[WingWing]

well... back in the '30's..
Hitlers Germany sold some "original blueprints and castings
for BMW’s R71 motorcycle" (stolen of course) to Russia.
It was a really simple to build and maintain motorcycle.
Then Russia built 10,000 of them,
with which they subsequently used in their invasion of Germany...
... or something like that. :shrug:

.. watch any of those old WWII documentaries and you'll see them everywhere.

If the Goldwing is like a sewing machine, the Ural is like a cement mixer.

Once you ride a Ural, you'll never complain about
clunky GL1800 trannys or the speedo being off a little.
Once you try and stop a Ural, you'll change your shorts.
... but, if there is any "old school" in you, you might get hooked.

Some of them are "two wheel drive",
which really equates to what you think of when you say
"four wheel drive" describing a car.
That is, you can engage both rear wheels and now it goes anywhere like a tank.

Here is a "no holds" review
unlike the kind of golly gee whiz gushing crap editorials
you usually get to read: (be sure and watch the video!)
URAL REVIEW

Deniske
(thank you wingjammer for the pics)

 

[g1nomad]

I remember in a MC magazine sometime back reading about the
Minnesota Yeti, a man who drives all Winter long on his Ural.
This might be him with a quick Yahoo:

http://mn-yeti.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Ural-Photos/8174744_ayG4G#533816119_dTMtZ

He had become quit the maintenace man for this machine knowing
what parts would fail first ridden in the Winter extreme.

Look up the Ural / Wolf for their 2 wheeled use of that engine.

Herb

 

[WingWing]

I'm looking forward to riding it on the BRP...
... since the speed limit is so low there, it would be
a perfect road to "cruise and sightsee" on the Ural.



Dennis

 

[bill52]

Chinese made their own copy(probably got the plans from the Ruskies). Here's one for sale locally:

http://winnipeg.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-other-Chang-Jiang-CJ750-M1M-W0QQAdIdZ286979248

Its a Chang Jiang. Imagine a copy of a copy.

 

[bill52]

Another tidbit I seem to remember about them all the wheels are interchangable.

 

[WingWing]

Another tidbit I seem to remember about them all the wheels are interchangable.

I think they used to be before they added a disk brake to the front...
.. although I've not tried yet.

Dennis

 

[Toppy]

They are a real throwback to the origins of motorcycling, these things. In Australia they have a bit of a cult following.

The "New and Improved" Ural (or Urinal as they are nick named here) now have Japanese electrics throughout and the fit and finish has improved from the soviet era units. They will still piddle a bit of oil on your boot however as the bike still has character! The tool kit is brilliant and harks back to the days when riders would fix everything by the side of the road.

Because we drive on the left we cannot get the driven side car version which is a great pity. If they ever do a run of these I will be there cheque book in hand.

If you have plenty of time (80 to 90klm / hr cruise) these are a magnificent way to get about. Lots of people just pile the camping gear into the side car and head off. I have seen some custom made tents attached to the bike, and more than a few fashioned from a tarp and a few bits of rope.

One thing for sure, everybody will stop and look at it followed by talking about it. Does not matter though because you are not in a hurry!

Regards

Michael G

 

[Wingjammer]

Thank you WingWing, it is a neat ride.

.

 

[bamadave]

Wingwing, local biker has one just like your pic, a '97 Ural but it does not look as good as the one in your pic.

 

[Gary Klavans]

Great bike to take your dog for rides out in the snow on dirt roads, etc. However, doesn't FEEL like a motorcycle cause it steers vs. leans...

a "new" Royal Enfield is much more of a blast... I'd love to have one as a play bike in my garage! Woops, don't even have a garage, either.

 

[WingWing]

Chinese made their own copy(probably got the plans from the Ruskies)... Imagine a copy of a copy.

yikes 4: the Chinese copy

note that copy (above) has "regular" forks?

One of the Urals "pluses" (com'on, it's got a few) is a leading link fork
.. supposed to be stronger and more stable.
(maybe good for the wing? )

from the wiki...
A leading link fork, which may or may not be telescopic, suspends the wheel on a link (or links) with a pivot point aft of the wheel axle. Russian Ural motorcycles still use leading link forks on sidecar equipped motorcycles, and aftermarket leading link forks are often installed today on motorcycles when they are outfitted with sidecars, they are also very popular with trikes, improving the handling while steering or braking

Dennis

 

[WingWing]

Wingwing, local biker has one just like your pic, a '97 Ural but it does not look as good as the one in your pic.

from the "chatter" on other boards..
They were little changed from the 30's until 2006
.. then, starting in 2007 there were major changes in:
electrical (an alternator failure used to take out the engine :22yikes,
metallurgy (Russian "steel" is more like cheese so now gears are German made),
ignition, carburetion (now ducati and Italian I think),
braking (front Brembo disk),
lighting,
etc...

and still have some FD issues...

Dennis

 

[Gary Klavans]

Actually, Ural was making slow improvements as far back as 1996. Yet, still feels/rides like a WWII era beast.

from the "chatter" on other boards..
They were little changed from the 30's until 2006
.. then, starting in 2007 there were major changes in:
electrical (an alternator failure used to take out the engine :22yikes,
metallurgy (Russian "steel" is more like cheese so now gears are German made),
ignition, carburetion (now ducati and Italian I think),
braking (front Brembo disk),
lighting,
etc...

and still have some FD issues...

Dennis

 

[WingWing]

Actually, Ural was making slow improvements as far back as 1996.
Yet, still feels/rides like a WWII era beast.

yeah, as I understand it,
they made major improvements to the machine gun jamming
between 1941 and 1945 but then R&D kind of slowed down after that.



Dennis

 

[Larry Price]

http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/ural.html

 

[Joe S.]

If the Goldwing is like a sewing machine, the Ural is like a cement mixer.

Once you ride a Ural, you'll never complain about
clunky GL1800 trannys or the speedo being off a little.
Once you try and stop a Ural, you'll change your shorts.
... but, if there is any "old school" in you, you might get hooked.


Deniske
(thank you wingjammer for the pics)

Wow, Goldwing would win shootout with 1930s era russian copy of german bike. The real question is could it take on a Royal Enfield (the Indian version of course)?

 

[Cruiseman]

If I had one, I would have to mount a 50 caliber replica to the front of the sidecar, just for fun.

 

[Alberta Winger]

here a cool Video review on the new Ural


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-GJFx2kumo&feature=feedu

 

[tommyboyTX]

I wouldn't mind having one.... this one was a 2 wheel drive one.

I got to ride Beatch :wrong:.... OK OK I'm the Monkey...

 

[WingWing]

I got to ride Beatch :wrong:....

I'm still learning, but when you ride IN the side car,
you're called "the monkey"..
... not sure why. :shrug:



Dennis