How the Ural motorcycle became a national treasure (21 photos)

Greetings to all classics lovers!

Let's go back to the beginning of the last century and see how the best motorcycle of the Soviet era appeared - the Ural. What was happening in our country and all over the world, why was there a need to create such equipment? How did its production bring the USSR motorcycle industry to a new technological level?

The history of the Ural motorcycle is an interesting stage in the development of motorcycle construction.

So, let's begin.

Where it all started

In 1939, the Second World War began, and all European states began to prepare to defend their borders. Our country also made every effort to modernize the army. The likelihood of an attack on the USSR was high. The threat from Germany grew from the west, from Japan from the east.

Therefore, in complete secrecy, we began to create new types of weapons - tanks, airplanes, missile and artillery installations, armored vehicles, small arms.

And in 1940, it was decided that it was necessary to launch production of a simple and reliable motorcycle, which would become the basis of motorized rifle units of the USSR armed forces.

[edit] Notes

1. Whoops! This device has a little less than nothing to do with the Ural. This is the device of the Kyiv Motor Plant K-750, popularly known as “Cacique”.
2. The motorcycle is notable for the fact that the spokes in its wheels are almost as big as six rows. The authors of this device, the Orechovo Custom Art workshop, at one time the most original craftsmen in this country, specializing only in remaking Urals, have now slipped into ug, using japas and horleys as donors. Google proofs by the name of the device.
3. The original sequence of achieving enlightenment: Ural 650ka-japochopper-japoindura-golda-horley-new Ural
4. The login-password pair corresponded to the profile name for a long time, and on all admin resources
5. The photo shows an epic MV-750 shitty vehicle with a cradle drive and a differential lock in a racially correct military configuration, which is hinted at by the blackout on the headlight, the fastening of the canisters and, most importantly, the machine-gun turret on the sidecar. Quite a technique for hitting cows, yeah. Only this cart was produced in the independent city of Kiev, so the picture relates to the Urals only indirectly.

Difficult but right choice

From many variants of American, English, German and Soviet motorcycles, the best samples were selected and compared. The most suitable and promising, taking into account our climatic conditions and off-road conditions, turned out to be the powerful BMW R71 motorcycle, which was equipped with German troops from 1938 to 1941. He became the progenitor of the modern Urals. This choice was so successful that for many years it met all the requirements and demands of military equipment, and then became an indispensable assistant in civilian life.

[edit] Gallery

The conveyor started working

Initially, its production was launched under the M-72 brand. Several factories across the country were simultaneously involved: in Moscow, Kyiv, Gorky, Leningrad.

In June 1941, five samples of the M-72 were manufactured in Moscow, three of which were tested to determine how reliable and durable the motorcycle was in different weather and road conditions. The result of the work was satisfactory and the motorcycle assembly was put on the assembly line.

After the outbreak of the Second World War in the fall of 1941, production was moved from Moscow to the Urals to the city of Irbit. And already in February 1942, the first echelon of cars with the M-72 went to the front.

For a long time, Irbit motorcycles had the letter designation IMZ M-72. And in 1957, the next model M-61 was called “Irbit”. And only since 1961, the updated M-62 model received the Ural marking.

Modern trends in Ural motorcycles

Modern specimens are used more for tourism, by rural residents, and bikers from the Urals. After a little modification the bikes turn out to be quite good. This technique is very popular in the West. And after they began to be equipped with imported parts, sales abroad increased significantly.

Therefore, the lion's share of such motorcycles produced now is exported. At the moment, the manufacturer produces the Ural motorcycle of several modifications, each of which has its own “zest”:

• The tourist is a classic of the genre. A reliable and time-tested specimen, which exhibits all the best qualities of previous modifications. More popular among residents of rural areas for its performance and ease of use. As already mentioned, the reliability of the equipment is supported by the presence of many imported parts such as well-known ones, “DENSO”, “Sachs”;
• Tourist T is a modified version of the previous generation, aimed at long-term travel. Capable of carrying up to 280 kg of passengers and cargo. Outside the highway, all-wheel drive provides good cross-country ability. Abroad, the Ural motorcycle is one of the most inexpensive and popular models sold;
• Wolf is an option more aimed at fans of American choppers. Real members of the Night Wolves biker club helped develop this model. It has an extended wheelbase, excellent acceleration dynamics and a maximum speed of up to 150 km/h. The modern appearance of the model provides it with stable consumer demand;
• Solo is a single road bike that has already become a classic in this segment. It is more designed for highway driving and is in deserved demand among lovers of such entertainment. The chrome-plated gas tank and roll bars give it an unforgettable appearance. Stylized to resemble motorcycles from the middle of the last century;
• Sportsman - in 2006, the plant began producing a sports version of an all-wheel drive bike. The model was aimed at young people; one of the improvements was a switchable wheel drive on the side stroller. The modified stroller makes this model desirable for hunters, fishermen and simply lovers of outdoor activities. It has a roll bar, a large rear trunk and a windshield that protects from wind and oncoming splashes;
• Retro - modern Ural, stylized as models of past years. The stylized gear shift knob on the gas tank gives this model a special chic. Antique lovers love this model;
• Yamal . The model was released in honor of the famous icebreaker and is made in its colors. Symbolizes the reliability and maneuverability of the famous icebreaker. Released in limited edition.

Let's compare R71 and M72

The table shows that the technical capabilities of the BMW R71 were slightly superior to those of the M-72. This is due to the fact that German machines had high precision in the manufacture of parts, and workers had years of experience in assembling motor vehicles. Therefore, the BMW R71 was more reliable, more economical, and also had less weight and was easier to handle. The BMW R71 without a sidecar had all these advantages and drove on paved roads.

Point X - mid-70s

— When I was in Japan, I visited their motorcycle museum. So, it’s very clear how they have dramatically rushed forward since the mid-70s. And at that time we just slowed down. We were severely limited in new materials. If capitalists were already making titanium frames, then we couldn’t even dream about it,” says Nikolai Volozhanin (but the world’s largest titanium production enterprise, VSMPO-Avisma, is located in the Sverdlovsk region, in Verkhnyaya Salda. – Note. “ OG").

The Sverdlovsk people slowed down not because they lacked technical ideas. They were - and what kind of ones! But at that time there were no motorcycles with sidecars for free sale; the demand for them greatly outstripped the supply. Probably, someone at the top thought that in this situation there was no point in spending money and resources on modernization. A typical example is the fate of the best motorcycle from the Irbit plant, M-73. For 1980, when it was created, it was an advanced development.

“I tested this motorcycle myself,” says Alexander Bulanov. — Amazing car: powerful 750 cc engine, electric start, hydraulic brakes. More than a dozen original inventions were obtained by the plant’s specialists when creating this model. We tested it and got the go-ahead for mass production. But to release a new product for the first five years, 4.8 million rubles were required. The plant never received them, although it generated a net profit of more than 20 million rubles annually. M-73 never went into production...

Irbitsk residents issued the millionth motorcycle in 1975, the two millionth in 1985, and the three millionth in 1993. The largest number of motorcycles - 131 thousand - was produced in 1992. Then there was a decline in production: 1993 - 121 thousand, 1994 - 68,700, 1995 - only 11,700. Why did this happen?

“The main reason is that there is no consumer,” says Nikolai Volozhanin. — When prices were lowered in the early 90s and wages fell, rural workers and residents of small towns no longer had time to buy a new motorcycle; most did not have enough money to live on.