The sidecar is not an accessory for a Ural, it is the reason the motorcycle exists. Since the wartime M-72 the Irbit factory has built sidecar outfits for the army and for civilian buyers, and most Urals are still sold with the third wheel attached.
Ural sidecar at a glance
| Maker | IMZ-Ural, Irbit |
|---|---|
| Since | the M-72 of 1941 |
| Layout | sidecar on the right of the motorcycle |
| Seats | rider plus two in the sidecar |
| Sidecar drive | on-demand, without a differential |
| Two-wheel-drive models | Gear Up, Patrol, Tourist 2WD |
| Drive to the sidecar | CV driveshaft from the rear drive hub |
| Frame | tubular, with rigid mountings for the sidecar |
| Market | most Urals are sold with a sidecar |
This page describes the sidecar layout rather than a single model; there is no separate Wikipedia article on the Ural sidecar.
History of the Ural sidecar
From the M-72 onwards
The sidecar arrived with the M-72, the copy of the BMW R71 built for the Red Army from 1941. Reconnaissance units needed a machine that could carry a passenger and equipment, and the outfit did that with a simple, robust frame. The same principle has stayed with the marque ever since: a heavy tubular frame, a sidecar on the right and a motorcycle that can be ridden alone only in the solo versions.
Driving the third wheel
Some Urals can drive the sidecar wheel. The drive is on demand and has no differential, so it is engaged only on loose ground, where a locked connection between the rear and sidecar wheels helps. In the modern Gear Up the sidecar wheel is powered through a CV driveshaft connected to the rear drive hub. The factory notes that in most cases the Ural is used with the sidecar, which is why the outfit, not the solo motorcycle, is the standard product.
Design and features
- Three seats: a rider and two passengers, with luggage space behind.
- On-demand sidecar drive: a driven third wheel on the two-wheel-drive models, without a differential.
- Simple frame: a tubular frame with rigid sidecar mountings that can be repaired anywhere.
- Export appeal: the outfit is the version sold in the United States, Europe and Australia.
Ural sidecar versions
- Gear Up: the modern two-wheel-drive outfit.
- Patrol: the chromed two-wheel-drive outfit.
- Tourist 2WD: the touring outfit with a driven sidecar wheel.
- Troyka: the three-seat touring outfit.
The sidecar story starts with the M-72; the driven third wheel is best known from the Gear Up and the 750 cc range. More machines are in the Ural collection.
Video: URAL Sidecar Outdoor Adventure — Finnskogen, Norway
Video by Motorradreise.TV on YouTube.
Sources
- IMZ-Ural, English Wikipedia: sidecar layout, two-wheel drive, markets
- Урал (мотоцикл), Russian Wikipedia: sidecar drive without differential, models
