Urals

[kingoffleece]

https://www.amazon.com/Driving-Sidecar-Outfit-David-Hough/dp/B001PQFI9G

\If you're new to sidecars, this may well save your life.  I've seen firsthand what can happen during a turn when the operator has almost no experience.
Not pretty for the widow.

[Clifton]

It's said that at the end of WWII, whole German factories were
loaded on rail cars and shipped back to the Soviet Union.

The BMW motorcycle factory in 1939 was located in Berlin-Spandau.
Does anyone know if that factory or it's tooling was shipped to the
Soviet Union?

They were being manufactured in the USSR in 1941.

[Clifton]

 I've seen firsthand what can happen during a turn when the operator has almost no experience.
Not pretty for the widow.

Something like this? :)

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1550378176212637

[Stretch]

Right - Urals were being produced in the USSR in 1941.

But did the Russkis steal the BMW motorcycle factory AFTER WWII as well?


                                                                 -Stretch

[Moparnut72]

Might have been part of war reparations. Who knows?
kk

[bigbikerrick]

I bought a  2012 ural Gear up 5 years ago, around when Dave Swanson got his. I have put about 8K km on it and its been very reliable. Its a carburated model,and I like that simplicity. I re jetted it when I first got it,and have not had to touch the carbs.  I bought mine used, with 7K KM on it. Its my "go to" bike to run errands, go to the store, etc.  Its happy at 55-60 mph cruising speed. The bike is super easy to do maintenance on, and overall  I have been happy with mine, although I have a 98 V 11 EV sidecar rig for highways, where higher speeds are needed.
 Rick

[Dave Swanson]

Right - Urals were being produced in the USSR in 1941.

But did the Russians steal the BMW motorcycle factory AFTER WWII as well?


                                                                 -Stretch

No "steal" involved.

In the early days of WW2 Germany and Russia were allies of course.  In August 1939 Germany and Russia signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop non aggression pact.  This pact enabled Russia to acquire German technology which included the BMW R71.  The R71 was then reverse engineered into the M72.  The M72 became the forerunner to what ultimately became Ural.  This production was located in Moscow until the Germans invaded, and was moved east to Irbit Siberia to protect production for the war.  The Irbit plant still operates today.  At this time it is only producing frames and sheetmetal components, currently not many of those.   

[Dave Swanson]

I bought a  2012 ural Gear up 5 years ago, around when Dave Swanson got his. I have put about 8K km on it and its been very reliable. Its a carburated model,and I like that simplicity. I re jetted it when I first got it,and have not had to touch the carbs.  I bought mine used, with 7K KM on it. Its my "go to" bike to run errands, go to the store, etc.  Its happy at 55-60 mph cruising speed. The bike is super easy to do maintenance on, and overall  I have been happy with mine, although I have a 98 V 11 EV sidecar rig for highways, where higher speeds are needed.
 Rick

Still love my 2012.  It has been completely reliable.  Those late carb Urals are a sweet spot.