For today's youth, the word "scooter" may not be familiar. After all, they are more accustomed to scooters that have flooded the small-sized equipment market.
TMZ line
Meanwhile, in the USSR, scooters were incredibly popular among the population, almost the same as mopeds. Soviet industry was something to be proud of. Many large engineering plants produced scooters. In Tula alone, they produced up to one hundred thousand a year. "Tourist", "Tulitsa", "Ant" - these are only serial models, and there were still more than a hundred experimental ones, starting with an amphibian-type scooter and ending with a scooter called "Dragon". By the way, the latter was not much different from modern counterparts, with the exception of a two-stroke engine.
"Tourist"
A motor scooter under such a proud name has been produced at the Tula plant since the second half of the sixties of the last century. According to the creators, it was made for free movement through the vast expanses of the Union. The authors, based on previous T-200 and T-200M models, created a series different from their predecessors in design. Technically, "Tourist" is a scooter that has become a notable breakthrough in mechanical engineering. It was noticeably different from previous analogues.
The design bureau, which was entrusted with the development of the "Tourist", did a great job of improving many of the technical shortcomings of small vehicles produced at the Tula Plant.
The new model had a bearing hood, which allowed to abandon the overall tubular subframe in the rear of the scooter. And his new lever push type fork provided good handling. According to reviews, this scooter, along with innovations, had several disadvantages. But in general, "Tourist" is quite comfortable and reliable. Moreover, at the All-Union Motorcycle Competition held in 1967 in the nomination "brand superiority" it was with him that the Tula Engineering Plant was awarded the main prize and the first overall prize. Two years later - in 1969 - this success was repeated. Among serial models, the Tula "hard worker" took second place.
Scooter "Tulitsa"
In 1978, Tourist-M, the last issue, was modified. He was replaced by the Tulitsa scooter. The new model was a deep modernization of the “Tourist-M”, because with a cursory glance it was difficult to distinguish them externally.
Design changes have been minimized. The shape of the front wing and the tunnel between the legs of the driver slightly improved. The trunk mount has also been modified. Scooter "Tulitsa" was produced until 1986. It was then that TMZ began to produce a completely new model. Tulitsa was replaced by a motor scooter of a different class. In fact, it was today's scooter.
Specifications
The follower of "Tourist-M" had a more powerful engine. "Tulitsa" has become more powerful by two horsepower. And again, as in the case of the previous model, this parameter was achieved due to the increase in the compression ratio from 7.8 to 9.3.
An increase in engine power was also facilitated by a three-channel, more perfect purge in the cylinder. But an increase in this technical characteristic led to increased thermal loads. In order to maintain normal operation, the Tulitsa scooter received a new cylinder head with developed side ribs and a central arrangement of the candle.
Interestingly, an increase in both the compression ratio and, accordingly, power did not affect fuel efficiency and did not require a transition to a higher octane gasoline brand. The Tulitsa motor scooter still worked on the AI-76. Instead of a roller bearing, its connecting rod bearing became needle-shaped. Thus, the crankshaft durability was doubled constructively. As a result, the Tulitsa motor scooter engine, designated as T-200A in the data sheet, received power from fourteen to sixteen horsepower.
The clutch also changed for the better. Thanks to an additional pair of disks - master and slave, as well as an integrated damper, it has become more reliable. The designers were also able to make the frame of the Tulitsa motor scooter somewhat stiffer than their predecessor.
Based on user dissatisfaction, the side stand was moved from the right to the left. The muffler on the Tulitsa scooter began to be attached to the body at two points using rubber gaskets. Thereby, noise was significantly reduced and its durability increased.