The History of the M-72 Motorcycle. The M-72 is a legendary heavy-duty motorcycle from the USSR. Like most Soviet machinery of that era, the M-72 motorcycle was “copied” from foreign designs—in this case, it was a copy of the BMW R71. The plan was simple—the government anonymously purchased five BMW R71 motorcycles, which served as the basis for the development of the M-72. Production of the M-72 motorcycle began in 1941 at the Moscow Motorcycle Plant. The process was led by N. P. Serdjukov, who had previously completed an internship at the BMW plant in Germany. Since, at that time, a single factory in the USSR was unable to handle the entire production cycle, parts were sourced from various locations: engines from the ZIS plant, gearboxes from KIM (now AZLK), and drive shafts and sidecars from the GAZ plant. The letter “M” stood for Moscow. Stalin himself approved the production of the motorcycle. Initially, plans called for production to be established in Kharkiv and Leningrad, but due to World War II, plans changed, and starting on February 25, 1942, the M-72 began production in Irbit. At first, all motorcycles were used exclusively for military purposes, but a civilian version appeared in 1954. The M-72 was produced both during and after the war—until 1961—and was widely used both in active combat zones and beyond. It proved itself to be a reliable and indispensable vehicle. Later, the M-72’s frame and engine were used in the development of the new URAL M-63 model. The motorcycle could be equipped with a Degtaryov DP-27 machine gun, which was mounted on a special swiveling platform in the sidecar, allowing it to fire while in motion. Some models were equipped with a mortar and had bags for carrying ammunition. Each M-72 motorcycle was armed, which is why it was classified as armored vehicles. In the history of Soviet mechanical engineering, the M-72 became an example of longevity, progressive design, and technological advancement. 1953. In that year, IMZ began exporting the M-72, primarily to developed countries and Eastern Europe, where they were used by the military and police. Starting in 1954, KMZ (the Kiev Motorcycle Plant) also began supplying motorcycles to the Soviet Army; there, the K-750 model, which had a similar design, was manufactured.
The M-72 logo features a red star, symbolizing Soviet power, as well as the name M-72 and the abbreviation IMZ—Irbit Motorcycle Plant.
