So, I've made a few changes to my bike since I originally posted a thread about it here http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=792362, and I thought I'd share. I swapped the stock exhaust for a full set of Modtops, with ceramic coated headers. I also added a front rack to the nose, along with the stock front hack bumper. I'm not entirely sold on this after the fact. Looks a little bit cluttered to my eye. I then added an old entrenching tool in place of the stock shovel, and put the stock fuel can back on. Next came the reupholstery - both the Raceway Deluxe saddle and the stock hack seat were recovered in brown leather and treated with mink oil. The Raceway seat now has a denser foam, as the foam it comes with is just too soft. As you can see, we don't get much rain here, so I'm not too concerned with water damage to the leather. There's also a Mr. COB steel skid plate under there to protect the sump (Thanks Dave!). Lastly, I added a M72 rack to the rear fender, ala Windmill, along with a mount for the leather pannier on the outside of the bike. This adds some storage for lightweight items in a convenient spot and looks great against the OD green. Oh, almost forgot about the windshield. Got this used from Terry Crawford, and it just needed a paint job. It's still not mounted quite right. The handlebar struts are not an exact fit with my Flanders handlebars, and the headlight mount tabs are too narrow. I beat on 'em with the ol' BFH, but they're still not quite right. More to come when the windshield comes off in the summer. I think next I'll get rid of the cammy tonneau/door/shovel cover and swap it with OD or maybe brown canvas. Hope you guys dig it.
You are a bad mutha. Stuff like this will sell more Urals than expensive advertising schemes (not that Ural needs to advertise). I like your style. I always thought if and when I go Ural, it would have to look like that one. Q- do you think a guy could fit a second leather pannier on the right side, or make a custom "thinner" one? Coming from a bike with big Pelican cases, it would be comforting to still retain two panniers Again, well done sir, you are a Ural-artist.
Really dig the rear light...wish I had one like this on my Soviet bikes: are the holes same as the big stock square light?
I think it would fit easily between the tub and the rack, if I removed the gas can. There might be a clearance issue with the bottom of the pannier and the final drive, but I know you can find shorty steel panniers that would fix that problem. See here: http://www.oldtimergarage.eu/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=465. I'll check it later and post back for you.
Thanks, that wasn't as easy an install as I imagined. The plate is flat, and the surface it attaches to is curved, so it took some effort to get it right.
Worth the effort, I'd say. Every military vehicle I've ever operated or loaded on the plane has a data plate on it somewhere. We often reference it to determine what the rated strength of the tie-down rings are when loading them. That kind of attention to detail really pushes your bike over the top and lends it some real authenticity in regards to the look of the whole machine. Very impressive!
