Anyone familiar with Ural motorcycles?

[ptrthgr8]

Do any of the fine folks here have any experience with Ural motorcycles? I'm looking at picking up one of the M70 Anniversary bikes. I've always wanted a WW2-style bike with a sidecar and the price for a new one seems reasonable enough. But I'm not the least bit with familiar with these Russia motorcycles. I know it's basically a copy of the BMW R71, but how reliable are these modern versions? Are parts easy enough to come by? And I'm not a gearhead, so if I needed service on the bike is it something that most general garages would be able to handle?

It's a sexy bike and looks like a lot of fun: http://www.imz-ural.com/m70/

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[Onsto]

Not much in the way of development since the middle of the 20th century to speak of . I ride a 1970s bike in addition to my more modern toys and the difference there is telling, I can't imagine a ural would be particularly relaxing or confidence inspiring.

You should definitely test ride before you consider buying, a sidecar changes the riding experience massively, counter steering is eliminated which is very tiring on the arms and it's surprisingly easy to make them topple while cornering to the non-sidecar side. I couldn't get to grips with it at all.

[rahko]

Fun... well yes, why not, although that's not the first word I would use to describe the experience! It has more to do with the feeling that comes from enduring despite hardships. Here's mine:

It's hundres of kilometers away from home in this picture, and has travelled there on it's on power! The thing is, if you plan on riding these things, the servicing is pretty much constant, and will be done by you. The great thing is you have to learn, even if you don't know how right now. Last summer I rode 3000 miles without incident, but that was preceded by two complete rebuilds of the engine and transmission in the spring. Here's my broken main shaft:

Even with the new bikes the very first thing should be a complete disassembly before any use, and I do mean taking every piece apart and then putting it back together. There has been no finishing process in the factory, it has been left to the end user so that they can get familiar with the inner workings of the machine, in preparation for the many repairs on the road which will inevitably follow.

If you have access to original soviet-era spare parts, that's great since some of them were made from good materials. No to exact tolerances of course, the final fitting is your job and there are no spares that will fit right in. The more recent Chinese and Ukranian spares is a different matter altogether. You may get a part which looks right, but will self-destruct when it's put under stress.

The sidecar is an interesting addition to the riding experience, turning right you can balance it as you feel the sidecar wheel lifting off the ground when turning vigorously. Turning left you get no warning and it will turn over before you can do anything about it. My sidecar has a piece of titanium in it from the previous owner, he had his bones put together with it after turning left too fast. I don't use the sidecar, because I like to go over 50 mph every now and then. You can do over 40 with the sidecar attached, but this will significantly shorten the time span between engine rebuilds.

I guess all this depends on your definition of fun. I think it has more to do with the people you ride with and not the machine.

[Lotusguy]

OK, so I know nothing about motorcycles, but I do distinctly remember when I was a student about 20 years ago and was working part time, there was a colleague that bought one of those new and there was not a single day when he wasn't cursing the Ural for being the worst POS anyone could put on the road.

I don't imagine that they have gotten better in the last 20 years...

[PigFish]

I have ridden motorcycles all my life. I worked for Yamaha as my first real job!

Buy a motorcycle based on anything but looks! Unless that is all that you want to do... is look at it! There are a lot of great motorcycles that look great and great looks are not antithetical to a great motorcycle. I am just emphasizing that buying a not so great one, because of the look is a bad idea. And while I would not ride one with a sidecar, I would pick a motorcycle that has had a long history successful side car use if I were going to buy one.

I would not consider vintage anything if I were not a gear-head. The gentleman who posted his vintage bike, and the service and knowledge involved in owning such a thing has provided you a great service by sharing his thoughts and experiences. These vintage items are works of love... and I might add, either great skill or a huge bankroll, sometimes both.

I see Jay Leno often at a biker spot that we both enjoy. He has a staff that cares for his vintage "sport" vehicles. It is a labor of love and if you just want to ride, buy a modern motorcycle and convert its looks yourself.

-Piggy

[CaptainQuintero]

I've heard they are the AK-47 of the motorbike world. Amazing reliability and you can fix with chewing gum and a hammer

[ptrthgr8]

All good info, folks.

I wish there was a Ural dealer or shop in my neck of the woods. I've never seen any sidecars running around here, so I'm not even sure if anyone sells any brand of bike with a sidecar. I love the retro looks - the looks and heritage are a large reason I bought my 2010 Triumph Bonneville T100. Of course, the Bonnie has all sorts of modern upgrades (better electrics, thank god... and EFI house in the faux carb body). The WW2-era styling of the Ural M70 is exactly what I've always wanted. If HD made a similar type retro WW2-era edition I'd probably go with that (Harleys are *everywhere* around here and there are plenty of dealers/shops for any work that might be needed). Of course, I'm sure a retro HD rig would be priced 4x-5x the price of the Ural.

And I do love the MG mount. I can't lie... that definitely made me grin when I saw it.

I'm going to have to keep researching this. It's going to have to be shipped from wherever (states aways) so I won't have a chance to test drive one unless I'm able to find someone locally who has one.

Thanks, all!

~ Greg ~