The M-72 was a heavy Soviet motorcycle. Its design was based on a modified version of the German BMW R-71—a highly advanced motorcycle for its time. The technical documentation was provided to the USSR as part of an industrial cooperation agreement, in exchange for raw metal supplies sent to Germany. This collaboration stemmed from the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Assembly of the M-72, using components supplied by various partners, began in the summer of 1941 at the Moscow Bicycle Plant; however, only a small number were produced before the factory had to be evacuated. Production resumed in Irbit in the winter of 1942, initially using parts brought from Moscow. Between 1941 and 1961, more than 400,000 M-72 units were manufactured across several factories (in Moscow, Irbit, Gorky, and Kyiv), incorporating numerous modifications. The motorcycle saw extensive use within the Polish Armed Forces—initially primarily for reconnaissance, and later for auxiliary roles such as courier services, liaison duties, and training—as well as by the Citizens’ Militia (Milicja Obywatelska).
Technical specifications for the M-72 with sidecar (solo version in parentheses):
Length / width / height: 2.42 / 1.65 (0.82) / 0.98 m
Curb weight: 380 kg (approx. 200 kg)
Payload capacity: up to 300 kg
Powertrain: 746 cc, two-cylinder, four-stroke, side-valve boxer engine producing 22 hp; power transmitted to the rear wheel via a driveshaft (cardan shaft)
Maximum speed: 85–90 km/h (110–120 km/h)
Range: up to 460 km (up to 360 km)
Fuel capacity: 22 L plus an additional 20 L jerrycan (22 L tank only)
Fuel consumption: approx. 8.5 L/100 km (6–7 L/100 km)
