Riga
The Riga factory "Sarkana Zvaigzne" in Riga ,Latvia was a very large manufacturer of mopeds in the former USSR.
The factory evolved from the pre-war G.Ehrenpreiss bicycle factory that was renamed "Sarkana Zvaigzne" ,which means "Red-Star" in the Latvian language.
Riga Typology:
SZ50
1963 without fairing
1963 with fairing
3-5 pieces made
19 inch wheels
Vairas SH-50 engine ,6.5hp ,5 speed
SZ1
1964
1 made
Simplified design for planned production
Riga 5S
1966
1 or 2 made
engine unknown
Riga 6S
1968
Supposed 2 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 8hp ,4 speed
16 inch wheels
backbone frame type
Riga 7S
1968
Supposed 2 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 engine
19 inch wheels
duplex frame
Riga 9S
1969
10 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 engine ,9,5hp.
16 inch wheels
central tube frame
hydraulic suspension
bodyparts design by G.Gludins
Riga 11S
1970
2 made
Serpuchov SM-51K ,10,5hp ,6 speed
Carburetor Dell Orto or K36 Lenkarz
Riga 15S GP
(shortly named 13S)
1972
2 made for team
bodywork design by G.Gludins
Serpuchov ShK-54 ,6speed ,rotary valve ,14hp
Carburetor Dell Orto or K36
Riga electronic ignition with special drive on the engine.
18 inch wheels.
Riga 15S
1976 onwards
2 batches of 15 pieces ?
Serpuchov ShK-54 engine ,12hp.
Electronic ignition by Riga ,batterypowered
Riga 17S GP
1976
2-4 made for team.
Serpuchov shK-54 watercooled 16hp
Carburetor Amal GP
Ignition Kröber
Riga 17S
1978
Small numbers
Bodywork like 15S
Riga 19S
1979
Number unknown
New fairing
Project maybe unfinished ?
Riga 21S
1982-83
1 ? made
Serpuchov engine.
Casted magnesium wheels
Experimental
Riga 23S
1983
3 made
Factory made 125cc ,builder/pilot R.Aizstrauds
One with steel frame ,two with aluminium Deltabox.
2 cilinder rotary inlet engine with Serpuchov parts.
Bodywork G.Gludins/J.Karklins
Wheels by Vihur.
Besides these racers Riga also produced some junior racers ,basically a 15S with Vairas 2 speed engine.
Factory riders Smertjews and Borissenko build their own optimized 50cc specials with Kröber ignition ,Kreidler Van Veen cilinder and alloy rims.
Also 125cc racers were made by the raceteam members ,using some parts from the 50cc racers.
Technical info about these bikes not available ,maybe based on Minsk engines or Serpuchov specials.
Dutch tuner and Jamathi racing team founder Jan Thiel was in personal contact with the team for 10 years and also organised special parts like silvercage bearings for them.
The factory evolved from the pre-war G.Ehrenpreiss bicycle factory that was renamed "Sarkana Zvaigzne" ,which means "Red-Star" in the Latvian language.
Riga Typology:
SZ50
1963 without fairing
1963 with fairing
3-5 pieces made
19 inch wheels
Vairas SH-50 engine ,6.5hp ,5 speed
SZ1
1964
1 made
Simplified design for planned production
Riga 5S
1966
1 or 2 made
engine unknown
Riga 6S
1968
Supposed 2 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 8hp ,4 speed
16 inch wheels
backbone frame type
Riga 7S
1968
Supposed 2 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 engine
19 inch wheels
duplex frame
Riga 9S
1969
10 made
Serpuchov ShK-55 engine ,9,5hp.
16 inch wheels
central tube frame
hydraulic suspension
bodyparts design by G.Gludins
Riga 11S
1970
2 made
Serpuchov SM-51K ,10,5hp ,6 speed
Carburetor Dell Orto or K36 Lenkarz
Riga 15S GP
(shortly named 13S)
1972
2 made for team
bodywork design by G.Gludins
Serpuchov ShK-54 ,6speed ,rotary valve ,14hp
Carburetor Dell Orto or K36
Riga electronic ignition with special drive on the engine.
18 inch wheels.
Riga 15S
1976 onwards
2 batches of 15 pieces ?
Serpuchov ShK-54 engine ,12hp.
Electronic ignition by Riga ,batterypowered
Riga 17S GP
1976
2-4 made for team.
Serpuchov shK-54 watercooled 16hp
Carburetor Amal GP
Ignition Kröber
Riga 17S
1978
Small numbers
Bodywork like 15S
Riga 19S
1979
Number unknown
New fairing
Project maybe unfinished ?
Riga 21S
1982-83
1 ? made
Serpuchov engine.
Casted magnesium wheels
Experimental
Riga 23S
1983
3 made
Factory made 125cc ,builder/pilot R.Aizstrauds
One with steel frame ,two with aluminium Deltabox.
2 cilinder rotary inlet engine with Serpuchov parts.
Bodywork G.Gludins/J.Karklins
Wheels by Vihur.
Besides these racers Riga also produced some junior racers ,basically a 15S with Vairas 2 speed engine.
Factory riders Smertjews and Borissenko build their own optimized 50cc specials with Kröber ignition ,Kreidler Van Veen cilinder and alloy rims.
Also 125cc racers were made by the raceteam members ,using some parts from the 50cc racers.
Technical info about these bikes not available ,maybe based on Minsk engines or Serpuchov specials.
Dutch tuner and Jamathi racing team founder Jan Thiel was in personal contact with the team for 10 years and also organised special parts like silvercage bearings for them.
