Hey Claude- what does "other hard-core options" mean? I heard the whoosh as it went over my head, but now I'm curious...
Urals are much maligned because of what they were a few years ago, not what they are today. My 2004 Retro just hit 20,000 trouble-free kilometers (12K+ miles). Any minor problems I have had can be directly attributed to "pilot error".
That being said, Claude is presently building me a BMW-based travel rig. I, too, was originally going to go with a R100GS, Guzzi Quota, etc. but, frankly, was talked out of it because of some of the issues involved with attaching a car to a GS-type bike - especially when one really does not go offroad that much. (I love to explore back roads, but I really don't ride offroad.) Even though I am a confirmed Airhead, I decided to go with a BMW K100 because it had 25% more horsepower for the same size motor - and, with sidecar rigs, horsepower and torque are King and Queen.
Whatever style/model you choose, I would recommend you consider a car tire/wheel conversion and an anti-sway bar. Car tires would work better on bad roads (but not necessairly trails) and would be much easier to find if replacement is necessary. The swaybar has been discussed elsewhere here and the description makes good reading.
My $0.02.
Sarge
I must agree with the others; I have a 1975 /6 with a Velorex that with just a bit of adjusting, I would probably feel comfy riding all the way to Argentina. I don't even think the GS is as reliable as the old Airheads (and I've owned one) I love my modern oilhead; speed, handling, reliability, ABS etc. But if I had to go to war with a bike, I'm taking my airhead sidecar rig.
I'll also mirror other posters. The Urals are fun and inexpensive but there is a promise of almost certain mechanical issues. My 1975 runs better than any Ural I've seen.
Cheers
Originally written by Uncle Ernie on 8/2/2006 3:20 PM
Hey Claude- what does "other hard-core options" mean? I heard the whoosh as it went over my head, but now I'm curious...
Heck Ernie I don't know what it means but thought it sounded like it fit in. Seriously for real world touring type rigs there are many purpose built outfits around. Google 'Horst Ulrich' or 'H U Sidecars' sometime. Also Scott Whitney's Hog Wild racing rig had many of the more hardcore features to it. Even though it was built for the Paris Dakar rally many of the features on it could be applicable to a world touring type rig. One coupel, and I can't rememebr the link, even had an on board washing machine that worked when transversing rough terrain..lol.
We are still experimenting with an airhead GS rig with platform sidecar topped with a large aluminum diamond plate storage box where the passenger sits. There are dorrs on the front and rear of the box. Car battery has it's own boix behiund the sidecar wheel and will power a 12v receticle for lighting etc when camped. We had it to the recent RON DEE VOO in Pa and it will be at the Finger Lakes BMW rally in Watkins Glen around labor day. It has auto wheels and tires all around with auto brakes on the front and sidecar. A brake proportioning valve is also used as rear brake and sidecar brake are linked together. All brake lines are braided stainless steel with AN fittings as will be fuel lines.There is a ten gallon gavity fed auxillary aluminum fuel tank. A Single sided swingarm leading link with adjustable trail controls the steering. Rig has a Torsion bar suspension and Tilt adjustor. Swaybar with adjustments is working well. Fully adjustable lower sidecar mounts that can be flipped to increase ride height of the sidecar by close to 6". These mounts also allow wheel lead to be adjusted by about 5". Most tubing is DOM material with some chrome moly in key places. Most welding is by tig meachine. Most parts are powder coated or plated in some fashion. BMW subframe is a modified Dauntless unit.
Hardcore? I dunno but we had fun building it.
As a sidenote we installed our first swaybar onto a KLR650/Sputnik rig right after the RON DEE VOO. John Potter and ex racer who rides pretty hard said after he got back to vermont from pa that he really loved it.
Okay I wil shut up now..are we having fun yet?
