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History of the 1938 BMW R71, BMW R75, Ural and Chinese Army ChangJiang 750 Motorcycle with Sidecar

In the 1930's, BMW corporation licensed a Russian company named Uralmoto Zavod in Russian to producing BMW motorcycles sidecar. This is the work around solution for Germany to meet the terms of surrender imposed under the "Treaty of Versailles" at the end of the World War I which prohibited Germany from any form of military vehicle production, including large capacity motorcycles and sidecars.                 

In W.W.II, BMW motorcycle recognized by the world that they offered unprecedented mobility, performance and reliability on the battle field at that time. Even the American's Harley-Davidson was willing to copy the BMW motorcycle at that time. This resulted in the Harley-Davidson XA model which also featured a flat twin engine.

"A Bridge Too Far" is also a great W.W.II. movie, you can see the BMW R71/R75 motorcycle with sidecar in action. Please rent a tape or DVD if you did not watch it.

However, at that time (1938 to 1939), German only shares the BMW R71 classical motorcycle with Russian, they keep the BMW R75 secrets for themselves during the World War II. After the Germany surrender at the end of WWII, Russian took all the BMW motorcycle blueprints & tool sets and ship the few remaining BMW R75 motorcycles and all the production parts left at the factory back to Russian. The BMW R75 motorcycle OHV engine and dual wheels drive system technology was also then apparently used to create the relatively advanced Russian "Ural" and "Dnepr" models. It is a open secrets that USA took the rock scientists back to USA and Russian took the blueprints from Germany.

Want to know more about BMW motorcycles old or new? Please check them out at Answers.com or download it as MS Word documentation: BMW Motorcycles

In 1950's, People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China looking for a replacement for the army motorcycles. By that time at USSR, the side-valve's BMW motorcycle R71 model had become obsolete, so the old BMW motorcycle R71 manufacture was offer to China as an aid, that is a common practices to exchange goods between the communist countries at the early stage of the cold war. The Chinese paid back tons of apples and eggs for the production line.

The BMW R71 was a perfect solution for Chinese army mobilize at farm roads in China at that time. Chinese rename it to "Chang Jiang" after the longest river in China (3rd longest river in the world) and entered production during 1957 at the "China NanChang Aircraft Manufacturing Company", they also made those fly CJ 5 and CJ 6 in the same company at that time. The early CJ 6 airplane is the best in its class in the world, it is also called "Warbird" by W.W.II pilots. It is so reliable that there are no fatal incident cause by the quality of its own sine 1958 all over the world on a base of more than 2000 of them were produced. And yes, it is still in production too.

Chinese mess produced Chang Jiang 750 classical motorcycle by hundreds thousands in numbers since then. Because those motorcycles were manufactured side by side in the same factory with military CJ 6 airplanes, heavy 105 mm artillery and 56, 57, 62 model battle tanks in the heart land (JianXi providence) of China. Those BMW R71 classical motorcycle are very sturdy and work very well for modern age restorations even after so many years in service or store as surplus items for the Chinese Army.

 CJ6 Clip K8 Jet Clip 

Chinese did developed a few more new models from the original BMW R71 since, however they also keep produce the original BMW R71 until today. Thus Chang Jiang 750 classical motorcycle is the only earliest Vintage Sidecar Motorcycle frozen in time and still in production in the whole world today!  Because the regular Chinese Army no longer use Chang Jiang 750 sidecar motorcycle anymore (only the local PLA and police still use them), how long the Chang Jiang 750 motorbikes will remind in production will determined by the history itself.
 

In 1980's, when China beginning the modern reforms, Big Bird and Barkley come to China and make a "Big Bird In China" film. He is very happy to putting the CJ750 motorcycle around the Beijing city with Barkley seat in the sidecar: Wee..... Please buy or rent a "Big Bird in China" and see how the bird ride the CJ750, specially if you have young children or grand children at home.

Today: Chinese Army have a new kind Sidecar Bike design and made by a major modern Chinese motorcycle company. It is a 600 cc, single cylinder, water cooled, 4 valve, SOHC four stroke engine bike; Electric start, 30 KW calibration power; Max speed at 160 km/h (about 100 MPH); Front and rear disc brake, sidecar meets EURO standard III emission; It come with a closed-loop electric fuel injection system and intelligent self-check system display and indication.

For these of you want to do the crazy CJ750 upgrades, this new PLA sidecar bike is what you wanted. However, the bad new is that it is not for sale, it is excused for Chinese Army usage only...so far. Here is a spy photo I get from Chinese Army TV, did you see the part of this sidecar between these 2 army light truck? This image was took from an Army Equipment Trade Show in China.

 

Chang Jiang 750 in Exercise

Local PLA still use the Chang Jiang 750 motorcycle for war game. That is the CJ750 M1M.

PLA Special Force's dirt bike?

All right, have some motor cross fun boys.

PLA solo bikes in war game.

Just in case the phone, radio or GPS no long work?

Info, Quote & Order Email to Mr. Lee: Lee@VintageSidecar.com

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