Irbitsky Motozikletny Zavod

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Ural Cross Tourist, built in 2010

The Irbitski Motozikletny Sawod ( Russian Ирбитский мотоциклетный завод ; Irbiter Motorradwerk; abbreviated IMZ after the English transcription Irbitsky Mototsikletny Zavod ) is the production site of motorcycles in Irbit in the Russian Oblast of Sverdlovsk . The Ural brand motorcycles produced there are named after the Ural Mountains , in the southern part of which Irbit is located.

Company history

Beginnings

In joint maneuvers with the German Wehrmacht before the start of World War II which was Red Army on the German BMW R-71 - Motorcycle sidecars attention (produced 1938-1941), which were equipped with a machine gun and the Behördenbeiwagen TR500 and because of their speed and maneuverability. At that time, the Soviet Ministry of Defense was discussing the purchase of new vehicles. After a long discussion it was decided to build the R-71 in their own country. Even before the war, the Soviet military had bought BMW boxer motorcycles, analyzed them, compared them with Harley-Davidson and then selected the BMW boxer as the vehicle to be replicated because of its better cooling properties. The production location became the safe Ural region.

How the plans got to the Soviet Union is historically not perfectly clear. A widespread version is that five copies of the BMW motorcycle were imported into the Soviet Union via neutral Sweden, where they formed the basis for Ural production via reverse engineering . It is more likely, however, that the plans came officially as part of the technology transfer from Germany to the Soviet Union, which began as a result of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact .

The M-72 was manufactured in the Irbiter motorcycle works until 1957, the M standing for "Motozikl" (Russian Мотоцикл for motorcycle). The M-72 was initially a detailed copy of the BMW R 71 . However, since this machine was unsuitable for difficult terrain, the model was continuously improved: New air filter with oil filling, higher front fender and rear fender bracket for easier opening of the fender, which made changing wheels easier. Gusset plates were also introduced on the rear shock absorber mount after the frame had broken in the field. The M-72 was equipped with a square laid out (bore x stroke 78 x 78 mm), side-valve two-cylinder four-stroke cycle - boxer engine equipped. Its maximum output was 16 kW (22 hp) at 4950 rpm. Ready for operation, the team weighed around 350 kg and could transport three people with luggage and equipment. It was used as an all-terrain vehicle by the Red Army during World War II.

From 1941, production of the sidecar motorcycles in Moscow was in full swing. In the Moscow factory 1753 motorcycles were produced before the Wehrmacht drew nearer and the factory was relocated 1200 kilometers further east to Irbit in the Ural Mountains . This eventually led to the name "Ural" for the team. In the city of Irbit another 9799 machines were manufactured during the war; by 1950 a total of 30,000 motorcycles were produced there.

1945 to 1970

After the Second World War, the two-cylinder boxer models in Irbit - as in the new Kiev Dnepr plant - were still mainly built for the military and other authorities. Due to the increasing popularity, it was decided in 1953 to export the Ural motorcycles as well. From the 1960s, the Ural plants began producing purely civilian motorcycles. The design was further developed, including the cylinder heads, the frame and the front fork, so that only the basic concept of the original R 71 was retained. In particular, the equipping of later models with engines based on the R 75 with overhead valves led to a departure from the original R-71 concept and highlighted the independence of these successor models. The production of vehicles for the military was stopped. In the meantime, the old and indestructible side valve engine with 750 cm³ was no longer built, but an in-house development with 650 cm³ and hanging valves that are operated by the camshaft mounted in the engine housing via tappets , bumpers and rocker arms . It differed from the 650 cc OHV engine of the Dnepr models . 1966 left the 500,000. Machine the plant in Irbit. The annual production at that time was 200,000 motorcycles.

1970 to 1989

From 1970 onwards, Fred Wells from London first imported the then Ural M-63 to Great Britain. From 1972 to 1979 the “Soviet American Trade Association” (SATRA) had the concession for the export of Soviet motorcycles and introduced the trade name “Cossack” in the Anglo-Saxon countries. In the German-speaking countries, however, the motorcycles from Irbit were always known under the name "Ural". In 1975 the 1,000,000th motorcycle was produced in Irbit. In 1989, 2 million machines had rolled off the production line at IMZ Ural. At peak times, around 9,000 people were employed at IMZ Ural.

