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The poor mans BMW?
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 8:42 am
by JohnT
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This has been my winter project, 1973 R50/5. Bought as a runner needing work.
I was drawn to it because its 500cc and thought it would be sweet soft running bike and the nearest thing to the old Earls Forked models.
The eagled eyed will have spotted it now runs Dellorto carbs as the slide Bings were in terrible unusable condition. After a few needle and jet changes its running ok but still needs work in that department.
Have never seen a road test of this model only two appraisals in the sadly missed Motorcycle Sport magazine. They liked it and Its doing everything I require. It didn't last long, slightly less than 8,000 being manufactured.
Re: The poor mans BMW?
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 3:30 pm
by Kurt in S.A.
Re: The poor mans BMW?
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 8:17 am
by r67boxer
Nice looking bike you've got there. I've had one for about 5yr and bought it as an island bike. We live on a small island on the coast so no need for a high speed touring bike. Having said that though, it does clip along well at 60 mph when I'm off island. I purchased it locally and only tuned it up, had the fenders and tank painted (it was British Racing green) and put on new Metzler tires. Great daily rider.
Kevin
Re: The poor mans BMW?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 10:11 pm
by Todd
The poor man's BMW was a Ural. In 1974, they'd cost £418. A BMW R90S cost about £1,400. An R60/6 about £1,200.
They were the Russians' reward for winning WWII and quite awful. BMs were never poor people's motorcycles until recently on the second hand market, e.g. worn out ex-Police bikes. You need to have a bank manager or director's job to be able to afford one.
Note dual seat was paid for an optional extra.
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Re: The poor mans BMW?
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 9:00 am
by Krankshaft
This is a poor man’s Ural. It is a KMZ 650 or a Dnepr MT10/36. It is a cousin of the current Urals (IMZ)
They share a common grandfather (M72) that was not a reward for Russia winning WW2 but the result of an exchange of German technology for raw materials from the Soviet Union after the Molotov/Ribbentrop Pact of non-aggression between the two aforementioned nations signed in 1939.
This is my Dnepr and I am very pleased with it. You can see my K100 and R80 hidden in the background.
Ride safe
Jim