I suppose the CJ is not better nor worse than the older Urals. There is a site for dedicated followers of the BMW R71 copies (Ural, Dnepr, CJ etc), home. Pros (if there are any), cons (a lot), similarities and "which is better" questions are answered there.

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HansP

Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict
Learn how to travel in Norway the inexpensive way!
Your Guide to Winter Motorcycle Riding!

Just spotted this thread. I'm an ex-ural bike owner and current ural sidecar user. I've met a couple of chang riders at various rallies etc.

We are talking three sorts of bike here IMHO. A Chang is a sidevalve 650 made in China, so produces about as much power as a CG125 and is made to Soviet standards by people who'd really rather be elsewhere. It is only two places removed from the BMW R71, so if you want one for a film role and know a decent mechanic they are maybe your thing. I wouldn't leave the house on one unless you have your bus pass with you.

A pre-2005 Ural is also a 650 made to Soviet standards but by people paid in vodka, but is at least OHV and when actually working puts out 30-odd HP. If you know how to rebuild your gearbox with nothing but a swiss army knife you may feel able to leave the bus pass at home.

A post 2005 Ural is a 750 40-odd HP and has a fair few japanese and European components and is made by people who'd like to earn some decent hard currency and know what they need to do to do it. It still has two carbs and pushrods and some major bits left over from the 650 so I wouldn't stop renewing the bus pass yet, you could at least need it on days when you've used up the bikes full service interval.

My Bonneville is now sporting a 2007 Ural sidecar and while the paint is as thin as ever, looking at the 750's in the showroom they were tempting. The design is as practical as it gets, I just have nagging doubts about the build quality. Personally, once they go FI (and hopefully hydraulic tappet) and have a year or three to settle down the production line I'll be about ready for a new outfit and will definately go look. They have the potential to be an R80 for the 21st century but we'll see.

Andy

Urals are cool, and reverse-gear is a nice feature!

Now that's close to what I want!

If anyone from Ural was reading this I want:

750-850cc 55 hp, basic FI and pushrod/hydraulic flat twin (buy the FI from the same people as Moto Guzzi)
Big fuel tank - 300 mile range.
High ground clearance sidecar that can carry a dog (so no open platforms)
Reverse gear
Interchangeable wheels with disc brakes or at least a front disc that unbolts.
A frame and forks designed for sidecar/off road use.
Everything where you can get at it.
As many standard car items as possible (ie H4 headlamp bulbs)
No CAN electrics, just a ****** big battery.
Metal used anywhere you might want to fasten anything on.
A kick starter as back up.
Space to stow a proper tool kit and a service manual with the bike.
Stainless exhaust.

Ural have done most of the hard work over the last 60 years and the picture shows they can use almost the same bits to make an R80GS competitor for both overlanders and the European retro market. Just hope they realise how close they might be to three really sellable bikes (they'd need to make a Harley clone too, the motor is too perfect not to and the reverse gear sells it to potential US buyers who are currently buying things with starter motor reverse).

Andy

May I suggest one of the best personal websites I know of.
The Timeless Ride Hubert Kriegel BMW Motorcycle Raid World Travel Sidecar Adventure Gespann
He has just replaced his BMW rig for a Ural.

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Sam Jones

I'm a current owner of a 2007 ural with 13000 km + --so far the bike is performorming as advertised --the heavy steel / nonplastic build is impressive ---the rig is old skool and does require your attention [ any bike does in my opinion ] you treat it right it gives you good service. all mechanial features are simple and straight forward ,making it easy to perform scheduled maitenance and repaires [ to date none has been required - just the initial retightening of the usual components during breakin ] . We've been on several long trips and have enjoyed the extra carrying capacity to carry tent,sleeping bags and camping gear that you just can't do comfortably riding two up on two wheels. Now that its broke in we've even been on the Interstate with it and although I still run it at about 55 TO 60 it will do that loaded all day ,but the back roads is where it's best suited and makes for a great ride. As with all bikes it has a few bad points it's just some thing you deal with

We've done a couple of trips with it so far, but nothing long distance. Partly down to the dog not yet being fully comfortable being a monkey for a change!!

Anyway, do you have extra carrying capacity?

What sort of fuel economy do you manage?

Have you gone off-road?

Was you paasenger a pillion or chair-monkey?

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

sorry for delayed response--my bad-- The Retro now has 22000KM on the clock and is a definate keeper,seems the guzzis and the beamer don't get ridden much--Warthog- yes theres allot more capacity--in the summer months riding with passenger it averages 34 to 35 MPG--no serious off roading , just the dirt roads of the Ozarks --and the passenger is always in the chair. this Retro has the reliabilty I'd hoped for- been to the rockies, to texas .missouri,iowa kansas , oklahoma, new mexico with NO problems other than the occasional flat tire it just purrs allday--the only warning I have is If you buy one be prepared to do ALLOT of UDF and waving as everyone that sees you waves like they know ya

What's your cruising speed?

Over on that other bike forum (The one that starts with an A) we were having a discussion and while I love the look of Urals and think they have made a huge leap since I had mine in 2000, I've still got nagging doubts about what happens if you run them on the motorway? Here abouts anything that can't run at 60 all day eventually gets OVLOV, NAM or a three pointed star imprinted in it's rear

Now if Gordon Browns mates would lift the ban on right hand chairs and I could get a 3x2.....

Andy

I would say a comfortable cruising speed is about 55-60 mph, no more. That said comfortable also depends on the road surface. They feel on the verge of throwing you into a nearby field at those speeds on a bumpy road

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

dito on the 55 to 60 cruising speed but I don't have that problem on back roads-- the Retro handles very well and the ride is great ,since break in the Guzzis and the beamer sit allot cause my back and ass feel much better after a days ride on the Retro as compared to the others. of coarse that could be that corbin police solo that I've adapted to the frame