Thanks Huey, that was very well written and obviously a lot of
effort. (Thanks to others too, Huey's post really caught me attention though).
I really love the Cammo paint job an the Machinegun Mount on the Gear Up.
I would probably build a machine gun mockup out of PVC pipe...
I live out in the country, and can find roads to challenge just
about any off-road vehicle (I call them roads, but think adventure trails).
I think if I had 2WD, I would find places to use it, but you're right,
I might never use it. I do use 4WD on my truck, and got my old Suburban
stuck even with 35's and 4WD. I tend to go out and find ways to use
capabilities of vehicles. I used my MR2 for autocross and Rallycross
(Even held auto races in our pasture in Alabama).
So it may not be a waste.
When it snows, we get slippery wet snow, and sometimes I can't take
my MR2 on the route I normally use to go to work. I probably could
take an alternate route w/o the two steep hills, but I tend to
just drive the 4X4 instead. One of my main reasons for wanting a
sidecar is so I can ride in the snow if I want to.
Are ther disadvantages to 2WD on the Ural?
Cost & Weight come to mind.
Complexity as well, but if it's broken you can probably
just not use it until you repair it, right?
Are there others drawbacks I'm missing?
The 60 MPH speed limit is something I can live with, I think.
On my commute it is really not an issue. Yes, I to go faster
sometimes, but not very often, and I definitely don't need to.
I don't use my current bike for long rides because my middle aged
body is no longer flexible enough for a sportbike's ergos.
If I rode every day, I suppose I would get used to it and gain
flexibility, but half an hour is the most I can stand currently,
and recently i even had a trip where I got a charley-horse/cramp
that made me pull over and stretch and take a break after only
about 5 miles.
Slowing down might be good for me. I may wish I could go faster,
but I also might enjoy the slower pace. I have been sailing since
I was a kid, and while I like to go fast under sail & power, I also
enjoy sailing at a relaxed pace as well.
I think if I got the Ural with 2WD, I would at least enjoy it for
quite a while. I might eventually wish I had something different,
but I might not.
Otherwise, I will be getting a DRZ400 or a DR650 or KLR650.
I am ready for some sort of dual purpose machine for awhile,
I just need to decide whether I want 2 wheels or 3, and how
much reliability I need.
BTW, the Patrol & Gear Up both have 2WD. But I do like
the Cammo paint. If the Patrol still came in Olive Drab instead
of glossy finishes I would probably go with that & do my own
cammo... but the Gear Up might be a better way to find one
with the accessories that I want already attached.
Anyway, I'm still reading everyone's feedback, and if you tell
me I'm crazy, I'll have to just say "I know". But lots of people
have told me that. I am an odd sort... I juggle axes, machetes &
torches. I built a simple, small jet engine recently. I've done
stuff like Hang Gliding, Sailboat Racing, Windsurfing, Hash Running
and even finished two Marathons (slowly), so I am no stranger to
thinking & operating "outside the box"
Maybe that helps you get an idea of whether I might be happy with the Ural?
I'm trying not to convince myself I want one, but motorcycles
are always at least in heavy part an emotional based decision.
I can talk about why it sounds practical, but am I deluding myself...?
As an option to an early jap bike you may want to consider a BMW airhead with a Ural or similar sidecar on it. These can be made with some modifications to have 'the look', so to speak, and can also take you at decent speeds about anywhere you wish to go.
Reverse and two wheel drive? Hard call. Your decison on whether the overall compromises that are possible will make you happy.
Of course there is also Electric winches. Not that costly for what they can do.
Just some thoughts
Originally written by Mark 42 on 6/11/2007 4:38 PM
Thanks Huey, that was very well written and obviously a lot of
effort. (Thanks to others too, Huey's post really caught me attention though).I really love the Cammo paint job and {Big SNIP}...but motorcycles
are always at least in heavy part an emotional based decision.
I can talk about why it sounds practical, but am I deluding myself...?
After reading that, I believe the Ural was built with you in mind. Go for it.
BTW, I believe they discontinued the machine gun mount. You may have to rig that yourself. Keep us posted and send pictures.
I keep having to tell myself I can't afford two rigs and this one won't work for a major part of my riding, going to see the grandkids. :0)
Mark 42 and Mike,
The statement by Mark that said:
"I can talk about why it sounds practical, but am I deluding myself...?"