1990 to 1999

In November 1992 the state-owned factory was privatized and renamed Uralmoto AG. 40 percent of the shares were allocated to the management and employees at the time, and 38 percent were largely auctioned off to management and employees in the form of privatization vouchers. 22 percent of the shares initially remained in government hands, but were later also sold to investors. Russian security forces were last supplied with Ural machines in 1999.

From model year 1998, the sidecar models are built under the designation Ranger (Gear-Up), Patrol (Sportsman), Tourist and Retro. From 1991 the solo models are called Wolf, Ural Solo and Retro Solo. All models have been using the same air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine with 745 cm³ displacement since 2008. The nominal power is 29 kW. The transmission comprises four forward gears and one reverse gear, which is shifted in neutral via a separate transmission shaft.

2000 until today

After the company belonged to a private Russian investor group from 1998 to 2000, three entrepreneurs of Russian descent living in the USA bought the factory in 2000. With the acquisition, the company was renamed "Irbit MotorWorks of America, Inc." (IMWA). The Irbiter motorcycle factory received its last major order in 2002, when the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein ordered 1,000 Ural sidecars. The gray-painted combinations were delivered with a 650 engine, electric starter and aluminum cylinder. Deliveries had to be stopped after the start of the war, the Urals that had already been delivered were largely destroyed during the war.

The new owners put in a new management. The CEO is Vladimir Kurmatschew, while Sergei Swetlowski was the chief designer. During a complete reorganization of IMWA, the factory site, which was spread over several hectares, was greatly reduced, the number of employees was reduced to around 150 today and new production technologies were introduced in some areas. This included quality control at all points in production and the purchase of components from 15 western countries. The manufacturing quality increased rapidly and there was an increasing number of new models.

Many safety-relevant components from Western countries have also been installed since model year 2008: Keihin L22AA 32 mm carburettors and Denso alternators from Japan are installed. The electronic ignition system from Ducati Energia , the handlebar fittings, cables, levers and the Brembo disc brake system on the front wheel come from Italy . From Germany to ZF Sachs -Stoßdämpfer and Duke sprockets (engine, transmission) installed. All bearings, shaft seals, screws, nuts, cables and electrical connectors on the team are also of western origin. After all these improvements, the Ural sidecars from the year of construction 2008 are considered reliable and everyday vehicles. The final drive is via cardan. The sidecar wheel drive can be activated on the Ranger and Sportsman models. However, the ratio is 1: 1 without a differential. Thus, it should only be used for driving off-road, where normal rear-wheel drive is no longer possible. A limited special model has been on the market every year since 2006.

For ecological reasons, the plant had to close its own galvanic department a few years ago.

In the last few years only 500 (2009), 800 (2010) and 900 motorcycles / sidecars (2011) were produced. The main market is the USA with 496 motorcycles. Almost as many machines are delivered to Western Europe, single copies to Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Korea. Only very few Ural teams are sold in Russia itself. In 2009 there were just 17 machines. The reason for this is that the motorcycles from Irbit are expensive by Russian standards. For example, an Ural retro team on the domestic Russian market costs 355,000 rubles, the equivalent of around 9,000 euros. The dealer network comprises 60 dealers each in the USA and Europe, 10 in Canada, 5 in Australia, 3 in Japan as well as individual dealers in Korea, New Zealand and the Gulf States, a total of around 140 dealers worldwide. Since 2003 Ural Motorcycles GmbH in Linz, Austria, has been the general distributor for Ural motorcycles, spare parts and accessories in Europe.

Since 1942, more than three million motorcycles and sidecars have been built in Irbit.

Models

Technical data of the current models from 2015:

Ural
Ural tourist
Manufacturer Irbitsky Motozikletny Zavod
class Motorcycle team
Motor data
Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine
Displacement  (cm³) 745 cm³ (78 mm × 78 mm)
Power  (kW / PS ) 30 kW at 5600 min -1
Torque  ( N m ) 52 Nm at 4000 min -1
Top speed (  km / h) approx. 100 km / h
transmission 4 + reverse gear
drive Cardan drive
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): 2580 × 1700 × 1100 mm
Seat height (cm) 79 cm
Empty weight  (kg) 320-365 kg

