Buying an Ural M-72/BMW R-71 motorcycle sidecar combination
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 3:08 pm
I have been thinking about buying a early pre-1959 Ural M-72 as its the closest match to a BMW R-71 apart from a few alterations here and there. I have been offered and have seen quite a few Ural deniper bikes out there but most I have seen disappointedly have a swinging arm frame, large hubs, normal clutch and brake levers and other bits that would have to be changed to be Germanised, plus most of these bikes are post 1981 machines that couldn't be registered on the road as they fall foul of the side car being on the wrong side being built past 1981. A pre 1981 manufactured model with a continental sidecar can be registered. I have a bike licence and used to work in the bike trade and know that these bikes are troublesome and need attention, wold like to own an original German classic but I am not rich enough, same old story.
I had an interesting chat with two Guys at Mapledurham who were with GD Recon, one of the guys was called Olly who had the perfect bike an early M-72 I have been looking for which he bought from Poland. Another guy who was there, (cant recall his name, sorry) gave me some useful information on were to find such bikes. I would like to find out more on how to buy a bike from Poland or around those countries, what pitfalls there are, what to watch out for etc. Would it be best to take a Polish speaking person along with you, that would seem obvious.Would it be best to see the bike, try it out, buy it and load it on a trailer and head for home, as you would here. Is there a company that can buy the bike on your behalf and ship it back at a fee. Or would it be best to get help from someone who has done this on a regular basis. Can anyone enlighten me to how you deal with overseas buying such bikes, hints and tips please.
I had an interesting chat with two Guys at Mapledurham who were with GD Recon, one of the guys was called Olly who had the perfect bike an early M-72 I have been looking for which he bought from Poland. Another guy who was there, (cant recall his name, sorry) gave me some useful information on were to find such bikes. I would like to find out more on how to buy a bike from Poland or around those countries, what pitfalls there are, what to watch out for etc. Would it be best to take a Polish speaking person along with you, that would seem obvious.Would it be best to see the bike, try it out, buy it and load it on a trailer and head for home, as you would here. Is there a company that can buy the bike on your behalf and ship it back at a fee. Or would it be best to get help from someone who has done this on a regular basis. Can anyone enlighten me to how you deal with overseas buying such bikes, hints and tips please.