Sure made sense from the 'Ural perspective' to me. Just yesterday a long time friend brought his Dnepr to the shop. After taking it for a ride and after looking it over real close and doing a little work on it I really hated to see it leave. It was not what many may call a 'practical rig' in many ways but it was really neat in it's own way. Absolute low tech, simple to work on, many many flaws but a lot of charater. Working on a rig like this is a given but if one enjoys it and takes it in stride then so be it. The Urals, especially the new ones, are so simialr in design etc but are so much more relaible I suppose.
As long as a buyer knopws that these types of rigs are not made to drone down the super slab and are able to enjoy doing some of their own work they should be happy.
Someday maybe we wil have one of our own and I am sure we wil enjoy it.
Mark 42:
Are you still a hasher? If so you will be the perfect beer supplier and red cross pick up person with the switchable 2Wd.
I quit hashing together with drinking beer.
But the personallity is still the same...
That's why I went back to my roots and got the Jawa 2 1/2 years ago.
That's why I fell in love with Ural and save for one.
For sure I will have a lot of discusions the day I will go for to pick it up in the north and rol it down...
arround 6000km no big deal... at least in younger times it was so.
If its in your blood, it is better to do what the blood asks for, otherwise you don't feel well and blame yourself.
Grandmothers saying is still valid: "Never intend to be anything else but YOU YOURSELF, ... otherwise you only make the ridiculous"
Sven Peter Pan
(strange fact: as farer you live away from home as more importance you give to your roots)
"...many flaws but a lot of character"
Hey, that describes ME!
I'm really leaning towards the Ural now (I know, they don't lean).
I'm thinking that if I can save $4000 by getting
a used one that is a little older, that will leave
some headroom to implement some of the upgrades
myself (or approximations of them). Of course if I see
a good deal on a newer one I would go that route.
But I have to sell my FZR first (the guy who was going
to look yesterday was a no-show).
I will definitely post pictures when/if I get one.
Thanks to all of you who helped me think/talk this through.
Now if I can get you to convince my wife that it'd be a
good Father's day gift... nevermind.
I am not ctively hashing right now, but I probably am
still a hasher. I still have an On-On sticker on one of my cars.
I'm also a pretty devout Christian, so that tells you I'm a bit
unusual (to still be hashing). My brother in law started in
the late 1980's or early 1990's, and got several others in
my family involved.
For those who are thinking "What the heck!??"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers
I was a GM in Alabama when the former GM had to move away,
but there was another group in the same area, so I sorta
let that hash go into stasis. Hash name is "Nerd Alert".
I could see myself on a Gear Up with a Red Cross on it!
But being Brewmeister is a big job, and requires that
a person be reliable... I tend not to be that consistent
(Though I did in Alabama for awhile).
When Plantar Fasciitis and too many other commitments bogged me
down from running & hashing, I sort of lost momentum and have
not yet returned to either one. Eventually I will, even if it's
not until I retire. I have a goal to run a marathon in every state
(and Washington, D.C.). 2 down, 48 to go. There is a club called
"50 & DC", that I will join when I meet the criteria for membership.
Last summer I was in the same position, trying to decide whether to go Jap, hook a sidecar on my R100S, or get a Ural. After considerable deliberation, I went for the Ural.
Last September I took possession of a 2006 Patrol. I now have 7500 km on it, and it has been wonderful. I don't use the 2wd much, but it's nice to know it's there.
The Patrol was $1200 cheaper than a Gear Up, and now the difference is $700. Thay are identical bikes, but with the Patrol you get a front bumper and luggage rack. The gear up gives you a shovel.
It almost makes more sense to buy a Patrol and do the camo yourself. A used Patrol would probably been abused less than a gear up.
Urals get better every year. The 750 engine is a great improvement. Often you can find a very low mileage bike on Ebay.
If you decide to go new, check out Ural Northwest in Bellingham, WA, as he sells well below msrp, and is very fast in sending out parts or answering questions.
Mark.
This is all cool and entertaining to some, but as some of us old farts say: Either , or get off the pot!
This is all entertaining as hell but either do something or leave the space for us that do! Go 3 or go sailing.
