[alienbogey]

I love that bike!! It looks super cool! Please tell me about it. I absolutely love the paint job. :wub:

It's a Ural M70 Retro, a sort of off-the-menu package from Ural. When we started Ural shopping last year we travelled down to the Portland, Oregon (USA) dealer because he had it in stock. He said he has a soft spot for the package/paint job, and after we bought it he was trying to decide whether to order another.

It comes with the BMW-style paint job, obviously, with hand done pin striping, as well as fancier sidecar appointments, tank mounted reverse shifter, etc. We asked him to leave off the Ural tank badges so we could confuse other motorcyclists.

The people it fools the most are people with a pretty fair knowledge of old BMW's. Typical is a guy who came in to a restaurant and asked around for the owner of the rig. When he'd tracked me down he said, "I first thought that was the best /2 restoration I'd ever seen, then I saw the disc brakes and thought, well, understandable, then I saw the fuel injection and had to find out what the heck it was."

 

[George Spencer]

I've been paying a lot of attention to the M70 but I've never seen a black one like that with the pin striping. Very nice! I really like the front fender and the teardrop tank on the M70.

The Ural salesman told me that on the highway the one-wheel-drive Ural is easier to handle than a two-wheel-drive Ural because the sidecar on the one-wheel-drive is five inches closer to the front of the bike.

I've got plenty of time to figure all of this out because I don't plan to do anything for a while.

Anyway, I love your bike!

 

[Mr. Lee]

So a two wheeled drive Ural refers to the rear motorcycle wheel + sidecar wheel?

 

[Karamazov]

The Ural salesman told me that on the highway the one-wheel-drive Ural is easier to handle than a two-wheel-drive Ural because the sidecar on the one-wheel-drive is five inches closer to the front of the bike.

Highway... Only a salesman Unless they've changed, stock Urals top out around 55 or 60mph. It's a backroads bike.

 

[alienbogey]

There are two families, if you will, of Urals, and they're actually quite different.

The two wheel drive family (which actually includes a one wheel drive model, the CT) is built more for primitive or off road travel. The bike and sidecar chassis are higher for greater ground clearance, and the hack wheel is in line with the motorcycle's rear wheel because the driveshaft to the hack comes directly off the rear axle. It also has an Earle's style front fork, different gas tank, and other differences including a stiffer, more off-road ride. Because of the higher c.g. and geometry of the 3 wheels it is less inherently stable than the M70, and thus perhaps should be driven with more caution at higher speeds. (Higher speeds for a Ural, of course )

The M70 chassis is the one that copied the old BMW, and it's sits lower, wider, and the hack wheel is forward of the motorcycle rear wheel, which results in an inherently more stable triangle. It has standard front forks, a different gas tank, and other differences, and the result with the lower cg, wider track, hack wheel position is a more stable, softer ride more oriented towards the highway.

The user manual states that the top speed is 70mph. It will do that and the rig still feels stable, but it does feel like you're flogging the engine way too hard. If I'm in a hurry (which you shouldn't be on a Ural) I'll do 65, but we run much more comfortably at 55-60, which it will do all day. Yes, it's a backroads bike, but occasionally we have no choice but to get on a freeway, where we sit in the slow lane at 60 until we can get off.

So, the salesman is pretty much right from the standpoint of the M70 being better on the highway than the two wheel drive and CT models. That said, IMO the bike's engine starts getting abused to go faster than 60, and the manual itself says 70 max.

There is a LONG thread at ADVrider called "Why You Shouldn't Buy a Ural" which, in fact, helped convince us to buy a Ural.

I didn't mean to turn this into a Ural thread, and would refer anyone to Soviet Steeds for tons of info, and I'll close by saying we've had ours for a year, have had one part replaced under warranty with no fuss or cost, and have been very happy with it.

 

[George Spencer]

I didn't mean to turn this into a Ural thread, and would refer anyone to Soviet Steeds for tons of info, and I'll close by saying we've had ours for a year, have had one part replaced under warranty with no fuss or cost, and have been very happy with it.

Turning this into a Ural thread is not a problem. Thanks for the information. I will definitely visit Soviet Steeds.

Karamazov, I know that a Ural is slow . . . but I'm getting old and don't move so fast myself. :blush: I am looking for a bike that will go down a 55 mph back road and/or an occasional dirt road. And something that will stay upright at a stop light. :dizzy:

 

[drotor]

And something that will stay upright at a stop light. :dizzy:

Any reason you aren't considering a three-wheeler?



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[Karamazov]

Turning this into a Ural thread is not a problem. Thanks for the information. I will definitely visit Soviet Steeds.

Karamazov, I know that a Ural is slow . . . but I'm getting old and don't move so fast myself. :blush: I am looking for a bike that will go down a 55 mph back road and/or an occasional dirt road. And something that will stay upright at a stop light. :dizzy:

I hope you don't think I was suggesting there's anything wrong with a machine that is limited to 60mph. I think Urals are awesome and would love to have one in my stable. I just found the salesman's suggestion that it was better on the highway funny. That's kinda like telling someone a spoon is better at digging a ditch than a fork.


