The Ural M-61 was a transitional machine. Built at Irbit from 1957 to 1963, it used the chassis of the wartime M-72 but replaced the old engine with a new 650 cc unit, and the frame was lightened while the front fork and the suspension travel were revised.
Ural M-61 at a glance
| Maker | Irbit Motorcycle Factory (IMZ), Irbit |
|---|---|
| Production | 1957–1963 |
| Predecessor | IMZ M-72 |
| Successor | Ural M-62 |
| Engine | 649 cc air-cooled two-cylinder boxer, four-stroke |
| Chassis | carried over from the M-72 |
| Front fork | new design, longer travel |
| Rear suspension | longer travel |
| Frame | lightened |
| Built alongside | the M-62 from 1961 |
There is no separate Wikipedia article for the M-61; the model is described in the model list of the Russian article on Ural motorcycles.
History of the Ural M-61
A new engine for an old chassis
The M-61 appeared in 1957 as the factory’s answer to the need for more power. The M-72 had been in production since the war and its chassis was well known, so the engineers kept it and fitted a new 650 cc engine in place of the older unit, lengthened the travel of the front and rear suspension, designed a new front fork and made the frame lighter.
Into the 650 cc era
The M-61 was the first of a long family of 650 cc Urals. From 1961 it was built in parallel with its successor, the M-62, which brought a new gearbox, automatic ignition advance and further changes to the suspension. The M-61 left production in 1963, by which time the 650 cc engine had become the standard power unit at Irbit.
Design and features
- 650 cc boxer twin: the engine that replaced the wartime unit and defined the Ural for the next three decades.
- M-72 chassis: a proven frame and sidecar layout, lightened for the new model.
- New front fork: longer travel for rougher roads.
- Transitional model: the bridge between the M-72 and the M-62.
Ural M-61 versions
- M-61 (1957–1963): the standard sidecar motorcycle.
- M-61K: a cross-competition version listed among the factory’s sporting models.
The M-61 replaced the M-72 and was followed by the M-62; the whole 650 cc family is described on the Ural 650 page. More machines are in the Ural collection.
Video: Ural M 61
Video by jan nowak on YouTube.
Sources
- Урал (мотоцикл), Russian Wikipedia: M-61 dates and changes
- IMZ-Ural, English Wikipedia: factory history
