If you think you’re seeing a lot of ads for Ural Motorcycles lately, you’re not alone. They seem to be advertising in all of the motorcycle mags, perhaps trying to get a bit of the retro market that Ducati, Triumph and many other companies are capitalizing on.
Ural motorcycles were essentially Russian copies of the BMW R71. They have a couple of different stories on their website explaining the possible origins of the first Urals. One says 5 BMWs were secretly purchased and carefully reverse engineered for use by the Russian army in WWII, while another version says the R71 drawings and molds were provided by BMW since the R75 was coming out and the R71 was being replaced. Whichever story or parts of the story are true, the end result is the Ural motorcycle, an old BMW built brand new.
The old as new idea is like the Royal Enfield Bullet, faithful copies of the 1955 Bullet built brand new in India, the Urals seem to be variations on the original BMW theme.
Except for a model called the Wolf, which seems to be a Ural engine in a newer frame, all of the other models are sold as sidecar rigs. Three are in their family group and two in their sport utility group. The sport utility group have the ability to engage a driveshaft for the sidecar wheel, giving extra traction in offroad or very poor conditions, kind of a neat feature and the kind of thing you would expect in an old military motorcycle.
A couple of years ago I saw a Ural display at the Cycle World motorcycle show in Cleveland. They appeared a bit rough around the edges, whether that is still true of the latest models I can’t say, they aren’t exactly common over here in the States.
There is a certain rugged appeal to these sidecar rigs, and the models with the sidecar drive wheel can be ridden in mud and snow when most bikes would be best left at home. If that appeals to you or you’re just looking for something different, you might want to check them out.
If you own a Ural, let us know about your experience with these Russian rigs.
Links: Ural Motorcycles
The Kneeslider: Ural Motorcycles for sale
Also see: Dnepr motorcycles for sale
todd says
I’ve always wanted one but they are so large it would take up so much room in my garage. Urals have quite a following and their faithful can be found touring around the world over ice capped mountains in “Elephant Rallys”. Thanks for the link.
-todd
Ken says
I own both a 1984 BMW Airhead R80RT and a 2006 Ural Patrol.
I’ve been watching the Urals for years and have been wanting to get one and the time was finally right for me to add the Ural to my stable.
One thing that IMZ-Ural does that I don’t see any other motorcycle company do is they have a webBoard for owners to give ideas directly to the factory engineers for improving their bikes. This has resulted in a continual improvement and refinement of the Ural motorcycle by making the owners their researchers in the field. This works for two reasons – 1) the owners get invovled and comment about anything that may be improved and also give suggestions on how to make the improvements. and 2) the engineers listen and respond to what they’re being told.
The Ural is fun to ride not only because of it’s retro styling, but it’s capability to haul just about anybody or anything anywhere in any kind of condition. Mud? Snow? OfRoad? Just shift a lever and you’re in 2 wheel drive and this bike will go just about anywhere. In fact the more you load it down the better it seems to ride.
Need to back it up the driveway or out of a space? No problem – shift the transmission into reverse and back up as far as you need. There’s a reverse gear in the transmission.
I’ve never had so much fun, the owner’s board is also a great place to ask tech questions and meet other owners – which are a very friendly and helpful group of people. I look forward to meeting them at the various Ural rides and events.
I don’t think there is another bike like it anywhere else.
Alex says
Great bargain for the price. Whole outfit (bike and the sidecar) MSRP is from $8600-10600, depends what model you will choose. Very easy to work on if you are a “do it yourself” kind of a person. Working on Ural takes much less time and effort than working on 70’s BMW. The Engine and the Gearbox use conventional 20w/50 Castrol motor oil. No need for motorcycle oil or expensive synthetic oils. Replacement parts are as inexpensive as the full line of accessories. 6′ 2″ person can seat with comfort in the Sidecar (no bend legs). Huge trunk can fit the wrap of stock tolls, two full face helmets and some other small stuff. Luggage rack on top of the spare wheel will hold some more stuff for camping and fishing trips. Good for family rides and activities. Kids, wives and dogs like to ride in the sidecar. No seatbelts required. No reaching to foot pegs required if your minor passenger is in the sidecar. No motorcycle license requires in some states like in CA (car license is all you need). Please not that our CA governor Arnold S. was legally “Driving” his sidecar rig in January 2006 when he had a collision with the car backing out of the drive way.
If you are single, you can call it a “Chick Magnet”.
Happy Ural owner, who rides two wheel bikes occasionally. Thanks.
Vance Blosser says
I have owned 3 Urals, a ’94, a 2000, and a 2004. I still own the last 2. The first had a lot of issues, but the other two have been pretty dependable. Not gas and go yet, but we only had to get a ride home on vacation one time. The issue that caused the problem was resolved 2 years ago for all of the bikes (Russian alternator).
The factory is very lenient with warranty service, and the president and owner of the company attends some of the rallies so that he can get input from owners. They do respond to suggestions. And they have frequently brought prototypes to the rallies for us to ride and evaluate.
The quality has improved enormously between each of my machines. It reminds me of Subaru in the early days. My father had a few of them, and the differences between a few years in the early days showed they were learning from their mistakes and taking corrective action.
