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Ural M70 Anniversary Edition

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Make Model

Ural M70 Anniversary Edition

Year

2011

Production

50 units

Engine

Four stroke, twin flat boxer cylinders, OHV, 2 valve percylinder

Capacity

749 cc / 45.7 cub in

Bore x Stroke

78 x 78 mm

Compression Ratio

8.6:1

Cooling System

Air cooled

Induction

Twin KEIHIN L 22 AA Carburettors, 32 mm

Ignition

Electronic

Starting

Electric & kick

Spark Plug

NGK BPR6HS

Max Power

30.6 kW / 41 hp @ 5500 rpm

Max Torque

56.9 Nm / 5.8 kgf-m / 42 ft-lbs @ 4300 rpm

Clutch

Dry, double disc

Transmission 

4 speed with reverse

Final Drive

Shaft

Sidecar drive

Engageable, shaft

Final Drive Ratio

4.62:1

Front Suspension

Leading link w/Sachs hydraulic shock absorbers

Rear Suspension

Sachs hydraulic shock absorbers

Sidecar Suspension

Single sided swing-arm with Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorber, 5 x adjustable

Front Wheels

Aluminium rims with spokes, 2.5 x 19

Rear Wheels

Aluminium rims with spokes, 2.5 x 19

Front Tyres

Duro HF-308, 4.0×19″

Rear Tyres

Duro HF-308, 4.0×19″

Front Brakes

Brembo with full floating disc

Rear Brake

Mechanical drum

Sidecar Brake

Mechanical drum

Dimensions

Length: 2581 mm / 101.6 in

Width:   1699 mm / 66.9 in

Height:  1100 mm / 43.3 in

Ground Clearance

150 mm / 5.9 in

Seat Height

785 mm / 30.9 in

Dry Weight

335 kg / 739 lbs

Max Permissible Weight

601 kg / 1325 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

18.9 L / 5.0 US gal

Fuel Reserve

3.8 L / 1.0 US gal

Consumption Average

6.7 L/100km / 14.9 km/l / 35 US mpg

Colours

Brown
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If a motorcycle could be judged solely by its ability to attract attention, then the Ural M70 Anniversary Edition is one of the coolest and most captivating rides on the road. This sidehack is motorcycling’s equivalent of the Death Star: It has its very own brand of tractor beam (Russian, we presume!) that sucks men, women and children out of their cars, out of stores and off sidewalks to check it out.

Of course, comparing the $13,599 M70 to anything that futuristic is like comparing a sword to a light saber.

A brief history lesson: In 1939, the Russians knew that war with Germany was imminent, so Stalin ordered his military to prepare. Key to the ground war were motorcycles, particularly those with a sidecar, since they could carry up to three soldiers and a variety of gear.

BMW’s R71 outfit was the perfect fit, but that design belonged to the Third Reich. According to Ural, one of two scenarios took place: Either the Red Army purchased five R71s from the black market and reverse engineered them to create the Ural M-72, or Germany supplied the blueprints and casting molds in an exchange of technology in friendlier times. Either way, the original Urals were exact copies of the BMW

Although the air-cooled, 749cc flat-Twin remains essentially the same pre-WWII design, improvements such as Keihin carbs and electronic ignition bring it, well, not exactly up to date, but much closer to modernish. The same goes for contemporary components like a Marzocchi fork, Sachs shocks, aluminum rims and a Brembo front brake. Beyond those improvements, you are looking at essentially a 70-year-old evolution of the original.

As much as those items improve reliability and functionality, the riding experience probably hasn’t changed much. Despite the inherently odd dynamics of a sidecar (steers like a car and wiggles like a crab), the Ural is massively entertaining and enjoyable to ride. The fact that staffers—usually spoiled by 190-horsepower sportbikes, six-cylinder luxury liners and seamless high-tech commuters—literally begged to take the Ural for a ride says a lot about its charm. So far, we’ve chauffeured a pregnant wife, art directors, lots of kids and even some dogs…

Source: Cycle World