In the USSR the decision on the production of special army motorcycle was made in early 1940. Under the leadership of N. P. Serdyukov, who from 1935 to 1940 interned at the BMW plant[3], on the basis of the Moscow experimental plant “Iskra” was established the special design Bureau for heavy motorcycling. As the sample for the full backup was selected the BMW motorcycle R71, which by that time well established in the Wehrmacht. Five motorbikes were purchased anonymously in Sweden. In the spring of 1941 manufacturing under the brand name of the motorcycle M-72 was deployed at the Moscow motor plant (MMZ) In cooperation with ZIS developed the documentation and supplied the engines, KIM (now AZLK) — transmission, GAS — propeller shaft and the side stroller. Moscow Bicycle factory produced motorcycles until 1951. Another production base was the Kharkiv plant, with engines it supplied the Kiev factory of medical instruments. In Leningrad factory “Red October” was also entrusted with the production of M-72. From 25 February 1942 motorcycles M-72 was first produced in Irbit, where it was evacuated equipment with MMW, Kim, ate-1, engine shop Zisa. The main KB is also moved from Moscow to Irbit. It was headed by Alexander Minovich Fedorov, among the designers were I. I. Okunev, N. A. Kukin, V. Backman, test S. I. B. V. Karzinkin and marshmallows. At the same time the production of motorcycles M-72 launched the plant “Krasnaya Etna”, called Gorky motorcycle factory. In parallel with the IMZ, since 1951, began making motorcycles M-72 and the Kiev motorcycle plant (KMZ). He later embarked on its own path of development design. Differences in design (and even logos!) motorcycles M-72, Moscow, Irbit, and the Leningrad, Kharkov, Gorky or production did not exist. From 1955 year motorcycle M-72 began to sell the public. Civilian version of the IMZ plant was distinguished: improved engine, reinforced frame and wheels, torsion bar suspension, wheel stroller, new colors and the inscription “Irbit” on the tank. However, all these civilian motorcycles consisted on the military account in the military and in wartime were subject to requisition. It was released 8,5 thousand motorcycles.
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Location: Нижний Новгород, Russian Federation