It does help to have some mechanical ability; most problems are very small (electrical connection or a small adjustment) and the routine maintenance is a bit more involved than with most bikes. Checking and/or adjusting the valves, for example, can save you a trip to the dealer – and it’s the easiest bike to adjust the vavles on or sync the carbs I’ve seen.
They ARE rugged. Sadly last year we hit a dog with our Retro, it killed the dog and bent 1 tab that anchors the tonneau cover. This was fixed with pliers in about a minute. I was expecting a lot of bodywork.
It’s a lot of fun. Most owners have another bike but find they don’t ride them anymore. It’s not a good bike to travel anonomously, people will see you and they have questions.
Check one out!
Matt Pearsall says
I ride a 2003 Troyka and I think it is fantastic. I won’t lie to y’all. She has had a number of mechanical issues, but nothing that I couldn’t have fixed on my own with basic tools and a few hours of time. Luckily my bike is under warranty and the factory has gone to extrordinary lengths to fix every problem I have had.
I live in the middle of Chicago and my Ural is my only means of transportation. I commute out into the suburbs on it all year round. She’s a blast to ride, great putting around town and on backroad highways and can hold her own on the freeway well enough if necissary.
Like Vance said, check ’em out, you’ll be suprised at how fun they are.
hoyt says
Matt, no heated grips either, eh?
good feedback
chad says
I’ve had a 2000 patrol for about a year and a half.. I’ve rebuilt the transmission once with used parts, replaced 3 alternators and now I’m replacing the timing gears. They take some maintence but I paid $2000 for this bike and it has 2 wheel drive.. I’m pretty happy with it, the fun factor over shadows the high maintence. What other bike can you plop a full sized garbage can into and ride to the dumpster? or pick up a girl from an airport with all her stuff and then go buy $120 worth of grocerys and have room to spare?
Not many..
Ivan says
Took delivery of my second patrol this January. Quality has improoved over the years. Makes commutes to work a blast, especially snowy winters (During the month of December, I ride to work in a Santa Claus suit). Maintenance is alittle more labor intensive then on a Honda, but there are few problems that require rocket science. The better you maintain it the fewer problems you will have. The old electrical glitches have all but disappeared.
Eric says
hello from France – the Ural is not a urban commuter bike, I use a 125cc for that. But what a pleasant one for backroads and long travels whith all the load you can need ! Mine is a 2005 Ranger (European designation, same as Gear-Up) ; up-to-day it has proven nicely reliable. A super-toy for growen boys ! And for younger ones, my 11-years-old little boy enjoys riding in the rig. Feel free and welcome to visit my (french, I apologize !)page : http://tibono.free.fr/oural_home.html
Boris says
What do I think? I think to buy Ural!
Thankyou guys for the information about recent Ural.
Good luck
Matt says
I just purchased a new 06′ patrol. I have researched them online and was looking for something alot slower than my current FZ1, plus be able to carry my girlfriend and her daughter for lunch/grocery trips on occasion. I am alittle nervous about the service/maintanence aspect. The dealer is 5 hours away… So I will be doing most of the things myself. Any suggestions on maintanence would be appreciated. I pick it up next week.
Dave says
I too just purchased a 06 Patrol about two months ago. Love it. Do get the “Basic Service” CD. It is done with videos. It is a lot of help with the maintanence on the Ural motorcycles. I don’t know why it doesn’t come with the bike.
Also join the http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/wagnerscycle/
Loads of informaion and help in that yahoo group.
Happy Hacking
Matt says
Hey Dave, Thanks. I will put in on my list. I am definately getting antsy. Two more days till pick up. Thanks again.
Matt says
I have had my 06 Patrol for almost a week. Since I picked it up, its my favorite transportation and have almost 500 km already. Took the family about an hour away to eat lunch yesterday with a small detour down a local fire service road. Its a blast on road or off. I will agree with a previous post…..Any mantanence will be overshadowed by the fun factor. The bike attracts alot of attention running or sitting still, so be ready to chat at every stop. Thanks to all…..
Buck Buchanan says
I have owned my 2006 Ural Patrol since October of 2006. It is a blast to ride.
It cruises at 55 or 60 mph loaded. It is a blast on gravel roads. It is easy to maintain , just follow the instructions. The local dealer ( 2 hours away ) is great and provides the best support I have ever received in over 40 years of riding motorcycles. The dealer did the 500 km service and invited me to watch and learn how to do the services correctly. To date the rig has been trouble free . We have take many 6 and 7 hour rides without a problem. I love the reverse in the tranny. I have no worries where to park . Nose down , no problem. Just put it in reverse and back out. I would recommend the Ural to anyone who enjoy’s riding .
Koen says
People, please do stop talking like that about Ural rigs!!!
Soon you ‘ll make me buy one!
Yes, I will.
