My review of Ural Motorcycles (2012)

My Ural Yamal was my first sidecar outfit. Been riding bikes for 58 years and always wanted a hack so I bought one and am happy with the decision.
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Went to a sidecar get together recently and noticed the Ural guys were out riding the gravel roads and the Goldwing,BMW, and Harley hack guys were sitting around bragging about riding the super slab going 80 MPH.
My Ural is hard pressed to do 65 MPH. But I don't need to do 65 MPH in the mountains of WNC.

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Different strokes for different folks.
And definitely Urals are not for everyone.
I just did the 10k km service on mine and it was a lot.
I bet a dealer would have to charge an arm and a leg for the service.
Don't get one if you don't like to wrench.

I guess you wont like the 2014's

No more need to,

set timing
adjust idle
set air screw
fine tune needles and jets
balance carbs
bed in brakes
adjust brakes
clean breather mist out of airbox
check and tighten wheel bearing retainers
fool with friction damper (replaced by 15 step adjustable hydraulic damper)

Basically it will be routine oil changes/lubrication, valve adjustments and air cleaner service. Using standard off the shelf automotive spin on oil filter and air filter element, even that will be easier and more economical.

IMO, With increased power, performance, higher quality components, reduced maintenance and mileage in the high 30's, a Ural will still be a Ural, but will have more general appeal.



I have ridden it twice, the difference is significant.

My 07 Patrol has almost 85,000 km on it.

windmill,
I am sold. 2012 Yamal for sale soon.

I read a quote somewhere recently, and I can't find it, from a Russian expat who, on being told of his friends recent acquisition of a Ural said:

"Why for you buy motorcycle is already broken before leave factory?"



Made me chuckle.


So do they do them in 2wd with the chair on the left? I have a plan that involves a lot of sand, and the most remote community on the planet.

Given the trans output and driveshaft, I don't see how they could run a left side 2wd final drive. Maybe it exists, but being in USA I have never seen it.

I had an encounter with a Russian expat and his young son the other day in a parking lot. He waxed nostalgic about the Ural he used to ride around as a kid back home and how tough they are. Took a pic of his son in the hack.

Germans used to feel the same way about the original Beetle or Trabant, if it was almost the only choice, loathing is eventually superceded by nostalgia.

No.

Reason #142 not to buy a Ural. You might find yourself tossing the keys to the only sober guy at an ADV rally so he can take you on a beer run.



Sent from the voices in my head and transcribed by their drinking buddy...

This is an excellent thread. Since I sold all of my bikes, to include an 1150GS and a VStrom DL1000, I've been considering a Ural.

I assumed the later models were fairly solid machines but apparently the Russians still haven't been able to refine their quality control processes other than for their Ak-47s rifles. I will now approach my buying decision with great caution.

If you can keep a 67 Triumph TR 6 on the road, the Ural will be easy.

I guess it depends what you want. I did a lot of research before I got my Gear Up. I found buy as new as you can afford and stay on top of the maintenance. I've had no problems with mine except for a defective tail light lens cover(sent one immediately by my dealer). 7500 kms and counting. I wanted something I could ride all year round and for me, I think I found it.







Pete

Ural is indeed my first rig. The primary factor was price. I'm a mechanic by trade so maintenance didn't scare me. I like thw 1150gs and Bonneville setups but it's 12k-sky's the limit to get into one. I was able to purchase a 2010 Ural at nearly half that. Now that I've confirmed I love it I may still find myself with a GS rig eventually. Although the Ural has a unique charm for sure.

Mike

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 4

That is a very nice looking rig. I'm up to 10k km with no problems, knock on wood.

How about a front shot of that rig, I would like to check out the lights. Any alternator load problems ?

Shouldn't have, alt puts out 750kw.

Um....that's enough to power a couple of city blocks at peak usage, and 1,000 times what it actually puts out.

Typical comment from "Russians" referring to the past...
The worst place to get advise on Ural it's Russia or Russians with no clue on the subject.

Why? Very few peoples know what are the "new" Ural and even less (...) drove one of them.

Even one of the journalist of Moto-magazine.ru "discover" the new Ural after a 6000km ride... (September&October 2013 issue)

Instead of listen some ignorants better to read the ride reports like Mr Cob in Australia:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831331

or this one:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906932&highlight=uraling

Well im missing my 08 GU somethin bad.. Back in the market for a "winter beater" now.. damn OOOrals....