Author Topic: Ditch Your Sidecar: New Ural ST Coming to USA  (Read 7152 times)

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Slider

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LJRead

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Reply #1 on: September 25, 2009, 07:23:38 pm
Seems an unbelievably good bike for those of us who, like your article says, are dissatisfied with the monsters being produced today.  Actually, it would go very well with a Cozy sidecar, which could be adapted, and then you would have a much lighter rig than the Ural and a more powerful one than the R E. 

I imagine this new Ural looks very good when seen in person.
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StephenCB

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Reply #2 on: September 25, 2009, 07:38:00 pm

I imagine this new Ural looks very good when seen in person.

It doesn't look bad in the photos either.



1Blackwolf1

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Reply #3 on: September 25, 2009, 08:53:13 pm
  Seems like a no-nonsense utility ride.  Read the comments after the article.  Sorrily todays' modern biker/motorcyclist has to have a no wrench attitude.  Oh I had to tighten a bolt or two in the first month I owned it, I'll have to get rid of it.

  Looks like a true bad-boy approach in that color scheme.  $8k seems a little much, but want to see it in person to make a final judgement.  Would make an interesting sport/tourer.  Will.
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Blue Ridge Wheeltor

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Reply #4 on: September 25, 2009, 08:55:21 pm
It is still in the test stage, and if you are near Redmond, they are encouraging test rides with comments. It is supposed to be a very nimble bike, and a competetor for the Bonnie and Sportster. Too much $$$ though.
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luoma

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Reply #5 on: September 25, 2009, 09:52:14 pm
It's about time Ural made a bike that weighs less than a car. With the untapped potential of the Ural motor, this bike could be a lot of fun.


ace.cafe

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Reply #6 on: September 25, 2009, 09:59:29 pm
I think it looks perfectly fine.
It seems to me that this should have been in the line-up for years.

That being said, I'd take a C5 and a couple thousand in change, thanks.
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UncleErnie

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Reply #7 on: September 25, 2009, 10:55:03 pm
You can get a pretty nice pre-'69 BMW R60 for $8K.

I thought the new RE's were pretty close to $8K ~
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LJRead

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Reply #8 on: September 26, 2009, 12:13:31 am
"I've had new and I've had old, and baby, new is betta'  To paraphrase a famous black singer.

Look at what they are now getting for sport tourers - $14,000 and up.  Harleys are coming out at around $1500, though a mild 1200 Sportster is somewhat lower in price.  Of course it is partly a question of the delivered price, which may be higher or lower.

I would suggest that at a price of about $9K the new Ural represents pretty fair value.  For one thing, the upgrades over the years have focused on known accessories, such as brakes, forks and rear suspension.  The Ural has had its teething problems but I don't think the quality is all that bad.

There seems to be a close similarity between the coming along of the Ural since WWII, and the development of the Royal Enfield during this same period (about).  Is Russian engineering and manufacture  likely to be that much worse than Indian engineering and manufacture?  It seems they have taken similar courses.  And what other true retro bikes are available?  The Jawa from, is it, Czechoslovakia.?

I, of course, don't look to having  collection of bikes.  I look only to having one well running bike that will meet expectations.  Possibly I would have two if a disparate set of riding conditions were in my daily life.  So I would pay what needed to be paid to have either a new bike, or one damn near new.  This new Ural would be too much bike for me here on my island, but would certainly make sense in the U.S.  Having a servicing dealer around the corner would be nice, but I could make do with one farther afield.

The Ural has always been a close favorite for many members of this forum.  Many have or have had Urals at some stage, and there are Ural dealers who handle RE.  You might think of it as 'alternative biking" - alternative to the more flashy marketplace.

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Blltrdr

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Reply #9 on: September 26, 2009, 03:54:36 am
Could think of many bikes for the price I would purchase before a Urinal, I mean Ural.
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scoTTy

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Reply #10 on: September 26, 2009, 04:31:14 am
8000$ will buy a lot of old BMW's with better mechanics I bet..


abe

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Reply #11 on: September 26, 2009, 04:41:17 am
the only guys having fun on these are the guys in Redmond, they should sell for half the price. I have owned 2 Urals and Chang Jiang the Chang was crap and better than a Ural, but I still love them, I know I am sick but I think the Russians are over rated.  I sold my side hack to buy the RE and couldn't be happier. 

But I want one again, damn....\\

abe


Blue Ridge Wheeltor

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Reply #12 on: September 26, 2009, 05:01:53 am
the only guys having fun on these are the guys in Redmond, they should sell for half the price. I have owned 2 Urals and Chang Jiang the Chang was crap and better than a Ural, but I still love them, I know I am sick but I think the Russians are over rated.  I sold my side hack to buy the RE and couldn't be happier. 

But I want one again, damn....\\

abe

The Ural is effectively homemade. The Ching Chong is crap from the start. One of the airhead forums reported on the new solo, and loved it.
"Urals are crap" usually comes from someone owning a pre 2005, just like "Enfields are crap" usually comes from someone who once owned an old Enfield.
Are Ducati ignitions any good?
How about Kehin carbs?
Guzzi levers?
Desno alternators?
Heindeau tires?
Stainless steel exhausts?
Brembo brakes, front and rear?
The Ural is a handmade bike, and has all these. original, not copies. I think 8K is too much, but some think 6.5K++ is too much for a single.
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1Blackwolf1

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Reply #13 on: September 26, 2009, 10:52:04 am
  It'll probably give Moto Guzzi a run for it's money.  My pre '80 (1973) M-Goose was a great bike..some of the engineering was crappy, but hey it ran like a Timex watch.  I think these may now be in the same class with the current Urals.  The Blue Goose is probably the only bike I've owned and sold that I wish I had back.  Have been thinking about the new Desert Patrol model for a new steed in about 5 years.  Will.
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r80rt

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Reply #14 on: September 27, 2009, 01:44:49 am
I saw a 2000 Ural solo at the rally today, pretty cool bike.
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