Airhead lover

[palica]

Hello everybody,

Sorry, I missed the introduction topic when I registered

I'm Frederick, from La Belle Province (I'm originally from France but I live in Quebec, Canada since almost 15 years).

I'm a flat twin fan, and my only limit is the size of my garage.

Right now, I have a 1974 BMW R90S, a 1993 BMW R100GSPD, a 2006 Ural Patrol and my wife bought this summer a pristine 2010 BMW F650GS. I may add a /2 in the future...

I use my R90S mainly for short rides (couple of hours).

My GS is my travelling bike. I'm preparing it for a 10,000 mile trip to Alaska in July 2011. it has 60 Kmiles right now so it is just broken in. I also have some plans for Central and South America (2012/2013) and Europe / North Africa.

My Ural is for everything else: commuting around with my buddy-dog Choubaka, my dog, going to the grocery, making long trips (I have been to Happy Valley, Labrador last year and James Bay, Qc this year with my Ural). It is my Winter bike too.

I'm married and also the proud father of 3 kids (7, 11, 14).

Here are some pics of my bikes, trips and my garage:























I already found some valuable information on the forum and website. Thank you!

All the best

Fred

[AliBaba]

Welcome!

Nice bikes

[Warthog]

Wooooo Hooooo!! Another foilhead!!

I have the 2007 Patrol, although they call it the Sportman over here. +1 to Alibaba: they are very nice bikes!

Bienvenue, l'Ouraliste!

[Redboots]

Fred, I hate you already with all those rides You will fit in well here, welcome.

Cheers,
John

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

As dog lover, I must say...

You're the man!!!!


Welcome to the HUBB!

[palica]

Thank you all for the welcome.

Originally Posted by AliBaba

Welcome!

Nice bikes

Thank you... I agree . I have just sold 2 x Honda CL350 I had to leave some space to my wife's pristine BMW F650GS so if my calculation is OK, another flat could join the family in the future... Fortunately, my wife does not read the forum (yet).

Originally Posted by Warthog

Wooooo Hooooo!! Another foilhead!!
I have the 2007 Patrol, although they call it the Sportman over here. +1 to Alibaba: they are very nice bikes!
Bienvenue, l'Ouraliste!

Merci Warthog,
Yes, the Patrol is almost identical to the Sportman... But I still can't understand how a Ural sidecar can have the word "Sport" in its name...:confused1: Maybe it becomes a sport when you have to push it?

Seriously, my Ural has been solid and reliable as a rock (yes, a rock can be reliable) and although it needs a bit more maintenance than modern bikes, its simplicity and pleasure/$ ratio makes it a great adventure bike.

Originally Posted by Redboots

Fred, I hate you already with all those rides You will fit in well here, welcome.

Cheers,
John

Thank you John. Sorry for posting . I'm already on different forums (BMW, Ural, Dual Sport bikes), but HU is the only one where I find very valuable information focused on what I love and what I want to do in the next, let's say 15 years. So I think you're right: there is a fit.

Originally Posted by Knight of the Holy Graal

As dog lover, I must say...

You're the man!!!!


Welcome to the HUBB!

And she's the Dog!!! Seriously, traveling by Ural sidecar with a dog creates a lot of delay (AKA UDF or Ural Delay Factor) but it is also nice. I usually travel solo when I'm with my motorbike and the dynamic with the sidecar + dog is different (just taking into consideration the poo/pee stop).

[Warthog]

Originally Posted by palica

Merci Warthog,
Yes, the Patrol is almost identical to the Sportman... But I still can't understand how a Ural sidecar can have the word "Sport" in its name...:confused1: Maybe it becomes a sport when you have to push it?

Seriously, my Ural has been solid and reliable as a rock (yes, a rock can be reliable) and although it needs a bit more maintenance than modern bikes, its simplicity and pleasure/$ ratio makes it a great adventure bike.

Total agree on the smiles for miles of Urals. We hope/plan to ride to Kamchatka with the Ural and the two dogs, so I am constantly cooking up new ideas to make the bike better for this trip. As you can see in the picture the luggage is pretty much there as well as the spot. I have also fitted a higher exhaust for soft terrain.

Now I need an engine bashplate and to fix new pillion pegs of rmy wife as the new exhaust interferes with the old pegs. The only problem I have had that was not a result of me abusing it was a failed hall sensor: cheap to fix, but left me stranded!

I love it, and yes, pushing/pulling it is good exercise but my biggest gripe with these bikes is the maintenance interval and the fuel consumption: neither is great for a long trip. Apart from that it is all good fun!!