a real pleasure, especially on asphalt roads. The maximum speed reached approximately 50 km/h.
The Sh-57 engine developed a power of 2.2 horsepower with a working volume of 49.8 cubic centimeters. This was enough to easily overcome steep climbs. However, you shouldn't count on carrying heavy loads on such a moped.
"Delta"
Another model from the Riga "Krasnaya Zvezda" plant was the relatively rare "Delta". Unlike most other mopeds in the "Riga" series, this machine received not a bicycle frame, but a backbone frame. It was equipped with a V-50 engine with a power of 2 horsepower, which was distinguished by its increased service life.
The "Delta" also received full-fledged moped wheels and a more comfortable seat. Despite this, in terms of some characteristics — for example, engine power and maximum speed — the model was even slightly inferior to the "Riga-12".
Nevertheless, owners noted its high endurance and more comfortable handling. An important difference was that instead of the usual bicycle pedals, the "Delta" used a full-fledged foot kickstarter.
Many owners considered this moped, if not the best, then at least a kind of elite among Soviet models.
"Stella"
The "Stella" model had foreign roots. In fact, it was developed in Czechoslovakia: most of the components were produced at the JAWA factory. In the USSR, only individual elements were manufactured — the steering column, seat, and controls.
The result was a very attractive moped, distinguished by its high reliability and ease of use. Owners liked almost everything — from the seating position behind the wheel to the operation of the transmission.
The 2.4 horsepower engine provided good acceleration dynamics, which is especially important when driving on city streets. However, a relatively small number of these mopeds were supplied to the Soviet Union. Therefore, if there was a choice between buying a domestic moped and a "Stella", preference was more often given to the Czechoslovakian machine.
Sometimes owners adapted a single-axle trailer to the "Stella". For this, ordinary garden wheelbarrows on bicycle wheels were often converted. A sufficiently powerful moped could carry a load weighing up to 100 kilograms.
"Verkhovina-4"
One of the most famous models of the Soviet period was the "Verkhovina-4". This moped turned out to be so successful that it largely exceeded the expectations of the designers of the Lviv Motorcycle Plant.
Externally, the model looked quite modest: a 2 horsepower engine and not the most comfortable fit due to the small height of the moped itself. Nevertheless, in terms of dynamics, the "Verkhovina-4" often surpassed even some motorcycles.
Massive wheels and a reinforced frame allowed it to withstand very harsh operation. Teenagers arranged real races on these machines on the broken roads of the suburbs.
In addition, the moped was well suited for modifications. Owners often increased the engine power to 3–4 horsepower. It is curious that even in the late 1990s, the "Verkhovina-4" could be found among fishermen and summer residents.
It is also noteworthy that this particular moped appeared in the film "The Adventures of Electronic".
"Karpaty"
The appearance of the "Karpaty" moped in the early 1980s came as a surprise to many. In fact, this was the first Soviet model that designers tried to stylize as modern motorcycles.
For teenagers and young people, appearance was of great importance. The difference between the old, albeit serviceable, "Kovrovets" and the fashionable "Karpaty" was obvious — especially when it came to a trip, for example, to a disco.
This moped was quite expensive — only slightly cheaper than the Minsk motorcycle. Nevertheless, the vehicles did not stay in stores for long.
Almost every owner sought to modernize their moped. They increased the engine's RPM and power, modified the front fork, and sometimes ordered new upholstery for the seat. Despite numerous experiments, the "Karpaty" demonstrated high reliability: the moped remained operational and remained a fairly safe means of transportation.