Anyhoo. Hope you find what works for you. As much as I love the Urals for their charm, I'm with @drotor on the three-wheelers. My father is in his seventies now, and I've been trying to sell him on an Piaggio MP3 or having his Ultra Classic converted by Tilting Motorworks. It's all about the lean


Tilting Motor Works - High-performance trike kit for your Harley® or Gold Wing

 

[George Spencer]

Any reason you aren't considering a three-wheeler?

A three wheeler . . . as opposed to a sidecar . . . just doesn't interest me. There isn't anything wrong with three wheeler motorcycles. A Can-Am is a good looking bike but they just don't do it for me. On the other hand, a sidecar rig is fascinating to me because it is out of the ordinary in an interesting way.

A factory setup BMW with a sidecar would be great. And that is the reason that I started this thread. Years ago BMW built sidecar rigs but they gave it up. In the 40's Ural copied BMW and Urals are still in production.

It just seems to me that with the present emphasis on retro motorcycles that someone - in addition to Ural -would come out with a factory sidecar rig. I would ride a Triumph with a sidecar. A Royal Enfield with a sidecar would be cool. I might even consider a Harley with a sidecar.

However, it looks like the only turnkey sidecar rig is from Ural.

 

[rodhotter]

sidecars are a whole new world!! newest urals are decent at best but way underpowered with less than good reliability!! mounting a "chair" on some bikes like a Triumph with lots of exposed framework is easier + cheaper. many bikes require a proper subframe under the "tug" for proper safe mounting. on the advrider.com/ hacks there are many bmw powered rigs racking up the miles, + obviously a torquier engine + good rebiality is a plus. i thought about a ural but would sooner ride although i enjoy wrenching, waiting on parts is no fun. the 2WD is like a locked differential can only be used offroad in low traction as it will put you in a ditch quickly. there are a few reputable builders + installers in the USA + i am luckily close to FreedomSidecars, in middleburg PA Claude the owner is a great guy + can do it ALL!!! custom built cars or simple installs, also lots of good advice + parts to install whatever on anything, an honest + fair shop for sure.

 

[GY1616]

Based on the pricing in the current 9T accessory line - I think you could have one custom made cheaper than OEM anyway There are side car specialists stateside who have lots of experience with BMWs, send a few inquiries. Here's a company in Germany making hacks for the 9T to give you an idea:


BMW RnineT mit dem Seitenwagen Meteor Motorradgespanne

I have emailed this company twice now. No reply... Maybe they don't do English. Does anyone know if you can import this to the U.S.? And the approximate cost?

 

[Mr. Lee]

I have emailed this company twice now. No reply... Maybe they don't do English. Does anyone know if you can import this to the U.S.? And the approximate cost?

Here is the email reply I got back from them on 05/17/16. Hope your German is better then mine. :laugh2:

Dear Mr. Lee,
thank you very much for your inquiry.
Here is our offer. For more information please have a look at our website Motorrad-Gespannbau - Wir bauen Ihnen Ihr Motorrad-Seitenwagen-Gespann nach Ihren Wünschen .
Greetings

Elsbeth Müller

Fa. Mueller-Gespanne
Ellerueher Weg 2-4
24398 Brodersby
Germany
Tel: 0049(0)4644-893
Fax: 0049(0)4644-1493
E-Mail: [email protected]
Motorrad-Gespannbau - Wir bauen Ihnen Ihr Motorrad-Seitenwagen-Gespann nach Ihren Wünschen

 

[edge130]

Met someone with a Ural m/c with sidecar over the summer.
The Ural is 2 wheel drive ( rear wheel and sidecar wheel)
Told me it was very difficult to control, you get a work out.
Made in Russia

 

[afmuir]

BMW Motorad in Edinburgh


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[rodhotter]

a nice rig for sure, factory setups on a special order basis would be great, but prolly out of my budget until preowned. with many higher mile boxer engines reliability is pretty good it seems. as i noted freedom sidecars in middleburg pa does it all + has customers from distances that want it done correctly + claude is well known on advriders doing BMW rigs as well as others. be can build a chair from scratch from steel or aluminum for whatever bike you own.

 

[Mr. Lee]

a nice rig for sure, factory setups on a special order basis would be great, but prolly out of my budget until preowned. with many higher mile boxer engines reliability is pretty good it seems. as i noted freedom sidecars in middleburg pa does it all + has customers from distances that want it done correctly + claude is well known on advriders doing BMW rigs as well as others. be can build a chair from scratch from steel or aluminum for whatever bike you own.

How much does a sidecar like that cost when purchased from within the US?

Is the sidecar fixed or can it lean with the bike?

 

[invjscott]

Done 2000 plus miles with the rig mounted so far. Happy to answer questions.

 

[Mr. Lee]

Done 2000 plus miles with the rig mounted so far. Happy to answer questions. View attachment 125845

How much did it cost?
Can the bike lean or is the sidecar fixed?
How well does it ride?

 

[Oz Dan]

Sidecars have their place once the rider gets to a point where they still want to, and still can ride, but they feel the need for some extra stability. What would look really wrong is to turn one of these bikes into a trike!

 

[Mr. Lee]

It's good we all agree to draw the line at trikes! Lol

When I'm too old to ride, I'll be in a sidecar. If I'm lucky one of my daughters will be driving me around in it. The dog can't have all the fun!