Here's a crappy picture of my winter-beater for you to ridicule.

But why I posted it here is because it's a XB3 from the same Kharkov factory in Urkaine, as mentioned above. I salvaged the bike from a garbage dumpster. It was complete even with the original tube tires (saying 'CCCP' on 'em) still on it and so on. I fixed the bike on no-budget, suicide hub etc. and actually use it to commute to work now that it's winter up here. It looks like crap, yeah, I know.

NOT!!! that thing looks good

Thanks, but let's say that if you saw it in nature you would understand what I mean.

Anyhow, the lugged steel frame and the old school leather seat are cool while all other components were/are simply POS. Still, I did keep lot of them as I didn't want to spend any money on building up a beater bike that was free for me in the first place.

Wow, that's one of the most naive things I've ever read. You clearly have no idea about the Soviet mindset.

^^ +1

golf is a scottish game.

lots of cool stuff has come from scotland, let's forgive that one little slip-up. at least it led to mini-golf (which is a million times more fun).

i almost bid on that ebay one, but it's just not for me.

the cats at keirin berlin (https://www.keirinberlin.de/) had a sweet polish or russian (can't quite remember) frame just my size and at the right price a couple of years ago. i emailed those guys for two or three weeks and tried calling to germany as well, and by the time they FINALLY responed to me it had been sold. i was quite disappointed that it took them so long to even acknowledge me. bums.

Beat me to it.

From the few Star Trek episodes I cared to watch, I learned the whole universe is populated by english speaking people. I mean, english speaking humans.

hahahah, I actually love it! It stands out, to say the least...
Where can I see it? I.E, where do you work?

My comment was not meant to be taken seriously, it was a joke.

5 pounds is about 2.5 Kg, which is how much most high-end framesets weigh. I was just looking at a 2006 Masi Grand Criterium frameset. Wieght: 5 pounds.

Weird, I thought 4 pounds was normal for a steel frame. Are you sure Masi doesn't include the fork in the measurment?

they look good to me. this is my flatmates ride. its heavy but not to the point where its uncomfortable to lift and ride.

I said frameset. Fork is included.

The old deathhare would have said, "Uh, its a little too late to try that now."

I Have never dealt with russian bikes, I own some soviet cameras. If their bikes are like their camera's I would recommend them, Somehow you will get your moneys worth but not for the same reason you bought it. My Fed-5 is my favorite camera even though it takes the worst pictures of any camera i own.

I have a Soviet wristwatch i bought in Vietnam.
Its kickass lookin' but keeps time slow.

Or frame construction/lug quality versus what "fancy" is, apparently.

Ok that makes sense - I was talking about the frame only. The fork is another .7 kilos on top. Also, that green rekord is very pretty, imo.

Im thinking about starting a Soviet framebuilding company.

more like - in Soviet Russia, frame tracks you!

My Argus C-3 could beat up your Fed-5.


Also, did the East Germans build bicycles? For some reason I think they'd do a good job.

I have a Soviet pocketwatch, totally reliable and almost indestructible. I'd buy a Soviet bike if I ever found one.