Whenever somebody hears the word “Kalashnikov”, they usually associate it with the world-famous assualt rifle, the AK-47. Who can blame them? The AK-47 has been the symbol of Russia's might and communism from the height of the Cold War up until today. It is also the most produced rifle in the world along with many variants, with estimates ranging from 75-million up to 100-million Kalashnikov rifles spread throughout more than 100 countries around the world.
But wait a Kalashnikov motorcycle? The guys at Izhmash or Izh – a division of Kalashnikov Group, thought of branching out into making motorcycles. Just last year, Izh introduced the SM-1 and the UM-1 which are e-Adventure bikes for military and the latter, for civilian use.
According to the Kalashnikov Group's website, this new cafe racer-inspired electric motorcycle is “designed for high-speed trips over short distances.” This new bike concept will be presented at the PROEKTORIA professional orientation forum, which will be held in Yaroslavl, Russia from November 23 to 26.
As with other concept bikes, Izh has not yet published the full specs of their cafe racer creation, but some sources from the internet claim that the bike will have a 50-kW lithium-ion power pack that has a range of roughly 100 kilometers and a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
Will this qualify as an AK (Automatik Kalashnikov) when someone asks “what's your bike?”
