Vintage Ukraine XB3 B-39 3-speed
 

Hello everyone! I am a store manager at a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Ankeny, Iowa, and in need of a little help. I have attached the pictures of a bike that came in as a donation and I am wondering what we have here? I was only able to find a few online and came up with a "Vintage Ukraine XB3 B-39 3 speed" bike. Is this correct? Can anyone give me a little more insight and information on this bike? We have a bike collective here in town and they weren't able to give me a whole lot of information. Apparently the handle bars have something to do with the olympics? Not a lot of information here in Iowa so I am reaching out for a little help. Thanks in advance!

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Beautiful Headbadge!! :thumb:

There's a bit of discussion of Karkov ("XB3") bikes here.

And @yadder is an occasional poster here who lives in the Ukraine. He may have some additional insight.

you might like to visit these forum threads:

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...made-ussr.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...iet-union.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...o-project.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...erailleur.html

The likely value of this bike is mostly in the novelty of it, which is considerable. It's in great shape too. Market it as cold-war relic of the old USSR, and you might get something for it. Big-city hipsters would love this thing. I could see it being the prized posession of some bearded young dude in Fremont (Seattle) or Williamsburg in NYC.

Have you got a big university nearby?

That bike is cool! The coolness has to be worth something?

Can I say another forum could be of help too, this one is more geared towards road bikes. There are a few out there.

Thanks for the input everyone. Sorry if this was in the wrong sub forum. I'm not all that well versed in old bikes/road bikes but figured this was an awesome find. I'm looking to make sure it finds a good home and someone that would take care of it. I just really have no idea the price point here.

The market for that bike will be small and finding someone off the street who wants it as a collectible is unlikely. You'll have to ebay it. I'd recommend a starting price of $50. If you are looking for a fixed price maybe $100. My assessment is based on the quality and value of the bicycle for what it is, a low end mass produced bicycle, not as a collectible which may warrant a higher price. The only way to really find out is ebay.

The handlebars have likely been flipped relative to their original position in order to get a lower riding position, likely by a youngster who wanted to go fast. I don't think they have anything to do with the Olympics. It's possible they are not original as they do kind of look like older style drop bars.

Hi ! You have beatuful bike ""HVZ V39 Sputnik"" . Named translate fo english "Sattelite" . They produce in my city Kharkov on the ХВЗ manufacture. This model V 39 produced 1960-1970 years. Frame lugged. You have very good condotion. That rare.
Wheel 622mm . Congratulations. But how he going for USA??
If you have any questions- please ask me. I'm be glad answer you!

Well, there is a forum for appraisals; but this forum gets more traffic. I think you'll learn more if it doesn't get moved.

If you do put it on eBay, be sure to provide good close up photos of the details; the derailleur, the shifter, the brake calipers, the brake levers (I suspect these may be upgraded; they look like GB Superhood Rapide levers, made in England; but maybe Ukranian copies of the GB ones; either way, interesting). Do I see a mileage ticker on the front axle? Be sure to show a photo of that, too; with the mileage.

The wheel size that @yadder mentions, 622, is commonly called 700c. Which is good; tires are readily available.

Thank you for your helpful response, yadder. The story I heard was that a bike shop in the midwestern US imported perhaps a few hundred 3-speed and 10-speed Sputnik bicycles in the early-to-mid 1960s.

Capo bicycles, from Vienna, Austria, have a similar story. They are rare in the US because they were imported for only a few years in the early 1960s.

No beard, no big city, not actually all that young, but I'm pretty tempted.

Well, then embrace your inner hipster and ride an interesting-but-not-very-good bike. I think the thing is really cool, too, but...

You know how to get in touch with the OP. :)

At this point my main concern is getting this bike to someone who will actually value the bike. Any idea on what kind of price to ask for it? We are a thrift store and 100% of our proceeds go to helping adult males who are in a drug & alcohol rehabilitation center (of which I came from). Not looking to gouge anyone or ask an exorbitant amount for it. I would just like to get a fair amount for it. Thank you!

edit: I'm also open to offers on the bike.

In this case, I guess the word would be kilometrage.