All the best and happy riding,
Koen
jim schroth says
I just had 1963 Ural
I just bought 1963 Ural Denpr from dealer in Russia, bike runs great, had to tighten nuts and bolts, nothing major. If you buy one remember fist 5 or 6 times limit ride to 30 minutrs or less (depending on outside temperature) I prefer (early) morning sessions, trick is to break bike in slow and don’t (overheat) them, bike is not broke in till 1,500 miles (do not overrap engine), ride leisurly! let bike cool completly after each ride, check and retorque as neccessary any fastners on bike. am having a ball with mine it only had 10 original miles on bike (was found stored at military base by dealer! and histoticaly restored 1939 German military B.M.W.
Jim says
Just a followup to this year-old thread.
I bought one of the last-of-2007 Ural Patrols. This machine is just great. New western-made tranny gears have eliminated the ‘punch-n-grind’ shifting common on older models – shifts quieter than my Victory and it’s actually pretty easy to find neutral.
The latest-model electronic ignition (Ducati, I think) appears bulletproof and there’s a Denso alternator to replace the old Russian maybe-good/ maybe-explodes model.
The only ‘issue’ comes from Ural trying to meet pollution regs – the bike runs VERY lean and thus takes awhile to warm up. Jet kits are availible, though they’ll drop you from about 35 mpg to 30. I’ve yet to try a K&N air filter, that may lean it out just a tad and recover a few extra MPGs.
The Bembro front disk they added a couple of years ago has impressive stopping power, although it means the spare won’t fit the front. So, put SLIME in the front.
The 2-wheel-drive models are NOT “full-time†2WD. It’s a solid axel connecting the two back wheels, no differential. So, like olde-tyme 4-WD trucks, you can’t use the 2-WD on hard pavement. Only engage it on something softer – dirt, snow, sand.
Break-in was fairly quick and painless, although you DO have to be a bit easier on these ‘old tech’ motors than a modern Honda. Slow & easy, build up to full power & speed over 1000-1500 km or so.
Mechanically the bikes are simple and there’s not much you couldn’t fix along the roadside. I’ve already put over 3000k on mine though and have had no reason to fix anything. Looks as if Urals have gone from being ‘commie junk’ to decent marketable affordable machines that will deliver long service with minimal pain & suffering.
The 2008 models are a bit pricier – a low dollar and a few extra anti-pollution tweaks are the cause. Still, Urals are hard to beat for the price – a unique neo-retro sport-utility machine.
New owners beware however … sidecar rigs don’t drive quite like anything else. Nearest equivalent would be an ATV. The thrust line is off-center and this produces odd effects. The triangular layout also means a hard right turn can cause the sidecar to ‘fly’. Practice. Oh yea, low tire pressure on the motorcycle half makes the sidecar more likely to ‘fly’ in a right turn.
Note – the faster you go the more the rig pulls to the left. This is because of wind resistance on the sidecar. If you’ve got no passenger, just lower the windshield – makes a big difference.
The first day you drive it, no matter HOW many motorcycle/atv miles you may have, you’ll be CONVINCED you’re gonna dump it over. The sidecar and suspension mean it ‘wiggles’ a bit on the hardtop, never quite stable-tracking. The urge is to try and fight every minor deviation from the straight line … and you’ve got to learn to just IGNORE that urge.
If it moves a few inches to the left one second it will move back to the right the next second, so don’t bother correcting. Just deal with the bigger-scale trends. After a week it will all be automatic and you can relax and enjoy the ride. And yes, you can ride pretty much *anywhere* … a street-legal ATV for most intents and purposes.
To wrap it up, now that the commie subsidies are gone, Ural actually has to make a solid bike for capitalist consumers. The past five or six years have shown considerable improvement in reliability and functionality without sacrificing the ‘retro’ look and feel. Urals are now “worth havingâ€.
old man jack says
I have a ural sidecar but no motorcycle. I’ve been looking but no such luck. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.
Mike Gozia says
I am looking at a very low milage 06 Retro for around 9 1/2 grand. In addition to the Retro the owner has a patrol but says the Retro cruises at 65 all day instead of 55-60. He also says the Ural Retro is a great bike to riders new to side car rigs. I’ve been riding 40+ years but always up on two wheels; (till I totaled my Guzzi on the Blue Ridge Parkway last month.
I have 2 questions: 1). When needed, will the Retro “cruise on the Interstate? 2) Should I bite the bullet and consider a 2WD model? Are they that much more fun?
Thanks,
Mike Gozia
Louisville, KY
502-241-0337
swbiker says
Good afternoon all
Been an all year round biker for 30 years and had a 2001 Dalesman for nearly 3 years. Still love it!!!!
I am a little concerned about
Jim 02.06.08 at 5:31 pm
Jim be careful not to make your Ural to Honda/Ducati/Bland, for me i like that that gearbox is clunky and quirky, i like that the brakes are not comparable with F1 Carbon disc. It is all part of the package that makes it so appealling and i would be sorry for Ural to end up diluted in ten years time. There are plenty of bikes that we can ride day in and day out without a spanner in our pocket (I have an XT600 for that) but that is not what i am looking for in my Ural. I even worry that they are ready getting to much crome, and trying to compete with the masses. For my money if you want crome and carbon dont look to the east and let Ural continue to make some thing with character and personality!!!
Cheers all
Mark