The Ural heavy motorcycle, whose technical characteristics repeat the basic parameters of the M-72 predecessor, is the last of the Soviet-era three-wheeled motor vehicle class. It is produced at IMZ (Irbitsky motorcycle plant), which is located in the Sverdlovsk region. Almost all Ural motorcycle models are designed for use with a sidecar. Some modifications are equipped with a rotatable wheel drive. The drive is differential, direct, borrowed from the German counterpart BMW R71, a heavy motorcycle.
Models
Currently, the Ural motorcycle (the technical characteristics of the machine allow making structural changes in a wide range) is made under the brands of Tourist, Retro, Patrol 2WD, Ural-T and Gear-UP. All models are available with a detachable stroller. Also, the plant assembled cars in a two-wheeled version, without strollers: "Solo ST" and "Retro Solo".
All Ural motorcycles are equipped with four-stroke, twin-cylinder , box- type opposed engines with air cooling. Motor power is 40 liters. from. with a cylinder displacement of 745 cm3 The Ural motorcycle gearbox is four-speed with reverse gear. All changes are synchronized, gear ratios are selected taking into account off-road driving. First gear is designed for slow motion with load. The rotation of the engine crankshaft is transmitted to the drive wheel by means of a cardan mechanism.
Sales
The Ural motorcycle, whose technical characteristics speak of its reliability, is mainly sent abroad. Export of cars is about 97% of the total number of manufactured models. The main buyers of heavy motorcycles are the EU countries, Canada, the USA and Australia. The market of Russia and the countries of the former USSR receives no more than 3-4 percent of all production.
Recently, the plant’s capacity IMZ managed to significantly expand. 20% more motorcycles began to roll off the assembly line, technical specifications improved, the reliability of the structure increased, and, accordingly, the service life increased. The ignition of the Ural motorcycle has been modernized - the conventional contact has been replaced by electronic contactless. Thanks to this, the engine began to work more smoothly, fuel consumption decreased.
Export Units
The changes also affected the picking of Ural motorcycles. In 2011, when assembling machines began to use units of foreign production, and soon the use of imported components became widespread. Motorcycle assembly routines today include: Italian-made front axle Marzocchi, Brembo disc brakes from Italy, German Sachs shock absorbers, gearbox bearings from Sweden, Japanese Keihin carburetors, ELECTREX electrical equipment from the USA, SEMPERIT flexible pipelines manufactured by an Austrian company, and Taiwan rubber seals.
Prospects
The Ural motorcycle, the technical characteristics of which are the best suited for Russian production, is not in demand in Russia because of its high cost - from 250 to 320 thousand rubles, as well as an extremely conservative design that has not changed for decades. A high price is formed due to the use of imported components and insufficient production volume for normal market conditions.
The Irbit motorcycle factory manages to survive through supplies to the United States, where, thanks to a well-organized dealer team, about seven hundred motorcycles are sold per year. In Russia, only 20 cars are sold per year. In 2011, IMZ celebrated its 70th anniversary. In honor of the anniversary, the plant released two new models: Sidecar M70 and Solo M70.