If you think you are in the market for an eastern block motorcycle, there are a few things you should know before spending your money on e-bay. Modern Urals are supported with a worldwide network of dealers. Modern Changs and Dneprs and all older Eastern Bloc Bikes have no such network. If having a dealer to fix your problems is important to you, stick with a modern Ural. If you are comfortable repairing your own lawn mower (for instance) a Dnepr or Chang Jiang or pre-1990 Ural may just be the bike for you. Urals are manufactured in Irbit, Russia, by IMZ (Irbit Motorcycle Works). Dneprs were manufactured in Kiev, Ukraine, by KMZ (Kiev Motorcycle Works). Chang Jiangs were originally manufactured using the old tooling from IMZ, some of which is said to have BMW tooling marks, although rumor has it that the original factory is no longer making them. A little history is in order to understand the differences and similarities of these bikes. I am only mentioning the high points, and identifying some major differences, because I have seen a number of bikes called M72 or R71 replica, but knowing these differences helps me identify what I am really looking at. The M71 was a licensed copy of BMW's R71, manufactured in Moscow as early as 1939. As war was obviously approaching, some minor design changes were made to strengthen the M71 and for easier mass production. The new model, designated the M72, had telescopic front and plunger rear suspension, and was similar to but not exactly the same as BMW's ill fated R71. It was produced in up to six different factories during WW2, and with a number of design changes from 1941 to about 1960. The major factory producing the M72 was in Irbit, Siberia, with production starting in 1954 in Kiev, Ukraine for military use only. In about 1957 the Irbit production line was closed and traded to China, where the Chang Jiang 750 motorcycles started being produced in about 1959-60. Early CJ750s were exactly like the late M72 (see www.changjiang750.com/history.htm for a detailed history). The Irbit factory then went on to produce a 650cc Overhead Valve engine and a new swingarm frame to put it in. IMZ has continued to produce a similar motorcycle ever since with modifications and improvements, changing from a 650cc cast iron barrelled engine to a 750cc aluminum barrelled engine in 2002-2003. Meanwhile from 1956-59, KMZ was producing an M72 with short leading link front and plunger rear suspension. In 1959 production changed to the K750, with a higher compression flathead (sidevalve) engine, and a new swingarm frame (different than IMZ's) but retaining the short leading link stamped steel fork (think beefed up Honda Trail 90). In 1963-64 a new telescopic front fork came into production and is still used in modern Dneprs. Various models with slightly different specifications for military or civilian use were manufactured with the flathead engine up to about 1974. Some had the older style fuel tank, some the new, some had driven sidecar wheels, some didn't, etc. In about 1967-69 KMZ developed a 650cc aluminum barrelled OHV engine and installed it in the same frame calling it the MT9. Changes were made to the valves and a new frame was designed to make the MT10. The new frame was discontinued and the newer engine was installed in the old frame, making the MT10.36. The MB650 (military specs.) and the MT12 were essentially similar to the MT10.36, but with a driven sidecar wheel. More valve train and air filter changes gave us the RWD MT11 and the 2WD MT16. These are not all of the KMZ models, just the ones I see or read about most often. Meanwhile back in Irbit, similar improvements and similar models were being produced. In both factories production nearly came to a standstill after the breakup of the Soviet Union, with Irbit recovering a little by improving bikes for export through the '90s and up to today, with the result that there is now a dealership network. KMZ has not been as swift to change and without money to pay employees, a large number of spare parts "disappeared" from the factory, only to show up later in Canada and the USA as "grey market" bikes. These bikes usually have non-matching frame, engine and transmission numbers. Starting in the early '90s a concentrated effort was made by Lloyd Lounsbury in Seattle to legalize and import KMZ bikes, with the result that he has DOT and EPA approved Dneprs for sale with a warrantee. ALL other modern Dneprs (MT11 & 16) in the USA are grey market parts bikes. I'm not saying they are illegal, just A) they're not up to US standards, B) may include used or factory reject parts, and C) there is no warrantee of any kind backing them. Some have rebuilt engines with slightly larger, lower compression pistons with a claimed displacement of about 800cc. These are NOT new KMZ engines, but used engines rebuilt with non-KMZ parts, moreover they don't displace 800cc. BUYER BEWARE! Now back to the Chang Jiang. Go to http://www.sheldonaubut.com/narma/narma/buying.html and read what happened to some folks who tried to get some into the USA. There are a million CJ750s out there that are more than 25 years old, thus qualifying as exempt from EPA and DOT regulation, but that doesn't mean you will get your bike in without trouble. There are also sellers (brokers) on e-bay who sell "brand-new" Changs with false paperwork as if they are over 25 years old. Customs knows this and takes a dim view of fraud. Unlike Lloyd Lounsbury and his Dneprs, there are no importers of DOT and EPA approved modern Chang Jiangs. Don't be fooled by advertising gimmicks and low prices. Also, very few CJ750s on e-bay are actually in the USA or Canada. Most are still in China and you have to jump through all the hoops to get them. The cost of a $3000 bike can swiftly jump to $6000 when you include shipping, customs duties, broker fees, etc., but you still have a motorcycle that cost less than $3000 to produce, in other words, not the best quality manufacturing or assembly. For more information on Chang Jiang motorcycles, consider joining thechangjangexperience Yahoo group and also visit changjiangunlimited.com. Most of the sponsors of CJU can get you a truly old but restored bike delivered in the USA for about the same as a new one with fraudulent papers from the questionable sellers on e-bay. For more info on Dneprs join the Dneprheads Yahoo Group. This guide is a little short on Ural info because I have concentrated my efforts on learning about the Dnepr and CJ750, as these bikes are available in increasing numbers for what appears to be reasonable prices, but when shopping for one, always remember BUYER BEWARE!