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 At the end
of 1941, in Irbit, on evacuated from Moscow motorcycle factory, was produced
the first part of heavy motorcycles M-72. First of all the motorcycle was
created for army needs. That time the most popular model of Hitler's Werhmacht
was BMW R-71.
Soviet engineers copied R-71 without any charts and documentation. They had to
copy every detail, match the materials and production technologies. M72 was
being produced up to 1960. It had,2-cylinder ,SV, 4-stroke engine, 22
h.p.4-speed tranny, rear drive type - shaft drive, telescopic front end,
plunger type rear end. Retail purchasing started only in 1954. From 1952 , M-72
was produced at motorcycle factory in Kiev(Ukraine). 
In 1959 on the same factory appeared K-750. It was modernized variant of M-72.
It had SV, 26 h.p. engine, swing-arm rear end. In 1960, Irbit factory started
to produce M-61. Engine had overhead valves(OHV),28 h.p. M-61 was intermediate
model and in 1961 appeared Ural - M62. This model had new frame and
suspensions. And in 1963 appeared Ural-2 M-63 with a new engine 32 h.p. At Kiev
factory also was created OHV engine for motorcycle K-650. In 1971 Dnepr MT-9
changed this model. This motorcycle had gear - box with rear speed and
half-automatic clutch. In 1974 Irbit factory started to produce M-67, and Kiev
factory started Dnepr MT-10. Both bikes was equipped with 12V electrical
equipment and engines - 36 h.p. Kiev factory at the same time produced
motorcycles with 2-wheel drive called Dnepr 12 with K-750M engine, frame and
suspensions - from MT-10. In 1983 In Kiev appeared Dnepr 11 with 32 h.p.
engine, and Dnepr-16 with 2-wheel drive. 
In 1991 Kiev factory started to produce "solo" Dnepr 8.157-01. Now, Kiev
factory offers: Dnepr 11, Dnepr 16, Dnepr 8.157-01, Dnepr 300 (3-wheel
heavy-duty variant). And in the years since Dnepr has proven to be a valuable
asset in the military's arsenal - the unstoppable muscular breed of vehicle
army had been looking for. More than 1,500,000 Dneprs have been produced for
the armed forces.
More photos and details Dnepr see in our Dneprworld's photo gallery.
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