Bicycle "Ukraine": features and history

The bicycle "Ukraine", produced by the Kharkov Bicycle Plant named after V. I. Petrovsky, was very popular in the USSR in the second half of the last century. People have enjoyed purchasing this reliable model and have been using it for a long time. The bicycles "Ukraine" were especially popular among the residents of rural areas, who used them to go to the post office, to the store, to work and to the forest to pick mushrooms.

Kharkiv Bicycle Plant (KhVZ) began its activities in the early 20s of the XX century, having produced a huge number of bicycles in the entire history of its existence. The company was engaged in the production of road, sports and tourist models, which gained immense popularity not only among the general population, but also among athletes. The 1980 Olympics, which took place in the USSR, became a milestone in the history of bicycle production, on the eve of which the plant received a large order for the production of track and road models "Champion Highway" and "Record".

Throughout the history of its existence the plant has produced more than 30 models of adult and children's bicycles, among which were both exclusive samples, the release of which was limited to two or three copies, and mass models, such as "Tourist", "Start-Highway", "Sputnik" and, of course, "Ukraine".

The first men's bicycle "Ukraine" rolled off the assembly line of the enterprise in 1926 and was equipped with a steel frame and 26 "wheels. In this form, it was produced before the start of World War II, after which production was suspended.At the end of the Second World War, the enterprise again began to produce bicycles and presented to the public a model "Ukraine" B-120, which replaced the legendary "Progress" B-110, created, in turn, on the basis of the German pre-war model.

Road bicycles "Ukraine" were very popular not only in the Soviet Union, but were also supplied to 28 countries of the world. The high demand for Soviet models was due to a number of important advantages that distinguished them favorably from other manufacturers' bicycles.

• The sturdy and reliable design made it possible to operate the bike in difficult conditions without the risk of deformation of the frame and breakage of the main components.
• "Ukraine" was one of the most durable bicycles and has reliably served its owners for several decades. Moreover, the models that have survived to this day are still on the move, and the only thing their owners complain about is the corrosion of the metal and the need to replace the saddle, which has deteriorated from time to time.
• The high carrying capacity of the Kharkov models made it possible to carry adult passengers on the trunk and transport heavy loads.

However, in addition to the advantages, "Ukraine" had its own shortcomings, the main of which is called heavy weight exceeding 17 kg. This made it difficult to travel over rough terrain and sand and made long walks impossible. In addition, the "Ukraine" did not have a gearshift system, which, in combination with a large weight, made control even more difficult. The next significant disadvantage was shortage of spare parts, which were not possible to get.

The Kharkov Bicycle Plant has produced several models "Ukraine", the detailed characteristics of which are discussed below.

The first modification of the "Ukraine" was the male model B-120, which was released in 1961-1968. It featured a lengthened frame, sturdy forks and reinforced struts. The latter were bolted, which compares favorably with structures with a welded joint. The front wheel hub had a one-piece design to ensure the concentricity of the ball tracks. Moreover, the B-120 model was equipped with an additional tick-type hand brake acting on the rear wheel rim.

Pay special attention to the saddle. It had an additional front spring and a wide frame, which provided good shock absorption and increased the convenience of using the bike. The trunk also had a reinforced structure, which was provided with an all-metal, no welding, body and sturdy struts. The clamp had a spring design and very reliably fixed the load located on it. The rear wheel could be fixed in the desired position, while adjusting the chain tension. Tool bags had a convenient lock and were made in a modern design for those times. The frame and front fork have been beautifully painted to greatly enhance the bike's appearance.

The base of the bike was 1175 mm, the distance from the carriage to the top of the seat tube reached 580 mm, and the diameter of the wheels was 622 mm, which corresponds to 28 inches. Due to its large dimensions, the bicycle was mainly used by men, while it was problematic for women and children to drive it. The width of the tires reached 4 cm, the number of teeth on the front sprocket was 48 pieces, on the rear sprocket - 19. The weight of the B-120 was 16.5 kg.

The bike "Ukraine" B-130 was released in 1966.and became the 10 millionth model produced by the plant (in 1979, the 20 millionth copy was released, and by 1991 - the 30 millionth one). Compared to the previous model, it had deeper fenders, the pedals were cast from aluminum alloys, there was a folding step and a trunk above the front wheel. The rims were made of steel and had a U-shaped profile. There were 36 spokes on the front rim versus 32 on the previous model, which significantly increased its carrying capacity.

A few years later, more the perfect version of the B-130 - B-130K bike, which now has a stem in relation to the steering column and has changed the configuration of the steering wheel. The frame of the updated model was decorated with the inscription "Ukraine" and a small cute pattern. The release was carried out until 1976.

Bicycle "Ukraine" B-134 produced from 1968 to 1975 and had a reclining step, a rack over the front wheel, chain guards and a headlight. The front rim consisted of 32 spokes, and the pedals were made of steel and had rubber inserts. The model was produced in black, red, blue and turquoise colors, and the wings of the black models were decorated with white lines, while the models of other colors were pure white. The base of the bike was 1175 mm, the height was 560 and 580 mm, the wheel size was 28 ", the number of teeth on the front and rear sprockets was 48 and 19, respectively.

Beginning in the 75th year, KhVZ began producing models with updated markings: 111-413, 111-411 and 111-412. The new bicycles inherited all the main features of their predecessors and differed in minor design and construction changes, such as the presence of lugs for attaching the chain guard, a new configuration of the steering wheel and the stamped HVZ logo instead of the Ukraine or Kharkiv inscription on the hub body.

New models were equipped with a pump, bell, tool bag and bicycle first aid kit, and some models were additionally equipped with a footrest, headlight, dynamo device, odometer, front rack and mirror. Since 1980, modifications 111-421, 111-422 and 111-423 have seen the light, with a different saddle design, more modern decor and modified dropouts. The last Soviet model of the KhVZ is the model with a shortened base "Ukraine" 111-431.

Next, see the process of restoration of the bike KhVZ "Ukraine" B-130.