This entry will supplement and enhance known history of the epoch if KMZ for history buffs. JD.

The Kyiv Motorcycle Plant, located in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, lies along the Дніпро (Dnipro or Dnieper) River. The plant was established on the basis of the Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR No. 2435-652C of 21September 1945 and the order of the People’s Commissar of Medium Machine Building of the USSR No. 362/C of 26 September 1945 on the basis of the former Armored Repair Plant No. 8 in the Shevchenko district of Kiev on Kagatna Street, 8 now Semey Khokhlov Street. The heart of Kyiv.

The Kyiv armored workshops became the basis and base for the creation of the Kiev Motorcycle Plant. In 1932, on the territory and in the production buildings of the plant, where the military workshops of the Kiev Military District were located. From October 1945 to the end of March 1953, the plant was subordinated to the Main Directorate of the Motorcycle and Bicycle Industry (Glavmotoveloprom).

The first model of the two-wheeled motorcycle “Kievlyanin” K-1B, was made with an engine that was produced by war reparations from another enterprise, Wanderer in Germany, but since 1947 the plant began serial production of motorcycles K-1B with an engine of its own production.

Since 1947, the development of a tricycle to assist disabled war veterans began, the company began work on the construction of production shops and structures of the foundry and procurement shops.

In 1949, 100 specialists from the liquidated Gorky Motorcycle Plant (GMZ) arrived at the KMZ plant, where preparations began for the production of heavy class motorcycles M-72, the Soviet version of the German BMW model R71, to supplement production of the M-72 already underway at the IMZ plant in Irbit, Russia.

From the end of March 1953 to the middle of 1953, the KMZ plant was subordinated to the First Main Directorate of the Motorcycle Industry of the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering of the USSR.
According to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 19 April1954, the Ministry of Automobile and Tractor Agricultural Engineering of the USSR was formed on the basis of the enterprises of the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering of the USSR, to which the Kiev Motorcycle Cycle Plant was subordinated by July 1957.

Since 1956, the plant had developed and began to produce a new, more improved model K-750 and the experimental model M-53. For the period from 1955 to 1970, the production of motorcycles was 45-50 thousand pieces. per year.

In accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR since 1957 No. 556 and the order of the Ministry of Automobile Industry of the USSR No. 136, on14 June 1957, the plant was transferred to the Department of Machine-Building Industry of the Council of the National Economy of the Kiev Economic Administrative District of the Ukrainian SSR.

On the basis of the Decree of the Kiev Council of National Economy No. 49 of April 1963, the Kiev Motorcycle Plant was transferred from the Department of Machine-Building Industry to the Department of Automobile and Tractor and Agricultural Engineering of the Kiev Council of National Economy.

In accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 755 of 12 October 1965 , the Kiev Motorcycle Plant was transferred in connection with the liquidation of the Kiev Council of National Economy from the Department of Automobile and Tractor and Agricultural Engineering of the Kiev Council of National Economy for the production of motorcycles and bicycles to the Ministry of Automobile Industry of the USSR.

Since 1972, the production of MODELS MT-9, with a new gearbox (MT-804), with optional reverse.gear was produced,

Since 1976, the improvement of escort equipment began in Kiev, and in 1978 the first batch of 25 special Escort motorcycles for the Kremlin was manufactured. High technical characteristics satisfied the demanding customer. With a capacity of 50hp, on special tires, such a motorcycle could even in winter on a slippery road confidently go at speeds up to 130 km/h and had an electric start, which solved the problem of setting the engine at a temperature of -40C. Such a batch was sent to Moscow in 1983. The Minister of Defense of the USSR Izhmash was instructed to make equipment of this class in Russia. But this attempt was not successful. The great experience and skills of the Kiev designers remained unsurpassed and continued to meet the high requirements of the Kremlin, which increased every year.
In 1989, the last batch of this most advanced technique was manufactured.

In 1991, the first batch of singles of the 650 cm3 class was produced at the Kiev Motor Plant.

Open Joint Stock Company “Kyiv Motorcycle Plant” was founded according to the decision of the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering, Military-Industrial Complex and Conversion of Ukraine No. 1720 of 26 December 1994 in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 210/93 “On corporatization of enterprises” dated 15 June 1993. Registered by the Shevchenkivskyi District State Administration of Kyiv on 12 January 1995, no. 00231314 certificate. At this time, 100% of the shares of JSC “Kyiv Motorcycle Plant” belong to the state represented by the Property Fund of Ukraine.
JSC “Kyiv Motorcycle Plant” is the only enterprise in Ukraine for the production of heavy class motorcycles.

JSC “Kyiv Motorcycle Plant” became a monopoly enterprise of the country for the manufacture of motorcycle equipment. It has a mechanical and assembly production of motorcycles with a complete cycle and contains all the stages for the manufacture and assembly of finished products, control over its quality, transportation at all stages of the production process, organization and provision of maintenance of workplaces and sites, technical preparation of production.

Motorcycles “Dnepr” are constantly being improved, by now there are minimum of 16 modifications of this motorcycle. An upgraded engine, a five-speed gearbox, disc brakes and so on have been developed. New models of motorcycles “Dnepr Chopper”, which are in demand among young people, three-wheeled cargo tricycle “Dnipro – 300” and trike “Dnipro – 303” have been developed. On the basis of a three-wheeled motorcycle with a body, the production of specialized motorcycles for the needs of utilities, trade, farms, forestry, etc. In order to improve the consumer qualities of the motorcycle, the development of new models of the unit with electric start, non-contact ignition system has begun. This will bring the Dnipro motorcycle closer to the requirements of world markets. At this time, the company has mastered the production of new products, namely: trailers for cars of various modifications, van bodies, special vehicles “Convoy-1” and “Van-3”, trailers for the transportation of water equipment.

source: moto032 (translated to English), archives referral

Then the shit hit the fan. The Kiev plant was plunged into doom and darkness. Sold. Closed. Demolished. Gone. The vast sprawling motorcycle plant that had become a legend, only what remains in people’s garages are the memories of this great motorcycle.