Read a really positive MCN review of the '05 Ural Patrol sidecar rig.
I am a pretty experienced rider, a number of different bikes over the years, BRCs, ERCs, track days, extra training, etc. I commute year-round on either of two motorcycles ('03 'Busa and '04 KTM 950). I ride my bikes relatively hard (for the US), maybe 20k miles a year total. I'm also a decent wrench, have metric tools.
Never considered a hack before, but this is a dual-sport model, complete with nice big wheels, part-time 2wd *and* reverse. And it's, like, $10k. And there's supposedly a dealer in Colorado Springs (central CO, USA, where I live).
I've had zero luck getting the SO on either bike in the last couple of years because she's afraid of both of us going down, and I'm annoyed that (by my own standards) I have to wait x number of years before my 4-year-old will be ready to ride pillion.
So with this thing, everybody still has to gear up but there's less chance of falling over and if the SO or kidlet falls asleep they won't be in (any more) mortal danger. Plus, I can carry a bunch of stuff with this thing and be better off on the dirt-over-asphalt roads in CO.
So, what of the 'Busa? Very reliable, excellent motorcycle for the street. On balance, I would prefer to keep my dual-sport (KTM 950) for its all-around usefulness. Thus, I would be replacing the fastest production bike in the world -- more or less -- with a russian sidecar rig.
For the above reasons, this still sounds like a deal. What I'd like to ask you all here is, as the topic title states, am I high?
Putting aside the possiblity of a Friday afternoon bike, which is just a matter of luck that anyone can run into, and the reality that parts and good service will be a little trickier to come by where I live, will this still be a machine I can trust to get me a miserable 20mi to work and the occasional mountain spin on the weekend?
Thanks for your feedback, and I think you have a great site here.
Put a sidecar on the BUSA!!!
see: http://www.hpsidecars.com/
Just an opinion of course.
Talk to Doug Bingham at sidestrider.com, Jay at www.dauntlessmotors.com, or any of the folks on the installer list about putting a Ural/Dnepr/CJ sidecar on the KTM. It is removeable when you want to go on two wheels.
Build a sidecar on the Busa, these rigs rule...
Back to your question, the best place to get reliable information about Urals is from the folks that ride them. There's about a thousand of them to ask on the Ural webboard at:
From their home page look under "Community", then click on "Web Board". They'll tell you everything you need to know and then some.
Jim
Just be aware when visiting the web board that the Ural website is a bit misleading at times, as often the people posting there are people who have had problems. This is not always representative of all the people who own Urals. Many are trouble free. The most common problems will be identified at the site if you have time to read through the archives there. Most are very minor, but a lengthy thread was recently hashed out over the issues of quality control and such with Urals. Good reading when considering a Ural to purchase.
Be sure to look at dealership network as well. Having skills certainly helps, but having a good and dependable dealer close by helps even more.
Huey
Another GREAT site specific to urals and hosted by some fine folks is here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/wagnerscycle/
Tell Flicka that Claude sent ya 🙂
I'm a newbie here,but I've owned a Ural Gear Up for a year or so now,and enjoy it very much. I made that purchase because of the G/U's 2WD feature,as well as it's history of ruggedness and service,and because
it was a very,very different addition to my large collection.
The design certainly does contrast to almost anything built today,but
it is a sturdy one,and,as mentioned above,one that the owner can
service/repair with only a basic mechanical knowledge-a plus for sure.
Do you enjoy attention from the public ? If 'yes',get ready....you'll
attract a lot on the Gear Up.
RE: the Ural website-again,as mentioned above,you should 'filter' the
the comments/information shared there,as, with all interest groups,there
is an 'inner circle' that posts 24/7 about anything/everything...so get past that and read the archives as well.
Every year of production adds model improvements,so the newer the better.
'Busa'? leave them to the "bro's" to pimp out...go get your Gear-Up.
Sam in Indiana
