Some years ago I saw a television documentary on tigers that showed Russian scientists traveling around Siberia on an old motorcycle with a sidecar. It wasn't long before I forgot about the tigers and started focusing on the bike (my brain's funny like that). I'd never seen a "boxer" before: little did I know what that seemingly innocent program on Discovery Channel was going to do to me. A few years later we moved to Bulgaria and I started thinking about getting a bike again. I've always had a preference to Harley's, but they aren't very practical here due to a lack of parts and the expense. My mind drifted back to that film and I started digging through Google checking out Russian Motorcycles. At first glance they all looked pretty much alike: I looked up the Dnepr & Ural bikes, then found the Chang Jiangs, then up came a picture of a restored M72.
It was love at first sight. People always thought I was a bit off the deep end, and I spent about a year proving them right. I asked every biker I met, I put ads in the paper, I looked in every village we went through. People suggested I go with a tractor or something since it would be easier to find and get about the same mileage. One guy had a warehouse full of rusty 1992 Dneprs, (but no brakes), another tried to pass off an MT11 as an antique M72 at an insane cost. Someone else actually had one but no papers for it, another guy had an engine but no frame. Finally, in December 2005 I found an advertisement for a running 1953 M-72 in Sofia (which happens to be on the other side of the country). I managed to arrange the trip there and back, found a trailer, and 48 hours and a couple of snowstorms later the bike was safe in Varna and an obsession was born.
This is what I came home with:
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Technical Specifications:
M-72. M-72 - ZiS (Moscow), GMZ (Gorkii), IMZ (Irbit) , K-O (Harkov), KMZ (Kiev) . M-72K, M-72M - IMZ (Irbit) M-72N - KMZ (Kiev)*
Years of production:
1941-1943 preliminary M-72,
1944-1956 M-72,
1954-1960 M-72K,
1956-1960 M-72M,
1956-1959 M-72N
Total wartime production: 15,335 units.*
Payload: 300 kg, (3 people + 100 kg with sidecar)
Wheelbase: 1400mm
Road clearance: 130/135mm
Engine: 22hp/4500-4800rpm or
4800-4900rpm M-72K - 27hp/5000rpm 2-cyl.,
4-stroke SV with horizontal opposed cylinders, 746cc
Compression ratio: 5,5 : 1
Carburetor: K-37, K-37A from 1950 onward
Ignition system: battery 3MT-7 or 3MT-14, 6 Volt, 7 or 14 Amp*h
except M-72K Magneto Interrupter: points ignition*
Clutch: dry twin plates (the very early model - one plate)
Engine cooling: air
Gearbox: 4 speed with hand and foot shift
Ratios: I - 3,60, II - 2,28, III - 1,7, IV - 1,30
Final Drive ratio: 3.89, 4.62 from 1944 onward.*
Cardan: Shaft Drive*
Mechanical drum brakes on front and rear wheels Weight (fueled): 225 kg (solo), 350 kg (with sidecar)
Maximum speed (with sidecar): 85 km/h except M-72N 90 km/h and M-72K 120 km/h
Fuel tank capacity: 22 L
Fuel consumption (with sidecar): 7 L/100km under 50-60 km/h
Engine oil capacity: 2 liters
Oil consumption: 0,25 L/100 km
Transmission oil capacity: 0,8 liters
Final Drive oil capacity: 0,175 liters*
Technical specs from http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m72.htm.
* Revisions courtesy of Stephen Wiggins.
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