Minsk Motorcycle, (Russian: Минск) or also known as Motovelo Corp, is a company that produces bicycles and motorcycles. The company produced a two stroke 125cc motorcycle based on a pre-World War II DKW 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". The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two strokes (linear movements of the piston) instead of four, although the same four operations (intake, compression, power, exhaust) still occur. ... A 125 cc motorcycle, the Italian-manufactured Cagiva Planet. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... DKW Auto Union logotype Dampf-Kraft Wagen (German: steam-powered vehicle) or DKW is an historic car and motorcycle brand. ... Minsk or Miensk (Belarusian: ; Russian: ; Polish: ) is the capital and largest city in Belarus with a population of 1,780,000 (2006 estimate}. Minsk is also a headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States. ...

The plant was founded on 6 November 1945.

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

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.

Since privatization the MotoVelo Corporation has been in decline trailing near bankruptcy. On 25 November 2005 some 600 employees of MotoVelo rallied and blocked one of major Minsk streets in protest of low salaries ($100/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 (link seems broken)
• Minsk Motorcycles Works from Belarus
• The Minsk Club, Viet Nam
• Voyage Vietnam Travel in Vietnam on Minsks