Hi everybody, I'm back again after quite the hiatus. I have continued thinking about how to make my flexicar subframe cargo hack, but in the meantime have been working on my 1957 BSA A10! I have it now running quite well, and am tidying up the details now.
but I have an opportunity to buy a dnepr from a neighbor. He started at $3000 as a random guess. All I know currently is that it does have the driven sidecar wheel.
I would like to ask what I should look for when I go to see it? any known issues that I can speak to or check on? upgrades that make it more valuable? what are some common failings to watch for or bargain against?
also, that sounds like a good deal on the price, if I bought it I would approach it as a project intended to sell at a profit, so what should a running dnepr bring?
thanks for any info, and here's to (hopefully) a new hack in the drive!!
Well, I'm sure you're going to get a lot of info. Don't let the nay-sayers dissuade you. Dnypr's can be fun bikes. They are NOT modern highway cruisers and Japanese style "gas-and-go" performance is just not in the cards with a Dnypr. Remember, they were designed as cheap transportation on terrible roads. You'll find some like-minded folks at http://www.russianiron.com/
Good Luck!
yeah, I thought about as much, but I'm obviously up for a challenge. the A10 had a carb fire long before I bought it, but many years of neglect before that even.
it's always fun to learn new things! ';-)
Go to Yahoo groups and do a search for 'dneprheads'. Pretty active group and a lot of info there.
Claude
Another popular site is:
http://sovietsteeds.com/
Soviet Steeds Motorcycle Collective
The Dnepr hasn't been produced in over a decade and parts are accessible usually only by mail order from Europe although some parts from the Chang Jiang will fit certain models and some US dealers may have or can get what you may need. As mentioned, it's not even a shadow of a superslab capable rig but it can be a fun bike to own and ride if you're of a mechanical bent. They're under powered and regular maintenance is required but there's no electronics on the bike and it can be serviced with a simple tool kit. They can be made reasonably reliable with some diligent effort.
The two wheel drive model is prized for it's full time always engaged differential which few other models have. The Ural Dalesman of the mid-90's also featured this final drive. The bike is a 4 speed w/reverse. Comfortable cruising speed for these machines is between 45 and 55 depending on the engine/gearbox/final drive installed although some claim slightly higher speeds. The bike is derived from an antique design that originated in the late 30's although later revisions updated from a flathead side valve engine to overhead valves (pushrod driven off the internal cam). Compared to today's technology they are definitely "old school". There are several different models of the Dnepr but they can be easily identified if you know what to look for.
Although there are many similarities between the Ural and the Dnepr they were built in different factories and only some parts are interchangeable. There are significant differences in the internal structure of the engines and not all of the final drives are interchangeable either. If the final drive of the Dnepr 2 wheel drive motorcycle gets damaged then you'll feel like Long John Silver looking for his lost treasure when you're searching for replacement parts. With the falling value of the dollar the price of replacement parts has also risen while the availability of same has gone down due to parts needing to be salvaged from junked bikes in some cases.
Parts can be had though if you're willing to deal with the hassle of obtaining them.
Depending on age and condition $3000 might be optimistic but if the bike has been well cared for and is mechanically sound it might be worth considering if you wish to have a somewhat unique hobby bike.
These bikes have square cut gears that will sound clunky when shifting when compared to modern helical cut gearing which engages far more smoothly. No real performance mods are available so WYSIWYG. There are no different ratios available for the transmission or final drive. As previously mentioned the bikes were built for often unimproved roads and a speed limit of around 45mph in Russia.
Before purchase make sure you see a clear title and registration. Licensing these bikes can be a real nuisance without it. If you don't have a title or Russian "passport" then the bike may be more than it's worth to get the paperwork done. Check frame numbers. Motor and frame numbers almost never match on these bikes so the frame number should match the paperwork. Several hundred thousand of these bikes were built with the KMZ "Dnepr" being in that number. There are reputable parts dealers in Europe and at least one disreputable dealer here in the US. Results on finding parts may vary.
Those who own them claim they're lots of fun to own, maintain and ride if you accept them as what they are. What they are is an pseudo-antique Russian bike made on often antiquated tooling and never intended for today's US high speed highways. If someone tells you they're a copy of a BMW design then bear in mind that the basic design was a 1938 model and the bikes respond well to the kind of maintenance expected in that era. They are not comparable to the BMW legend for reliability.
Dnepr craftsmanship does not compare to German craftsmanship even on the original models. Caveat Emptor.
The Ural is still in production and since more of them were made parts are often easier to
2 wheel drive should be model MT16...
Look in this page it gives you a hundret of excellent tips.
http://www.dnepr.at/e/index.htm
It was my favourite day dream site before I got my rig 3 years ago...
Enjoy
Sven Peter
thanks for all so far, especially the low down on just how hard it is to find parts. I thought brit bikes were bad ';-)
I'll go into it with a greater appreciation of what I need to know, what I expect to spend, and what I'm willing to take on.
