The other day, as I was riding home from a trip to Newfoundland and missing my kids, I started thinking: How can I start taking them along on bike trips?

The sensible answer is, buy a sidecar. At least, that’s how I see it. My wife, a non-rider, feels differently.

But still, it seems reasonable to me, and that started some mental mechanics. What kind of sidecar to buy? Like most people, I think Urals are cool, but they don’t have a great reputation for mechanical reliability. At least, not any Ural that I could afford, since the newer ones are quite expensive. What could I buy along the lines of a Ural, but more likely to get me home without an impromptu roadside wrenching session?

There’s always theJimbo Sidecarsoption (remanufactured ChineseChang Jiangsidecar rigs, pretty much the same as a Ural—but with BMW airhead engines installed). But that’s mucho denaro, and besides, I have nothing against Chinese motorcycles, but the Chang Jiang rig lacks the World War II romanticism of the Ural… what to do?

Here’s what to do: Head to ADVrider’s Flea Market sub-forum, and check outthis awesome set-up: A 1984 BMW R100RS mated to a Dnepr sidecar rig, and all for a reasonable price!

Wait, what’s a Dnepr?

Most inmates have at least some idea of what a BMW R100RS is (the 1984 edition was at the end of that model’s production run, with air-cooled boxer twin making just under 70 horsepower). But a Dnepr? That’s a rare bird, and most of us have never seen one on the street.

Basically, a Dnepr is a Ukrainian version of the Ural. Reports vary; some people say Dnepr started building military motorcycles during World War II, almost identical to Ural’s copy of the BMW R71 design. Other reports say production started in 1946. Either way, Dnepr built very similar machines to Ural up until the Iron Curtain fell. After that, they became much less popular, and inmate @rtwdoug once told me that years after the Soviets abandoned Ukraine, there were still Dneprs for sale at the factory for bargain basement prices.

Dneprs had a similar reputation for reliability as the old-school Ural lineup, but if you want a rugged sidecar design, they’re another option. So, that’s what inmate @pfestus1 did: He took a Dnepr sidecar assembly and mated it to a crash-damaged R100RS.

A proper build

Here’s what the ad says:

I bought the R100RS around 2005 after it had been in a low side accident that destroyed most of the fairing. I bought it for a sidecar project. I took the bike to the Sidecar Magic Shoppe in Buckhannon WV where Gary Haynes built the custom subframe, fit the EML leading link forks, and mounted the sidecar. I further modified the rig by adding a /5 headlight, a larger front fender, a lower gear ratio final drive from an R60, Euro sidecar handlebars, /5 mufflers, Moto Lights, a new Moto Meter /5 speedometer, heated grips, a 400+ watt alternator from Euro Moto Electrics. 12v car battery is in the sidecar trunk. Krauser style saddle bags in decent condition are included.

Sounds like a build done right! He does note some differences between the Ural and the Dnepr design, and he actually integrated some Ural parts as well:

而类似于乌拉尔,第聂伯双轮马车没有t have a trunk door, access to the trunk is thru the sidecar seat. The sidecar wheel is a Ural wheel with a brake. The sidecar brake is activated by a second brake pedal next to the stock rear brake pedal so you can use both rear and sidecar brake, just the bike brake, or just the sidecar brake. I do have a Ural windshield for the sidecar. I can mount it, or you can.

The seller says the machine handles and steers well, and will maintain 70 mph, cruising happily at 55 mph – 65 mph. It sounds as if the engine and gearbox are well-maintained; they’re original to the bike, and the seller says the final drive splines were lubed and pushrod rubbers replaced about 3,000 miles ago, and the carburetors have a fresh rebuild by Bing. Sounds like this setup is good to go!

However, as it’s an airhead, you can still expect to pay some mechanical attention to the machine. It’s no longer a new bike. As per the advert:

The wiring in the headlight shell needs some attention. Due to stuffing the wiring harness from a RS into a /5 headlight shell, there are a couple things that I have not figured out yet. The bike will only start in neutral, with the green neutral light on. The oil and generator lights don’t function. Someone more electrical than me should be able to figure these issues out with the included wiring diagram.

It drops a drop of oil on the floor after going for a ride.

There is a crack in the rear fender where the fender mounts to the subframe from when another motorcycle fell against it.

That’s not enough to scare me off, not by a long shot, and the fact that it’s a 247-series airhead, one of the best-supported vintage engines in the world, makes me think any buyer will be able to keep this on the road a long time.

If it was closer to me, I’d be seriously tempted, at the $5,200 US asking price (the Roanoke, Virginia location doesn’t work for me, alas). While I’d have to sell a bike or three to pay for it, the chance to make memories riding with my kids would be priceless. As for you: If you’re interested,check out the ad, where @pfestus has his contact details listed!