anyone got a Ural bike?

[HertsBiker]

These look an amusing alternative to going fast. But what are they like? - not the chopper version, I'm talking the off road job.
ta

[Twit]

I'm going to be getting a combination towards the end of the summer.

I thik they are brilliant bikes but they are a definite aquired taste. There are not even slightly quick and are pretty agricultural. You will also need to know one end of a spanner from the other, because whilst they are inherently tough, they will need fettling to keep them running.

From a character point of view they are much more excting than any CBR or FZR, R whatzit, but you really do have to ride them and get a good look at one before you buy, as if it isnt for you then it really isnt, and they are not easy to sell on second hand as the market is narrow!

[HertsBiker]

cheers for the info. I'd like the combo, but be able to drop the side car off sometimes. The off roading looks damn excellent and I just love the style. Shame they also seem sooooooo slow. But where'd you get that mad max style these days?

[Rubin215]

My cousin Donald had one about thirty years ago with a right-hand sidecar; looked like the German army ones from the Great Escape!
He used to scare the life out of people by getting the chair off the ground round bends until it eventually broke.
Can't remember too much else about it but he always seemed to be fixing it. I shouldn't imagine they're much different now...!

Edited by Rubin215 on Saturday 21st June 20:16

[RizzoTheRat]

If you're looking at the sidecar outfit (gear up does look good) bear in mind that right hand side car is illegal (on a new bike, not sure about vintage stuff) in the UK. There is a company that does left hand versions but the drive wheel is with a complicated chain mechanism that's nowhere near as robust as the original

[HertsBiker]

I really want the bike without outfit, as in the weird front fork, not a telescopic item. How f**kin odd, been doing warp speed for years and want a nutty slow machine as a toy.

[Twit]

RizzoTheRat said:

If you're looking at the sidecar outfit (gear up does look good) bear in mind that right hand side car is illegal (on a new bike, not sure about vintage stuff) in the UK. There is a company that does left hand versions but the drive wheel is with a complicated chain mechanism that's nowhere near as robust as the original

Look at F2 motorcycles or MPC, they can be googled. They are two big importers of Urals and the factory produce a Uk version. Basically that puts the chair on the proper side for our regs but gets rid of the drive to the third wheel as I'm pretty sure that is not legal on UK roads either.

They are very very cool!!!

[N Dentressangle]

This looks fun.

You could even lend it to Prince Harry at weekends to, er, complete his outfit.

[Rocket Pepper]

The MT12 with sidecar wheel drive would go anywhere. So great off road it would embarrass anything four wheel drive. What a pity the legislators banned sidecars on the right. One wonders why they haven't banned steering wheels on the left under such dumb circumstances.

If anyone knows the whereabouts or has an early 80's MT12 for sale, please let me know.

[D1 MAD]

A couple of Ural videos for you. Great music on the first one!

http://www.webzeum.com/VideobyManufacturer/URAL/UR...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bcb_1183950867