Minsk (motorcycle)

Minsk Motorcycle, (Russian: Минск) or also known as Motovelo Corp, is a company that produces bicycles and motorcycles.

It is situated in the capital of Belarus - Minsk: Motovelo Corporation, 8 Partizanski Ave., Minsk, Belarus 220765; Tel: 375 17 221-6905; Fax: 375 17 221-6806

History

The plant was founded on 6 November 1945.

The company produced a two stroke 125cc motorcycle based on a pre-World War II DKW RT 125 design made in Minsk in the former Soviet Union (now Belarus). This model was imported into Great Britain by Neval Motorcycles and initially tradenamed as "Neval".

Minsk motorcycles were among the Soviet motorcycles distributed by SATRA, UK, under the brand name Cossack, (Satra was originally located in Surrey, later moving to Carnaby) from 1973 to 1979.

Current situation

The plant manufactures on parallel assembly lines motorcycles and bicycles. 70% of bicycles are exported to Russia, while 90% of motorcycles are exported to countries outside of former USSR - Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Mexico, UK, France, USA and Germany. Christopher Hunt wrote about his experience in riding a Minsk motorcycle along the Ho Chi Minh trail after the Vietnam War in his book Sparring With Charlie: Motorbiking Down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The plant was privatized in 1990's with most of the share going to workers. Last few years the MotoVelo Corporation has been in decline trailing near bankruptcy. Some experts attribute this to rapid increase of steel price from Russia in 2003-2005. Also Vietnam - a major importer of Motovelo production introduced a 40% import duty for Belarusian company forcing it to lose to now more cheap Chinese production .

On 25 November 2005 some 600 employees of MotoVelo rallied and blocked one of major Minsk streets in protest of low salaries (average $200/month) and poor work conditions. On 16 December 2005 majority stock (90% of stock options) were transferred to Belarusian state to save the plant. The Belarusian socialist economy means that the plant will soon have an influx of state money and improve.

Some believe that this whole situation was created by a Motovelo director deliberately, since immediately after the collapse of Motovelo he was promoted to high government position. Looks like Lukashenka regime was after the hard currency flow generated by this 90% export of motorcycles abroad. However - this is good news for consumers - the plant will survive.

External links

• Motovelo Corp. Homepage
• Minsk Motorcycles Works from Belarus
• The Minsk Club, Viet Nam
• Ride Vietnam on Minsk motorcycles

53°52′59″N 27°35′31″E