Kharkov 542

[Bob-b]

First post on the forum, thought I'd make sharing this beauty my introduction. It's a recently acquired Kharkov 542, Soviet era bike manufactured in the Ukraine. All there down to the owners manual and even the inner tubes! A little difficult to date but it's before 1976 as I currently understand.

It'll have a quick service before i find out just how lethal 40 year old Soviet rubber really is!

https://flic.kr/p/289hVd3

https://flic.kr/p/NLv3Nd

https://flic.kr/p/M99NFP

https://flic.kr/p/M99NUV

 

[mikeymustard]

Welcome to the forum and - Wow - nice find! That's really unusual, not as utilitarian as youd expect; is it made out of the special, extra heavy steel that Ladas were made from, or does it have lighter frame designed for export to the evil west?

 

[Cycleops]

I imagine it's another example of the communist regime trying to copy western products and not really getting there.
I'd be interested to hear your report once you've ridden it.

 

[biggs682]

@Bob-b that looks very useable indeed , Soviet rubber will be strange if they are original . What size are they ?

 

[Ivo]

The XVZ Model Turist was still the mainstay of Soviet cycletouringclubs in the early 90-ies. It did it's job but required quite some attention to function properly. In hands of a good mechanic it certainly was a good steed for touring in the Soviet Union. One of it's advantages was that spare parts were readily available in any small town bazar.
It wasn't entirely a west-copy though. They did use a 4-speed cassette long before they were produced by Shimano. The sprockets were fixed with a featherring and not with a screw on small sprocket. Big advantage was that you could remove the sprockets with simple householdtools you could borrow from any farmer or local, so you didn't need to carry special equipment for it.

 

[Drago]

I like the look of that. Ok, the lugwork is a bit plain, but even the fanciest lug work that makes old farts go "oooh" is pressed on a machine, and rolled into shape by another machine, with very little intervention from the artisan.

Seems in good nick too. In interesting curio.

 

[Bob-b]

In answer to a couple of questions; heavy but not too evil, tyres are 622 32 on woods valve inner tubes (valve core rubber long since gone too hard to hold air), new inner tubes put in earlier today and there's now some disturbing bulges appearing on the tyres... not too sure I'll be able to trust them for long!

The lugs look to be pinned and brazed, there is some evidence of the pins showing through the paint.

The manual has a date of 1972, but I think that's a revision date rather than date of the bike. There is a mark on the rear dropout which might indicate 1976?

There are two front chainrings, not sure why, there's so little difference they may as well be the same! Hills will not be my friend on this!

Here's a few more photos

https://flic.kr/p/28amW23

https://flic.kr/p/2aViaPT

https://flic.kr/p/2aViaAX

https://flic.kr/p/2aViowM

https://flic.kr/p/28anw2s

https://flic.kr/p/28anvZU

And the headset nut is stuck, no playing till I can free this off sadly

https://flic.kr/p/2aViaQ4

 

[BalkanExpress]

There is some interesting information on the company here.

http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Kharkov_derailleurs.html

 

[midlife]

I like the look of that. Ok, the lugwork is a bit plain, but even the fanciest lug work that makes old farts go "oooh" is pressed on a machine, and rolled into shape by another machine, with very little intervention from the artisan.

Seems in good nick too. In interesting curio.

Lots of lugs are cast.... Even modern ones

http://www.bobbrowncycles.com/framebuild.htm

 

[Bob-b]

Headset sorted

https://flic.kr/p/2b6C3pK

https://flic.kr/p/2b2nEQ5

odd lugs noted

https://flic.kr/p/2b6C2b2

https://flic.kr/p/2b2nDWG

and out for a short ride to the local with the kid... disaster.

https://flic.kr/p/2b2nDXJ

It rode quite nicely until the chain over shifted and went into the spokes. Bit of a straightening job on my hands now.

Sad

Face

 

[Ivo]

Well, they tend to do this. I've once had a XVZ do this a few meters in front of me on a descent somewhere in the Krimea. We managed to sort the mess out with parts bought from the local market and a big monkey wrench to straighten the frame.

 

[Ivo]

Correction, while checking the photo, the monkey wrench did grow in my memory . On the left you can see the cassette hub where my mate Cirilo is taking care of the wheel while I'm changing the chain.

 

[Ivo]

BTW, the odd lugs are mounting points for a chainguard

 

[Bob-b]

Great photo Ivo, I'll keep my eye out for the chain guard.

...and the plank of wood on the rack is for?

Nothing that cant be fixed with a vice and some patience I hope. On reflection I think the chain ran over the top of the cassette on changing down before it came off. More cautious shifting required.

 

[Ivo]

The plank of wood was for supporting the luggage. The XBZ belonged to our Kiev based member of the group.