Considering converting my existing stable into cash... to buy a Ural.

That right there would be my typical ride home (the last 10-ish km of it, anyways), and 90% of what I have in mind. Easy enough to see the limits of what it can do, and avoid the stuff it's not cut out for, there's plenty of good fishing and swimming and such without pushing it too hard... but the pics above, with a slight wiggle to the "better or worse" side of it, would be pretty close to where I'd spend most of my time.

I appreciate the answers and opinions, thank you.

And keep the pics coming... starbucks or not!

Deep snow is, honestly, a bigger consideration for the bulk of the year, than dirt and mud. To put it in perspective, season before last gave me a grand total of about 3 months of 2-wheeled riding (and I ride my bike well before, and after, it is sensible)

That video is precisely what I have in mind, largely.

After watching the video, now I want a Ural!!!

I recommend buying a 2008 or newer, jetting it for your altitude (30 minute task) rust proofing the underside (if you're from an area where they salt the roads) and riding it.

Keep in mind the fenders and the tub are all steel, so you may end up removing and coating the underside of them someday anyway. The results some folks have gotten with Upol Raptor bedliner looks pretty professional, and could help extend the life of your investment.



Adding some Oxford heated grips (or similar) is a good idea too - really extends the riding season for me.

Salt's a HUGE issue here. They brine the asphalt pretty heavily.

If you bedliner the tub and fenders, you could buy a Ural, run it until the engine explodes (hopefully many years from now) and then sell the sidecar for $2500 if it is in good shape.

been exploring the option of putting a sidecar on a KLR or DR, too. Just... lacks the charm, ya know?

Well, if you are gong to bring "charm" in to the discussion, all bets are off!

Rat probably means UDF

"Charm" is everything. I ride a Guzzi, after all, and my three dream bikes are... Guzzi, Ural and Royal Enfield.

UDF? I R unfamiliar with this term.

Ural
Delay
Factor.
People wanting to talk about your "old bike".

Ahh. Got it. I get enough of that on my CB750, and my late 60s Honda 90s. I can imagine it's greater on a Ural, though.

"A" Ural? "An" Ural? I dunno.

If your passanger is under 75 lbs the monkey with Industrial Moto does fine

Might make the 20km on pavement to work a bit... interesting.

Dammit. Now you've got my mind wandering...

If other models are a possibility, I'd buy this:



https://advrider.com/f/threads/fs-fleabay-cl-stuff-goes-here.492526/page-929#post-41283258

I get that all the time with my Bonneville outfit, with way to many "bike guys" thinking it's vintage. I'm a curmudgeon, and don't much care for a bunch of idle chit-chat at the gas pump. I'm a sucker for kids, though, and have given a few rides to stranger's kids admiring the rig.

As for the grammar question; how does it sound if you change it to "Urinal"? I'm going with "A Ural".

I would too, but I'd try to get it for $12k

BTW; I wouldn't hesitate to take my Bonnie/Scrambler rig on anything in that video, albeit slower on the biggest hits.

Not some of the ones I ride on. There is one near me that is very overgrown, with nice rutted, rocky hills that required 2wd to get up. You would not riYes, most fire roads are not bad, in fact, I have had my Concours 1400 on many, but not the ones near me in Western Pennsylvania.

Yeah, that is a road, a real highway compared to what I was talking about. There are parts of this trail that you can barely make out as a trail anymore. Truth be told though, I won't be back on that trail much. As you said, most people don't need 2WD. I do like having it though, if for nothing else, the extra ground clearance over the non 2WD Ural.