Don's Ural

[Water Warrior 2]

My friend Don bought this Ural 2 wheel drive late last summer. He rides the Ural or a BMW HP2 every day of the year. The Ural is old but reliable technology and makes a GZ look like a sport bike when comparing performance. With the exception of mud and snow that is. The Ural wins hands down.

[burkbuilds]

That's awesome! I've never even heard of this motorcycle. What a cool bike. Check out the engine position. Wow, the side car wheel is a drive wheel, this is really unique, thanks for sharing these photos!

[blaine]

Their is one of them here on the island.He drives it in all kinds of weather.

[Water Warrior 2]

This Ural was new last year when Don bought it. The bikes are a Russian made knock -off of a late 30's BMW. The design has stood the test of time.

[dhgeyer]

I've seen several of them around here. There's a dealership somewhere down in Mass. not too far away. People that have them swear by them, and they certainly do turn heads. They basically make BMW's that BMW doesn't make anymore, with some additions/modifications. Most of them are sidecar rigs like the one pictured, although they do make a kind of silly looking pseudo cruiser for the US market.

The Beemer I have is very high tech, and in a lot of ways, that's good. Better mileage and performance, and less pollution. But there's something to be said also for being able to fix most problems with a good tool kit on the road. The new Beemers have diagnostic plugs just like cars now. Everything is controlled electronically. I actually bought a unit that plugs into the bike's diagnostic/control port, and connects to my laptop via a USB cable, along with the accompanying software. I can read and clear fault codes for all the electronic modules. And the throttle bodies even have step motors to compensate for being out of sync at idle. If you really want to get a good throttle body sync, you have to park the step motors. The unit/software I bought will do that too. So I can add my laptop computer to the list of tools needed to do a simple tune up! Not like the old Beemers. Or the Urals!

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by dhgeyer

If you really want to get a good throttle body sync, you have to park the step motors.

It is statements like these that make me feel like taking my bike to the dealer for service is the absolute correct thing for me. ("I KNEW I shouda parked the damn step motors! No wonder my throttle body wouldn't sync!")

[BusyWeb]

I really like the Ural.
Once, I looked out to buy used one; not that expensive nor cheap. ha ha ha
Having rear gear is a good one too.
Some issues discuraged to buy one;
max. highway speed (very important for me for long distance riding..^^,
some maintenance skills required,
not many dealers when it had problems to be fixed...
Otherwise, it is very verstile bike and lovely style, most road surfaces would not be problem at all; dirt, windy, gravel, snow... I like it.
Still in my wishlist so far, many said some issues having been fixed for the newer models. (and price gets higher.. ha ha ha)

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

It is statements like these that make me feel like taking my bike to the dealer for service is the absolute correct thing for me. ("I KNEW I shouda parked the damn step motors! No wonder my throttle body wouldn't sync!")

Different strokes. To me it's all part of playing with my toys. I love computers, and I love motorcycles. Now I get to play with both at the same time! Also, I checked part of the work that was done by the dealership for the 600 mile service. I let the dealership do that for record/warranty reasons. I had it done at possibly the largest and most highly regarded BMW dealership in the USA, which happens to be in NH. If not the top dealership, then certainly one of the 2 or three top. And they treat their customers right in every way they can. As a dealership, I can't say enough good things about them. But even they overfilled the crankcase oil by about 200 ml, and the throttle body sync was ever so slightly off. Every time I've had occasion to go in after a dealership mechanic on any bike, I've found something, generally minor, that surprised and disappointed me. Give me the tools, a little time to learn the ropes, and nobody is going to get my bike to run as sweet as I will, because I'm not on the clock, and the only thing I care about is that I'm the one who's going to ride it. The money I save is icing on the cake.

But, Alan, you are right. If you don't enjoy it, and don't want to do it, and don't mind paying the dealer, then you should let "The Man" do it, absolutely. It's your bike, and your ride - you should enjoy it in the way that gives you the most reward.

I know I'm kind of unusual in this respect. I've always wanted to take things apart - see how they work - fix them. Back in the days of DOS I used to program home use applications (financial, phonebook, games) in assembly language. For fun. I don't know of anyone else who ever did that. I could, right now, name every part and its function, of every pistol, revolver, rifle, and shotgun (about 200 in all in over 50 years) I've ever owned. Did my own action work on my guitars. Built 2 view cameras back in the 70's. That's just me.

So like I say, different strokes.

[Maggie]

ACK! I need to wipe the drool from my chin. I looked at the Ural longingly some time ago, wanting one so I could ride around with one of my Dalmatians. I was just talking about it with a client today...how coincidental is that??? I don't have any room in my garage, darn it. WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH.

[Water Warrior 2]

Side car rigs are neat but are driven rather than ridden. They steer like a car instead of a bike. You have to zig and not zag like a bike. Don was just 15 minutes into his ride home that first day when Fate stepped in. After decades on 2 wheels he reacted naturally when cut off in a construction zone. Caught a high curb head-on and over the bars he went. Separated his shoulder and spent some time with one arm in a sling. Some front wheel damage but the bike did hold up well overall.