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A Short History The early models were called simply "S", and not yet "Vostok" (the "C" in the brand is a Russian "S", that means "Serpuchov"): S1-B 125, S2-B 250 and S3-B 350. All these bikes were derived from the German DKW "compressor" racing bikes with "undoubled cylinder" (two pistons with a common combustion chamber), requisitioned by the Soviet army during the war: Such bikes were the "S2-B” 250 cc. (1950), Russian Serpuchov's copy of the DKW, 40 hp, 175 km/h. But, when the USSR decided to participate in international competitions, the old two-stroke of German derivation were abandoned, and a new range of totally Russian four-stroke machines was realized: in the S-155 single-cylinder 125 cc, the S-254, 250 cc twin cylinder, and, in the S-555, always twin cylinder, but with a displacement of 500 cc. All these bikes (also known with the "SKEB" brand), designed by Evgenij Mathiushin, were equipped with DOHC timing and valves driven by shaft and conic gears. Although the inspiration from several Western machines, these bikes were the early totally-Soviet racing motorcycles, not simply and brutally copied from other bikes. During the years '60s, these bikes were radically modified, with new twin-spark heads and a new 6-speed gearbox. The S-358 and the S-259, always DOHC twin cylinder, with 48 and 50 hp respectively. The number of identification is taken from the displacement and the year of production (for example, the "S-259" is the 250 cc. realized in the 1959). In 1961, the first podium in an international race was obtained, with the third place of Nikolai Sevostianov, on the "S-360" twin cylinder, in a race in Helsinki. And, in the GP of the East Germany, Sevostianov obtained the fifth place in the 250 cc. class and the sixth in the 350: mediocre results, but enough good for a debutant Russian bike! The twin-cylinder engine, realized a version for the class 500 by simply over-boring the 350 cc. In the 1964, with this bike, Sevastianov came in 4th in East Germany behind Mike Hailwood (MV), Mike Duff (Matchless) and Paddy Driver (Matchless), and 4th in Finland behind Jack Ahearn (Norton), Mike Duff (Matchless) and Gyulya Marsovzky (Matchless). But, in the same year, the real challenge of the Russian engineers was shown, when the first Soviet four-cylinder bike was launched! The new four-cylinder bike, called Vostok "S-364", was a 350 cc, with 59 hp (but the 59 hp part is subject to speculation). During the GP of East Germany, the two Vostok "S-364" driven by Nikolai Sevostianov and by the young Estonian driver Endel Kiisa, kept the third and fourth places, but both were forced to end the race for the breaking of the left piston. During the GP of Finland, instead, the Vostok of Endel Kiisa surprised the public, obtaining the third place, behind the two Hondas of Jim Redman and Bruce Beale! In the 1965, at the GP of Austria, Endel Kiisa remained for long time in first position, but a fall forced it to the retirement (only one kilometre before the end of the race!). In the 1965, at the GP of Czechoslovakia, Sevostjanov obtained another third place, behind Jim Redman (Honda) and Derek Woodman (MZ). However, although the results (very good, especially considering the limited number of races allowed to the team, almost always in the countries of the Soviet block), the Russian government stopped, with an incredible decision, the participation of the Russian bikes in the World Championship. After the end of the participation in the World Championship, the "Vniimotoprom" - the producer of the Vostok- realized simpler and cheaper motorcycles, destined for national competitions such as the Vostok 250 "Motoball. The "motoball" was a very diffused sport in USSR. |
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