Evolution of BMW R71

[arvo92]

Noticed that Ural sidecart in Narva, Estonia.

As wikipedia says: In 1940, the Soviet Union acquired the design and production techniques for BMW R 71 motorcycles and sidecars. The first M-72 model was finished in 1941.

The thing itself was a true beauty, lots of shiny chrome and classic look.

As Soviets never really developed things further, these bikes were produced with slight modifications for decades. So there you go, a true BMW

[nhmaf]

These URals are fairly popular here in the northeast part of the United States - with our long winters, a number of riders enjoy using these in the late autumn and early spring when there is still alot of snow and mud on the roads.    They are pretty reliable now adays, as long as you don't try to make them go faster than about 100 kph for any long periods.

[Tony Smith]

Out of curiosity I recently investigated importing a Chinese Chiang Jang outfit, which is a photocopy of a R71 but made in China.
 
The price was right,but my State's registration authority were fairly blunt in their assessment of the prospects of getting it registered here. Not impossible but "difficult".
 
I lost interest after I visited the local Ural dealer and took one for a test ride. With supposedly 50 years of engineering improvement, the addition of fuel injection and disc brakes, and a price tag approaching $20,000 Pacific pesos the thing was so bad to ride that by derivation I imagined what the Chinese copy of an earlier version might be like and decided to forget the whole thing.

[arvo92]

I will put my money that these are great to drive in roadless areas which early motorcycles produced for wartime had to do. As the saying goes for soviet cars - if you take them onto a paved and straight road, the nuts and bolts are not shaking enough therefore will wear out on one edge and collapse.

My friend had one of these produced in late 70's. I remember the thrill of taking it to the forest roads and slowly cruising along with a second gear. Nice torque and sound. But heck - my R65 does the same for me now! And that Ural did not manage to get above 80 km/h (55mph), which means that it was slower than traffic flow and pain to drive even on that speed.

[nhmaf]

You *Really* don't want to own a CJ, unless you really do enjoy wrenching on motorcycles, frequently.   And here in the states, it is also difficult (or in some cases impossible) to register a CJ for on-road usage.    Some have been titled and registered in other states, which then gets your foot in the bureaucratic door, so to speak, and can facilitate the process.   But, the new Urals are handled just as any other new motorcycle.    They still keep to their "traditional" feel, though - still, I could possibly consider owning one for the occasional romp, but I certainly wouldn't pay the prices they are asking now for a new one

[davidpdx]

I have seen a few of the CJ BMW copies at bike shows. The heads look like they are sand cast and the overall fit and finish leave a lot to be desired. If they were dirt cheap it might be fun but you would have work on it a lot.  d