This book provides the first accessible English language account of motorcycles in the Soviet Union. Concentrating on the wartime and postwar period until 1990, prior to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, it covers the motorcycles produced, and looks at the way in which they were used at home and exported abroad. Chapters cover wartime, models produced, the social character of Soviet era motorcycling, and wide-ranging sport. With planned rather than market-led production based around copies of pre-war German BMW and DKW models, the industry churned out hundreds of thousands of utilitarian and rugged machines that were very different from the more fashion-orientated machines produced in the West. These motorcycles went under the place names of the producing factories: Ishevsk, Kovrov, Moskva, Minsk and, of course, the large flat twins produced in Irbit and Kiev under the Ural and Dnepr names. With a strong emphasis on Soviet era illustrations, the book provides an insight into a life, based on idealism and ideology that has now passed. Photographs and images, many of them from private family collections, show Soviet bikes as well as popular imports Jawa from Czechoslovakia, and Pannonia from Hungary.

About the Author
Colin got his first motorcycle at age 15 and has owned, built, and cried over, mostly British bikes ever since. He currently looks after a 1949 BSA Gold Star, as well as a modern bike. Colin spent a long career in social work in the West of Scotland through which he was a successful textbook author. In recent years motorcycle trips to Eastern Europe have triggered an interest in the utilitarian machines produced there during the Communist years. He has always been interested in the history of the Soviet Union, and this book brings several of his passions together.

Reviews
The author has produced a very readable book giving a genuine insight into life on two wheels in the Soviet Union, which I enjoyed and recommend. Torque. Highly recommended!--Ian Kerr. This is a fascinating insight into the lives of ordinary citizens in the USSR ... A well researched and very interesting book.--Jonathan Hill - freelance. Whether you crave new frontiers in motorcycle history, find the old days of the USSR fascinating, many even ride, collect or find the bikes of the USSR interesting or just plain want a great read, [this] is a great book with an unusual story to tell. - UltimateMotorcycling.com. It's fun to come across a book that covers a topic you haven't read much about before, so well done to Colin Turbett and Veloce for this one. - New Zealand Classic Car. This is truly a fascinating volume on so many levels -social history, military interests, the extensive use of previously unavailable material, and of course the coverage of the motorcycle manufacturer's and all the models. - Norm Mort - Freelance.



Book Information
ISBN 9781787113145
Author Colin Turbett
Format Hardback
Page Count 128
Imprint Veloce
Publisher David & Charles