No offense, (Bad hair day)
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
As I said before, I have to sell my bike first.
Tomorrow I am going to a Ural rally on Marrowstone island.
I don't know why the need to be so harsh.
It's been a week and a half since I last posted.
I started this message thread, the purpose was to help
in the DECISION. Letting people know a little about who I
am might help them bring up interesting points to help in
making the decision. It's not like this forum gets hundreds of
postes every week. If this thread is a waste of time to you,
then don't read it. Someday someone else may follow the evolution
of how I decide and end up benefitting by making the right decision
for himself based on some points brought up right here.
No offense, but a forum that doesn't welcome
people who are interested in the same subject but
not active participants is rather elitist.
I run a Yahoo group for owners of a particular type of sailboat,
and if people who don't even sail want to participate, and stay
even somewhat on the general topic of sailing, I welcome them.
As a businessman, it seems a bit unwise to discourage people
(like me) who are considering entering your market.
I guess when you get down to it, being asked to go does
offend me since as you yourself said, some find this thread
entertaining. Isn't that the whole point of any forum?
I guess this is something that I don't quite get either from your response in this thread, but lots of inside jokes go right over my head. I used to hear the same type of comments at the IMZ site when I first started posting there. I had a ton of questions and not much experience. Luckily, most folks were good in sharing info and entertaining my series of endless questions. I am probably one of the world's champions in awaiting the purchase of my Ural, as it took quite a while until I had the money to make the down payment on something that will keep me broke for quite a while, had the ok nod of the spouse's head, found the stars to be in proper alignment, and had the nerve to sell off my antique car and put the money down on a motorcyle. Also had to get my license and gget some riding gear. I can remember that I had much of the gear well before I ever actually sat my plump toushie onto a Ural's seat and drove it off as somehting I owned.
If I had ever let the "Old Farts" turn me off with such advise, I'd not have made the purchase of the Ural in the first place, and really experienced the joy my rig brings me. I can well relate to someone else who isn't at the point of purchasing a rig for any variety of reasons. BTDT. It don't really waste any band width in my opinion to allow them to ask questions, find answers, and make decisions (even if it does take a bit). There are many other posts that do a much better job of wasting band width it seems, so I don't get it that this one seems to rub anyone the wrong way. The site is easy enough navigate and to skip over such posts, if they really bother someone.
I am hoping there is a tongue and cheek joke in the original reply or even a miscommunication of sorts, as it is always better when I just missed the inside joke, but find that no one meant anything negative by what they were saying as a response. I don't think the "old farts" would be speaking for me if the real advise that they gave as a group sentiment was that "this thread is entertaining as hell, but ---- or get off the pot, and let those in the know use the bandwidth. That is just too easy a way to turn others off from enjoying something that the web board here is for in the first place; sidecar riding and enjoyment. No, I'd have to have them explain why they said that or felt that way much better than that.
Bad hair day or not, that is one uniquely strange response to post. Me, I'll say to the fellow to go ahead and keep the thread going and pick and choose what info you deem important to you to glean from the replies. Lots of things to think over in making bike/rig choices, sidecar choices, and such. Lots of folks here have been in exactly the same slot when they first started out, and can offer up some good advise when they take a breath, chill a bit and enjoy helping someone else with some good advise.
I laugh a bit, as I think about the Allstate commercial that frequently runs these days and says, "Life comes at you fast." My first desire was to own a Drifter with a sidecar. At least three times before I actually purchased my used Troyka, I had the money to pay for the Drifter set up in cash. Well, life came quickly to my doorstep before I handed out that cash wad to my local Kawasaki dealership; youngest daughter got married unexpectly and there went the coins for the wedding and honeymoon expenses, we moved to another city out of necessity and there went the coins for moving expenses unexpectedly, daugher lost baby at 38 weeks of pregnancy and there went the coins for a funeral expense unexpectedly. None of the events were planned, expected or so forth. All were examples of life coming at us quick. The Drifter nd sidecar rig idea was all put in the lowest bowels of my desires in order to take care of what was really important at the time. By the time I did have the money saved to purchase a used Ural (not the original Drifter and sidecar rig I had wanted), a couple of years had passed. I got much of the same "old fart" advise at another site I frequent. Those persons (Old farts) maybe never
I've got pictures of Ural Gear ups (some in scenic settings) tacked
up to the inside of my garage door. I also put one on our fridge and
on our home PC wallpaper where my wife will see them. I added a Gear-Up
I saw on eBay to my wife's auction watch list.