Special models

  • “Worona” (2006) - The first special model in 2006 was the black “Worona” (“The Raven”). It is completely matt black, no chrome, and only 33 copies were produced.
  • “Pustinja” (2007) - The special model from 2007 was named “Pustinja” (“desert”). It was painted in desert brown color and only 35 copies were made.
  • “Wjuga” (2008) - The special model for 2008 is called “Wjuga” (“snow storm”) and is painted in winter camouflage colors. A large windshield, knee guards and heated grips protect the driver.
  • “Red October” (2009) - In 2009 the special model was called “Red October” and was intended to commemorate the October Revolution and the film “The Hunt for Red October”. The model was created on the basis of the “Tourist” version without a sidecar drive and with the sidecar chassis of the “Retro” model. This should result in better road holding and higher cornering speeds. The Ural "Red October" is equipped with a reverse gear lever on the tank, round lights on the sidecar, luggage rack on the motorcycle and sidecar and a first aid kit. All sheet metal parts are painted in grenadier red, all frame and engine parts in matt black. This special model was also only made in 35 copies.
  • “Snow Leopard” (2010) - In 2010 the special model “Snow Leopard” came onto the market with gray painted frame parts and white sheets. Only five of the noble version "Snow Leopard" Retro were produced for all of Europe. In contrast to the standard Ural Retro, the seats and the sidecar hood are gray, the sidecar is equipped with a luggage rack on the trunk lid, a petrol can made of chrome steel, a windshield, a crash bar and an additional headlight. The "Snow Leopard" Ranger version, on the other hand, is a fully equipped winter vehicle, equipped with three Heidenau M + S winter tires and a spare tire with spikes, heated grips and windshield for the driver, crash bars and additional headlights on the sidecar at the front, spade, spare canister and luggage rack. Taken together, only 20 pieces were built.
  • "Anniversary model M70" (2011) - On November 19, 2011, the Irbiter motorcycle factory celebrated its 70th birthday and brought an anniversary model M70 onto the market on this occasion. Its appearance is reminiscent of the original M72, but the technical details are up to date. The basic vehicle was the Retro model, which is painted in the colors of the M72 from the war years. The material and color of the sidecar cover are almost identical to the original from the 1940s, as is the old red round IMZ logo on the tank, which has not been in use since 1956. A machine gun mount is integrated on the sidecar.

  • IMZ 8.103-40

  • Ural Patrol

  • Sidecar of the Ural Cross Tourist

Overview of model names of Ural motorcycle models

Timeline of the Ural models from 1941 to 1979
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9
Team M-72
M-61
M-62
M-63
M-66
M-67
Urals ...
solo M-75
M-76
M-77
M-72M
Timeline of the Urals models since 1980
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2
Team ... Urals
GearUp
Tourist 99
Retro
Classic
SportsMan
basic
Tourist 04
Patrol 04
Retro
SportsMan
tourist
solo Solo 650
Solo Classic
wolf
Patrol
Solo Classic 02
solo Retro
Solo Classic 03
Wolf 03
Wolf 04
Patrol 04
Special models Voronya
Pustinja
Wjuga
Red October
Snow leopard
M-70

literature

Web links

Commons : IMZ-Ural motorcycles  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ural Motorcycles Europe: The History of the Ural Motorcycles . Ural Motorcycles Europe. 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ Ural Team: History of the Ural teams . Ural team Oberhausen. 2011. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved on January 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ Ural Team: History of the Ural teams . Ural team Oberhausen. 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ История марки Урал. 750cc.ru, 2011, archived from the original on May 25, 2007 ; Retrieved February 3, 2012 .
  5. ↑ IMWA: Ural factory. Irbit MotorWorks of America, Inc., 2012, archived from the original on December 31, 2011 ; Retrieved January 28, 2012 .
  6. ↑ ural.at: The IRAQUI Bike . Ural Motorcycles Europe. 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  7. ↑ uraldnepr.ru: О нынешней жизни мотоциклов Урал . uraldnepr.ru. January 30, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  8. ↑ motonews.ru: History of the Ural teams . motonews.ru. April 28, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  9. ↑ Цены на мотоциклы Урал. 750cc.ru, 2011, accessed February 3, 2012 .
  10. ↑ DNEPR-URAL GmbH: Anniversary model M70 . DNEPR-URAL GmbH. November 19, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.