"Can I jump in as a none Ural owner....yet." Absolutely take one for a test ride, remember to hit the dirt on that test ride too. My 2006 will run 70 down the highway just fine and Spat's 09 will out run me but I prefer the 60 to 65 mph speed as it is more soothing. I have a GS rig if I want to run 90 and a nice fast 2 wheeler if I really need to get it out of my system. Take one for a spin, you just might like it.
Thanks...I'm gonna have to go do it . My Wife is jonesing for a ride and the kids sat in the Ural hack. My 6 year old Son looked at me and said "Daddy, you need one of these to take me for a ride" Then he told me I could take him to school in it . She'll take a lot of training before she can ride it. What do I need to know BEFORE I climb on? I am a long time motorcyclist that rides everyday. I know about the "pull" of the car when braking and accelerating, anything that might get me in trouble? I think the Ural is way up there in the cool factor rating.
Listen to Logan's advise and take the test drive. Then do some more reading before you take delivery About the only thing that might get you into trouble is thinking that your two-wheeled experience is going to "help".
I'm gunna be a heretic. If I was going to do it all over again for the same money, I'd probably build a mid-late 90's 1150 GS hack. It's got way more usable power and fuel-economy, it's happy cruising at relativistic velocities all day on the roads, and it can go just about anywhere my Ural can go. I don't typically do much highway driving normally. I never take driving on any of the big highways lightly. With the Ural I sometimes feel boxed in because the about the only way to get out of the Seattle area is via a superhighway. While the hack is certainly capable of safely navigating these surfaces, the lack of extra power to avoid idiots always bothers me a little. That being said, I love my Ural GearUp. It's easy to work on, durable enough to tolerate my special brand of stupidity, and surprisingly low maintenance. It'll do 45mph on snow, ice, mud, gravel, dead babies, and whatnot (I know this empirically). Dogs everywhere love it. Ex-Patriot Russians always grin, say "Oooo-ral", and give a knowing wink. Strangers always want to take photos of it. Bums always say that they've had a Harley just like it. Cute women avoid it (just as well for me as I love my wife) unless there's a dog in the hack, then they flock like pigeons. Like all bikes, there's no "best at everything". The Ural is a wonderful machine on crappy roads (of which almost all of Seattle's qualify) and conditions (300 days of "glacial crotch-puddle" syndrome here, lads). With knobbies and 2wd engaged, there is no greater joy than compact snow and ice. Logging roads? No problem. Gravel? No problem. Seattle Superhighways? No fun.
Here??? Where else??? I have no notions that my 2-wheel experience will help other than the controls-brake/clutch..etc. I started on Airheads many years ago and work on BMW's so I'm fine with maintence. I KNOW that I'll spend some time putting close to home and be looking for a sidecar class. I'm SURE I can find a Ural owner to take me under their wing close to home. Next weekend I think I'll ride on over.
Hey AZRamJet, I am waiting. Call me at the dealership or PM me so I make sure I am there. I sold the used 06 GearUp yesterday to someone I met at AZ Bike Week from the west side. Terry who was working the show with me also lives on the west side. We have plenty of Uralists in the area to help with the learning curve. Howdy to all, I have been busy since Death Valley Daze with AZ Bike Week but I think I am back.
"Here??? Where else???" Go here, http://www.cyclesidecar.com/pdfs/Sidecar Manual.pdf , and save the pdf. This is a very good intro to sidecar riding. Logan, Speaking of nice to meet you are we going to see you in Moab next week?
Howdy Logan, I thought you were a pretty darn nice guy, then while sittin around your camp fire in Death Valley, you turned me onto that green bottle, since then life hasn't been the same. Take AZRamJet out to that road house we had lunch at when you escorted me out of Aridzona, great road to ride and good place to grab lunch, a test ride like that should result in a sale.
Logan, at AZ bike week on Sunday, remember the guy in the Triumph shirt? I was with the guy in the BNW shirt? We talked to for quite a while????? That was me and my buddy Chris. Been thinking alot about it.....I'll call you for this Saturday, I have your card. Rog
It is not hard to see from the responses here that it is your comunication skills that are lacking. As far as respect goes you make two interesting comments: 1) " I don't care if people accept what I say or not" ..... 2) "Respect - a funny word with too many meanings." I suppose Both of these pretty much spell out you view on things? Do I demand respect? No, not at all. Any respect that comes my way is thought of as a compliment. Do I try and give respect? Yes and it is not based on how much knowledge one has or maybe does not have. If we try and respect our fellow man first regardless of he or she being right or wrong it makes things a lot easier. Other terms like common courtesy carry a lot of weight also. To blast someone like Sarge, especially when he said " I may be wrong but..." is uncalled for and disrespectfull at best. It ain't what is said it is how it is said. It isn't even how it is said many times but how it is received that counts. If you can't grasp the simplicity of this then ,with all DUE respect, so be it.
AZRamjet, I wasn't in the booth much on Sunday, my charity poker run "Logan's Run" was that day so I was in and out quite a bt. *BTW, I know we had at least 4 Urals on the run that day. Not a big # but better than none. There were over 400 riders and comboned with the charity auction my wife runs on Saturday we raised over $30,000 for the charity. * I spoke with someone on Friday or Saturday that I thought was you, I guess not. Regardless, I will see you on Saturday and we will go from there. Cob is referencing Tortilla Flats, where we went for lunch when he was here. That is probably a little to far for a test ride but we can still put a couple miles under our belt. See you on Saturday.
Yep, it is in the plans. Sonnyaz(ADV rider/VStrom) and I are planning on being there. Running a small dealership sometimes gets in the way of playing; but as of now, I am planning on being there.
