Old Ural, New Ural or DNEPR?

forget all 3 if you are planning on sustained speeds of more than 60 MPH you will be much happier with a bike of at least 1000 CC.
bigger displacement, more dependable.
If your planning on doing any kind of long trips at highway speeds, the 3 are not what you want.
they are great on the back country roads, at speeds no more than 60............65 at the most . some will tell you they hit 70. but not all day on the 'states.

I just want something for short trips and a little off road
(like gravel roads, fire roads... not hard core offroad).

Mainly, it's for my commute on the times I don't want to use
my vanpool.

Here's my commute:
6 miles on surface roads, 45 mph posted speed limit, 55-60 mph max speed.
Wait in line, board ferry, unload from ferry.
7 miles surface streets same speeds as above, except when I feel
like hopping on the freeway for a couple of miles instead (still
mostly surface streets, and no need to go fast on the freeway
miles if I use that route at all).

I know I'll miss the 140 Horsepower FZR1000 speeds somewhat,
but I like the idea of being able to ride when there are small
ice patches and some snow on the ground. I also would like
to carry stuff like my violin, hardware store shopping items,
extra clothes, etc.

I figure if I buy used, I can always re-sell without losing a ton
of money if I find that it isn't right for me.

But I really like the rugged cammouflage look and the go anywhere
(almost) ability of the 2 wheel drive SUV-ish sidecar rigs.

I figure if I want to go faster, I won't really want a sidecar.
There are a lot of bikes that are fast and not real expensive,
so I might even someday convince my accountant that I should
have a bike and a sidecar rig... but I think she's warming up
to the Ural idea, so I might want to seize the opportunity.

In some ways it does make sense for me.

For the usage you mention you don't need or want a two wheel drive rig.
Handy with tools? Why not go even better with the purchase of a 80's to 90's Japanese cruiser above 750cc's and maybe an affordable 562C Velorex sidecar and set up your own rig for a fraction of the cost of a new URAL and have a combo that will cruise at freeway speeds all day if desired, carry your groceries and still have enough ground clearance and suspension for some playing on some forest service roads if desired once in a while.
You're still at the front of the ferry but you'll get there quicker and more dependably than with older Russian iron.

Check out Hack'ns Hacks in the album section. You'll see many examples there.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
nwsidecar@aol.com

good suggestion from Hack'n.
you have to realize, that once you get bit by the SC bug, you will want to use it more and more. you will be seeking out the higher speed roads, and longer distances. not just for the 'commute'.it is great fun!!
no need for a second 'road burner'.
your hack will do it all, except lean, and fall over in the sand, gravel, water, ice, ETC.

If your heart is set on a Russian bike, I would go with a late model Ural. They've really improved by leaps and bounds. Especially if this is your first rig, you don't want to spend all your time fixing or waiting for parts.
Personally, I go along with the guys who recommend looking for an inexpensive Japanese bike as a first rig, but that usually entails finding an affordable sidecar and the matching bits or buying a ready built combination.

Mike,
you mention that Ural improuved a lot,
As I saw yesterday they come now with Kehin carbs, that sounds like a great improvent.
But I still have in mind Christians dneprpages (austria) http://www.dnepr.at/e/sitemap.htm
that aware you of 100 points to check and redo before you get an Ural or Dnepr reliable.
How good are they realy nowerdays?

I dream of a Ural Patrol for years.
1 rear shift sound good, and 4 forward fair, here in these montains a transfer case with low gear and a switchable diferential would be best.

That dream will not come out of my head until I got one in Washington and rolled it down here to Costa Rica....

But I don't like the idea to have to buy a second engine and diferential....
And for sure I could not sell that idea to the best of all wifes...

So my question, how reliable are the Ural Patrol now?
Or shall Y wait a few years more?

Sven Peter Pan

There are some reviews on the Ural website.
http://www.imz-ural.com/company/media.htm

Among the things mentioned is a change to a nippon-denso alternator.
That's just the sort of thing I could do myself. It's a single
wire, so it's just a matter of fabricating brackets (depending how
the drive mechanism works). If it's a belt & pulley, piece of cake.
If it's a gear or some other more intimate connection to the engine,
I might have to see if I can get my brother to machine some parts.

Anyway, I really like the idea of a reverse gear.
If I have two-wheel drive, I will use it. Whatever I do get, I can
be certain I will get it stuck eventually. I live sorta out in the
country, so the opportunity for off road is definitely here.

I already decided I want a dual-sport of some type. The DRZ400
really appeals to me, but the DR650 & KLR650 would be suitable
for adding hard kuggage (ammo boxes) for the storage I desire.

I will try to keep an open mind and watch for deals on other rigs.
An adventure bike with a sidecar would be nice, but adventure bikes
are not inexpensive (R1150GS w/ sidecar would be a dream, especially
if I could fabricate reverse & 2 wheel drive - which would be nearly
impossible without extensive resources... to buy the foundation and
to manufacture the improvements).

Which is why the Ural appeals to me. Two wheel drive and reverse gear
are two features that I really can't add later. It would be easier to
adapt a newer engine to the Ural, though that would be the end of the
reverse gear.

Now two wheel drive... that could be added later. It would be a challenge
to make it work smoothly and make the engage/disengage work well.

Another issue I have to face is that if I do look for something that
isn't a purpose built unit (like Ural, DNEPR and the chinese variants)
I may not have the knowledge required to judge what I am looking at.
I wouldn't know the difference between a bodged together geometric
mess and a well engineered combination. I could get some idea just
by looking at build quality and how well engineered the integration
between the bike and sidecar has been executed, but test rides
won't tell me much because I have no past data to compare to.

