The story of the ‘Ural’, the USSR’s most popular motorbike everywhere… except Ru

[cloudbase]

https://www.rbth.com/business/333358-story-of-ural-ussrs-most-popular-motorbike

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Mine was a 2002 model with two wheel drive.  It would go damn near anywhere but you had to be ready to trailer it home often. 
 The electric system was prone to various failures including three times the alternator failed. the last time it took the cam drive sprockets and all connected gear with it.  There being no Ural mechanics near I ordered ll the parts and receive them through the mail.  They did not match my bike.  When I finally got the right parts I assembled it finding that the sprockets in the system were not drilled in the center.  I put it together using a dial indicator and was able to get them to fit with backlash from zero to 1.5 thousandths
of an inch backlash.  It started on the second kick and purred as quietly as the BMW it was copied from.  It drove perfectly and I decided there would never be a better time to trade it, so I did.  For a 2003 Guzzi which promptly shit he bed in the valve system.

[AJ Huff]

I remember we had a dealer in town (Abbeville, SC) around 1996? I thought they were intriguing. No way my wife at the time would have allowed one, LOL!

-AJ

[steven c]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tnqeVJTa20

[Sasquatch Jim]

Two beginners who know nothing about piloting a sidecar.

[Tkelly]

There is a book by a woman who rode one of the first rigs across Canada and back to theNW around 20 years ago.Great read sorry can’t remember her name.

[JJ]

Yes, they are novel, unique, and have interesting long history, but their UN-reliability is legendary on all fronts.   

There are a few running around here in the Verde Valley, and all the owners always seem to have a dog in the sidecar....

Something like this might be a little more practical...(just sayin')

[Ncdan]

Yes, they are novel, unique, and have interesting long history, but their UN-reliability is legendary on all fronts.   

There are a few running around here in the Verde Valley, and all the owners always seem to have a dog in the sidecar....

Something like this might be a little more practical...(just sayin')

I think dogs are the only thing that keeps them in business in the states🤔

[n3303j]

Prices on Ural have skyrocketed!
Ural replaced all the weak Russian parts with reliable substitutes.
(Alternator, bearings, gears, shocks, ignition, wiring harness, switch gear, etc)
The rig is reasonably reliable now.
It will not outperform a 4WD Quad in the rough.
It will not do well running under mud as mud will get into the works.
It will not blaze down the throughway at 70 with its 41 HP engine.

Run within limits it is a great camping vehicle. Its happy at 55 all day and eats up the fire roads. Its driven by the guy who brings the firewood and the keg to the rally. It is also pretty much the only cycle out cruising the snow covered roads and the adjacent frozen lake. No winter withdrawal symptoms if you have a Ural in the stable.

It is a special purpose tool that does its job well.

[cookiemech]

Well said, Ron. I agree with you, though my 2020 Gear Up will in fact run down the highway at 70 mph without complaining (not 75 or 80, though). I've put 8200 miles on it in eleven months, and other than three minor warranty issues (none of which could strand me), I can't say anything bad about its quality level. Its not a Honda, but it also uses less oil than any of the BMW twins that I've owned (no oil need be added between 3000 mile changes).

Lot of fun, too!

[bigbikerrick]

I think n3303j hit the nail on the head!   
Rick

[Knuckle Dragger]

Rumour has it that most mechanical issues with Urals can be fixed with a hammer, pliers & a few yards of fencing wire.

[larrys]

What happened to the Cossack and the Dnepr? Weren't they the same bike as a Ural but made in different factories?
Larry

[Travlr]

>Ninety-nine percent of our motorcycles are exported; Last year (2019 – editor’s note.), we sold a total of just 45 domestically,” >Kurmachev said, sharing Ural’s sales information.

When I was in St Petersburg I asked our guide why I saw so few Russian cars on the streets.  She replied that Russians don't much like Russian products bet "we like Mercedes."

M