Soviet-era Urals
Importer brings in Soviet-era Urals in from the cold
November/December 2005
By Ric Anderson
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Photo by Ric Anderson
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M72/Ural Retro
Years produced: 1939-present
Total production: 3 million-plus
Claimed power: 40bhp @ 5,600rpm
Top speed: 87mph (est.)
Engine type: 745cc, air-cooled, four-stroke, horizontally opposed two-cylinder
Weight (dry): 240kg (529lb)
Price then: Unwavering allegiance to Soviet doctrine
Price now: $10,495 (with sidecar)
It was love at first sight, but the object of affection was no prom queen.
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Bill Morris had taken only a passing interested in motorcycles before he traveled to the former Soviet Union in 2002 and noticed locals riding Cold War-era Urals and Dneprs.
“These aren’t prestige vehicles over there, they’re basic transportation,’’ Morris says. “You could see them on the highway as you were going out of the city; people from the country would be driving into town. You’d see three or four guys hanging off this thing, and the sidecar would be full of watermelons or something that they were bringing into market.
“I just thought they were totally cool. I decided to buy one and drive it around.’’
By the spring of 2005, Morris was sharing his new hobby with collectors in the United States through a self-operated import business, Red October Motorcycles.
Morris formed the business after returning from Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he and his wife, Sharon Eicher, spent two years working at a university — he as the director of buildings and grounds, she as a development economics professor.
Morris’ initial stock included 12 complete bikes, components for a 13th and a collection of parts manuals, on-board tools and helmets.
He originally wanted to bring only one bike — his own — back with him. But he hit a wall of expenses when he discovered the only way to send the motorcycle overseas was in a shipping container.
His solution: buy enough bikes, parts and accessories to fill the container, then sell them upon his return to recoup the shipping costs. The plan sounded simple until Morris came face-to-face with the political realities of the region.
“It was so much of a headache,’’ he says. “You don’t do anything without paying bribes there. At one point, one of the customs officials told me all the paperwork I’d done to that point was invalid. What he was saying was he wanted a piece of the action. We went to a higher authority, which cost more money, but at least we cut through some of the layers.’’
Morris eventually filled enough palms to get the shipment approved, and set up shop in a Midwestern warehouse. He put his collection up for sale at www.redoctobermotorcycles.com and got a good response.