In 1941, the Ural Sidecar was created through reverse engineering of the BMW R 75, with for objective to suit the needs of the Russian Red Army fighting in harsh Russian climate and terrain. The first built sidecars were sent to the front lines in February of 1942 and were used by the troops in the Battle of Stalingrad. 9,799 sidecar M72’s served in reconnaissance and dispatch detachments, and were also used to evacuate the wounded from battle fields during the World War II. 70 years later, the sidecar and 2 solo models are still produced with the company (Irbit Motoworks Factory) currently selling all it can make, about 800 bikes a year in 2010. The company still makes the frame, the engine, the transmission, the body parts, and the wheels, but is now sourcing many components from Italian, German and Japanese vendors.
To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the company launched 2 models, the M70 sidecar and M70 both inspired by the ordinal M 72. Both painted in olive drab, the sidecar has a machine gun mount and its tonneau cover is made of canvas similar to the one used on the M72. Just like the original it also includes a spare wheel and shovel. The tear drop gas tank is decorated with a replica of the first factory badge, circa 1956. The motorcycle features a tractor style seat and luggage rack on the rear fender. Each anniversary M70 also comes with a special commemorative plaque. Other features include 18″ aluminum rims, 40 mm Marzochhi telescopic forks, Sachs shocks, Brembo front disc brake, and other modern features. A longer wheel base and lower sitting sidecar make this model the fastest and best handling Ural.
MSRP Sidecar (30 units built): $14,200. MSRP Solo (10 units built): $9,150. Available in the US right now at the following dealerships. Triquest Motorcycles, CA. Marks Custom Cycles, CA. Unique Rides, CO. Holopaw Ural, FL. Moto Italia, IL. Ural of New England, MA. More Than Motorcycles, MD. Cumberland Choppers, ME. Leos South, MN. Xtreme Machines, NJ. Outdoor Motorsports, SD. St. Croix HD & Ural, WI. Ural USA.
Ruff, rugged and dependable…
Ruskies make a hell of an old bike.
Boss Hawg
Call me wierd…..but I have always thought they were cool and secrertly wanted one. They represent history and a part of our motorcycling past that is becoming harder to connect with. URAL, like the Royal Enfiend bikes are just utilitarian bikes that have managed to remain unmolested through the decades until now…..and that’s a good thing.
-Darin
Darin , you asked for it, your weird. I understand the history factor , but that’s not enough to justify a purchase of a motorcycle like this. if i wanted a utility bike id go by a 4 stroke enduro bike and modify it accordingly. History isnt a good enough reason to buy a Harley either, thats more about the sound, the connection you get with your bike, the rythm that is more like a heartbeat than specifically timed mechanical workings… not about lame ass heritage. but then again this is all coming from a person who has named every one of his vehicles…. so I guess I’m weird too
Ah, but mine has the old drum brakes, and the Machine Gun. The mounts have been rare as hen’s teeth – until now. Hope they’ll sell it separately.
Yeah, I agree. They are cool. I want one.
As cool as a Russian doll (girl)
I’ve owned a couple. Huge amount of fun.
I rode one back and forth to work for a year about fifteen years ago. I only lived three miles away and I didn’t have to get on the highway. It was stupid fun, always got me there, and never broke. The AK47 of sidecars.
I have the old 650 version with the drum brakes and truthfully, it’s the funnest bike I’ve got.
I’ve wanted an Ural for a long time. Simply because they look like the old BMW’s and that style just tickles all the right buttons. It’d also be great for zipping around town pretending I’m Indiana Jones trying to escape from Nazi troops.
I’d kill to have one and a 50’s era army jeep in my garage.
Yes I know I’m weird.
Another secret admirer 🙂 The live axle ones have amazing traction in snow, and they just look so darn cool. Yeah, one of these plus a CJ-2A Jeep would be nice!
The Russians living around the Ural Mountain used the Urals with a sidecar, to haul hay,go in to inaccessible areas , carried any tools,The Ural was a valuable farm implement.
Don ‘t ride in the sidecar, the chain is flying by your left ear and you can’t hear a thing over that
straining engine.. I sold them when they were first imported.We ended up calling them Urinials
I love the whole retro look of them, it looks like a reaal motorcycle instead of a sea-doo with wheels….any bike not covered in gobs of angled plastic like the modern stuff is okay in my book.
Whuh??? Which chain are you talking about, Dude(ith)? The one you’re trying to yank? These beasts are shaft drive. Always have been.
Interesting posts. CafeSportyTC…bud, you need to go back to school. I didn’t find anything weird about the things some of you guys would like to have. Not at all. The earlier Urals that were imported to the U.S. were anything but reliable. The electrics were terrible and it was a real plus for the rider to be mechanically inclined. Ride, wrench, ride. Many improvements have been made since then…mostly from the oursourced suppliers. Innovation came hard in the USSR. If at first you don’t succeed…well, you didn’t get a second chance. Once all the bugs were sorted out, the bikes were tough old workhorses indeed.
I want one.
I had an early 650 with drum brakes. One day a large dog jumped out in front of me and I had to grab a handful. I knew it was going to pull hard in one direction when I slammed the brakes, but in the moment I forgot which direction that was going to be and braced myself the wrong way. I came to a stop completely crossways in the road almost falling off the seat and landing in the sidecar. I got my balance but then the ungrateful dog started growling and crouching to attack. The bad situation was getting worse. I tried to make a quick getaway but found myself on quite possibly the slowest bike ever made swerving around trying to keep that dog off of me. I’d recommend a small pepper spray holder or a tire checker for the handlebars. Maybe the new 750s are a little faster.
I met the guy that owns Ural at ihe Indy M/C expo a few years ago. He is a motorhead like us.
They shouldn’t pull any direction if the brakes are set up correctly. And once you have them jetted correctly they are fast enough. There’s a variety of different gear ratios available to make them as fast as they need to be depending on the terrain. The largest problem with them really is the lack of good dealers who keep a large stock of simple items such as cables, rubber carburetor boots, etc. They are like owning an old Indian. When you buy regularely replaced parts, you need to buy several so they are on hand.
The M-72 which later became the Ural and/or the DNPR- were based on the BMW R 71 for which Stalin was given tooling etc as part of the (short lived) non aggression pact he made with Hitler & Germany. Russia was given technology, Germany received raw materials.
The R 75 was an OHV boxer twin, The Russian M-72 boxer twin was a side-valve- same as the R 71- through out the war.
The Chinese knocked it off with their Ching Chang, even H-D knocked it off with the XA model.
If their was an R 75 influence, it was long after the war was over.
my 2 cents.
very cool nice bike
They are just an OD Retro without all the chrome ….. but I do love my Retro, they handle much better than the off-road versions, do a good job on dirt roads and have a old look all their own. I do like the change away from the previous Piaggo front end and the addition of the lower front fender.