I will keep an eye on the classified here on the sidecar forum though.
Someone responded to my ad in Craigslist for my FZR, so I may actually
be in the market to look more seriously in the reasonable future.

Check here often too:

http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/usedrigs-ads.htm

Maybe nothing in your price range right now but new stuff gets listed there often.

I'll keep an eye on it.

If anyone sees something appropriate for me (prefer adventure rig
that's road safe for $5,000 or less) in the Puget Sound (Seattle)
area, let me know.

That;s one of the difficulties with the classifieds, people
don't put the area the rig is located in the title so I
have to open every single message.

Maybe I can switch to nested mode or something like that (?)
to make it easier to browse the classifieds on these forums.

Still, it would be useful to put price and area in the
message titles of for sale ads.

There is a Ural on Spokane Craig's list as of this morning. Not two wheel drive but it is the 750...

I'll have a look.
I'm heading out to Newport Washington next month, though
I really do want the Gear Up model if I get a Ural.

I guess I'd totally disagree with many of the posted replies here in regards to dependability of a Ural. Thas is to say, a later model Ural with the 750 engine in it. Check out the IMZ web board, and you may be very surprised to find that there are more posts these days regarding jokes and tales of rides, than there are dedicated maintenance issues caused by poor QA and such. I don't buy the idea of purchasing a cheap Jap bike and adding a hack as the best alternative either. Get that Velorex into the swamps and boggs, and it ain't gonna' take the bumps, grinds, pulls and pushes that a good Ural sidecar will handle. It may be nice for 70MPH cruises, but life isn't always about speed either. The Ural tub is more comfortable, more durable and just more fun in most instances. Of course, that is just my personal opinion, but remember, the fellow is speaking of a Gear UP and not the typical Ural rig. If he is thinking Gear Up, he isn't inclined to want to purchase the thing for straight out riding with the woosies who just want to hit the super slabs. Life ain't always about super slab travel, either.

I do agree that the typical Ural is not designed for 70 MPH and greater speeds, for sustained periods of time and wear. The final drive and tranny are just not up to that as the norm, in my opinion. This does not mean they can't reach those speeds, but once there for sustained speeds over time you risk manuverability and handling, as well as parts failure.

An older Ural, say a '90's model, is something that is not necessarily in the same category as the newer models. They are prone to alternator problems, electrical problems, and other gremlin glitches that are a unique part of their history. However, that history is in the past and Urals have come a long way since then. Each year seems to bring more and more improvements. With the improvements come price increases, but in looking at the price of Ural parts vs many european bikes or even some Jap bikes, the Ural often looks very much like a bargain. Now, parts availability may be a different story, but probably no different than any other make in reality.

Dnepr????? No way would I suggest grabbing up one for a first rig experience. Not if it was to be used in the manner the original poster described that he wanted to use it.

One thing I'll say is that I don't feel he has actually put in the effort in researching the different options at this point. As a potential buyer, you had better do your homework well before any buyer's remorse sets in after the purchase. A Ural isn't a Honda. It will never be. However, a Honda ain't a Ural either. Both have their own good points and both have some negatives as well. Neither fulfill the needs of everyone, so be sure a Ural is what you want before you consider it. The sweet spot is 55-65 MPH. Leave the windshield up and it is like driving a brick when you hit higher speeds. Off-road and then back again, the Ural will give great versatility and durability. You won't find anything all that similar on most sidecar rigs. Just remember, there are drawbacks to all makes and combingations. I would dearly love a Drifter with a Ural sidecar attached, but as great as the Kawasaki bike may be, the combo would never do anything off-road as functional as a standard Ural. You don't really need the 2 wheel drive on a Ural for much of anything. Even fellows who opted for it, are generally hard pressed to name how often they use the thing. A Patrol or Tourist will get you through almost as much with just some good nobbies or a bit more ballast. On the other hand, a Troyka, as I have is like the caddy of Urals. One who owns one, really does not want to scratch the paint by hitting the dusty trails and off-road bogs. But don't be fooled that it can't jump up an do it at a moment's notice though. Mine can give the trails a good what for in pleasing me when I want to get away from the crowd. That isn't my cup of tea with it though, so I really do enjoy the freedom of hitting the back roads and sideroads about the countryside. Life can be just

Hello Huey,
thank you very much as for you answered my earlier question too.
I don't know about the original poster what his need is.
I sit in Costa Rica in the middle of high mountains and a lot of deep mud, damaged roads and serpentines.
Speed is not the question 70-90km/h= 44-57 mph is street travel speed in this contry anyhow. And in dirt I do not want to damage more my small Jawa which is very handy on the road.

So as I interprete your answer:
Ural starts to improove in the right way and if I wait some 2 years more
the Patrol or susesor will be my choice.

Fit it with 2 (3) fans and oilcooler And I'll have something to be happy with, when the best of all wifes let me go fishing or just sneek for new trails.
Spares will still be the question. Does the Washinton importer send them by mail?

Kind regards

Sven Peter Pan

Ditto the older Jap bike with Velorex SC. I have about $1500 total in mine and it is a wonderful rig. Extremely reliable.

I'd stay away from the Dnepr, nothing but horror stories about those. I'd go for a 2002 or prior Ural. After 02 they wen with a disk front I think and thus the spare can only be used on the back or hack, not the front. I have to figure that if you ride sanely, that drum will be more than adequate then you have the flexibility with the spare. Personally, I'd like to find one with a blown motor and put a real BMW engine in it, then you'd have the best of everything I'd think. But they seem to be hard to find that way.