Kharkiv Bicycle Plant

During the First World War, the Riga bicycle factory Alexander Leutner & Co. was moved to Kharkiv. After the October Revolution in 1917, the factory was nationalized. In 1923, a new bicycle factory named First State Bicycle Plant was founded on its basis.[1]

In 1926, the production of a men's road bicycle named Ukraine was launched.[2]

There were produced 1 million bicycles till 1941. During World War II, the plant's equipment was evacuated to Uzbekistan.

After the war, the plant was reestablished in Kharkiv. The production base of the enterprise was upgraded with the equipment and machines, imported from Germany as military reparations.

V-120 Ukraine bicycle, 1961

In the early 1950s, the production of a men's road bicycle V-110 Progress was launched. Later this model have been produced by almost all bicycle factories in the USSR.

In 1961, the plant began production V-120 Ukraine model. The V-120 Ukraine bicycle had improved frame geometry and reinforced wheel rims, which allowed the bicycle to be used for operation with increased load capacity. The V-120 Ukraine bicycle and its modifications were the most popular bicycles in the USSR.

In the mid-1970s, the Kharkiv Bicycle Plant produced up to 800,000 bicycles per year. The Kharkiv Bicycle Plant was the only enterprise in the USSR that produced professional lightweight and sports bicycles.

In 1983, the total number of produced bicycles reached 23 million.

In the early nineties, the company experienced severe economic conditions. In 1999, the shareholder of Kharkiv Bicycle Plant became the USI company which received the exclusive right to sell the entire range of products produced by this company.

Starting in 2001, the plant began to increase production, significantly expand the range of products and restore previously lost positions in the bicycle market.

As of 2019, the plant still produces a small number of bicycles however it uses Chinese accessories.[3]

• Каневский, А. И.; Привалов, А. И. (1990). Первенец советского велостроения: Очерк истории Харьк (PDF). История Фабрик И Заводов. Харьков: Прапор. ISBN 5-7766-6263-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 24, 2019.CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)
• Пустовалов, В. И.; Майборода, В. М.; Камеристый, В. В. (1976). Справочник велосипедиста (in Russian). Харьков: Прапор.