She even said "We will only need one more helmet for Elizabeth since
Drew, you & I have helmets already". I said "No, we still need 4 helmets"
She looked quizzically and said "Why?". I said "e have to get WWII style
helmets in army green" She said "OH, I didn't think of THAT!".
She's getting used to me (19 years will do that).
I have been gathering parts to make a replica machine gun for when
we eventually will go to shows, and the local A&W cruise night.
Also have some pics of machine guns on the garage door. It's a lot
like Huey buying riding gear in advance... steps I can take to help
me while I'm waiting for the big day.
I am chomping at the bit trying not to go lower on the price on
the bike I have for sale (It's in nice condition). I'm also
trying to make a list of negatives about having a sidecar rig,
and a Ural in particular.
Basically, I am working very hard at being patient and doing my
research (including soul searching about how much of the decision
is based on deluding myself about practicality & reality).
It is possible I could have a streak of practicality and just
go for a DRZ400 instead, but I suspect owning a Ural Gear-Up
is going to be something I eventually have to get out of my
system, even if it is a stupid decision in hindsight. It may
be midlife crisis... but the desire will not go away with
maturity - I have been attempting that path since I first saw
a Ural about 5 years ago. It may have gone dormant and been
almost imperceptible for a few years, but I've now aged past
my sportbike, and the desire for the Ural is even stronger than
before. I may supress it for awhile again, but I probably will
indulge the desire this time around.
Tomorrow will influence a lot in this saga.
Mark, it took me almost three years from the time I sold my HitchHiker Goldwing rig till I decided what I wanted next. Don't be bullied into leaving. I set up this site originally and can assure you there is no lack of bandwidth. Keep on asking until you are certain of what you want. There are too many people out there who are convinced that sidecars are dangerous and impossible to set up, only because they were afraid to ask questions.
About a month ago I stopped for gas and a guy came up to me and said that he nearly killed himself 20 years ago by mounting a sidecar to his Harley. He went on to tell me how many lives he's saved by talking people out of buying them. On questioning him, he didn't know the brand name, but said he remembered he could sit on the seat of the bike at a complete stop with his feet on the pegs and raise the sidecar off the ground by just leaning to the left. Obviously it was way too light for the bike, but 20 years later he's still preaching that sidecars are dangerous and should be outlawed.
Never be afraid to ask questions.
Mike, I've got the same story from people who knew beyond a shadow of a doubt how dangerous riding on two wheels is. Barb and I were sitting up camp in Montana one evening several years ago when a guy wandered into our campsite and talked on and on for nearly 45 minutes of the dangers of riding a motorcycle and anybody who does so must be stupid. Barb got her stuff and wandered off to the shower to get away from him. I let it go in one ear and out the other but became more and more tempted to ask him to leave. And another time I had my bike with it's cargo trailer attached in a bike show at a mall. Sitting off to the side I watched and listened to an "expert" explain to his friend how seriously dangerous and stupid it is to tow a trailer with a motorcycle. He'd most likely never ridden a motorcycle let alone tow a trailer with one. Not that any of that has anything to do with Mark's thread here...
OK, Mark, you can have the floor back...
OK, Mark, you can have the floor back...
Oh, FINE... leave me to do mop up! 🙂
Tomorrow I am going to a Ural rally on Marrowstone island.
I expect it will have a profound influence in my decision.
I'll have to remember to take my camera!
(Somewhere I have a pic of all 4 of us on a Ural at the Seattle
Motorcycle Show from the first year we went... I'll see if I
can post it and also if we can recreate it for real)
I'll post pics from the Rally as soon as I get back and make som time.
Times a waistin', go for the Gear Up as soon as possible! Just remember the "07's do NOT have the Machine gun mount, as the '06 and prior models did., But it does have other improvements. '05 or later GU, and you'll be set.
Shop around. I got my '06 used, with 532 klics(about 300 miles) for 9900.00
There may be even better deals out there......shop!
