Title: 2007 Ural Gear Up- Russian sports utility
Description: motorcycle is ready for off-road .....
Description: motorcycle is ready for off-road .....
obxbiker - December 8, 2007 11:43 AM (GMT)
2007 Ural Gear Up
Russian sports utility motorcycle is ready for off-road adventure
Okay, it had to happen sooner or later -someone had to come up with a Sport Utility Motorcycle. Actually, such a machine has been around for quite awhile - it's the Ural, a Russian-built side-car motorcycle, and it's been here in the United States since 1993.
The Ural motorcycle family descended from a late 1930s BMW R71, when Joseph Stalin ordered the production of a motorcycle/sidecar rig for military use by the Red Army, but these days Urals are favored by bikers looking for recreational cycling off the beaten path.
There are five side-car model Urals, two of which are equipped with on-demand two-wheel drive. The Gear Up and Patrol models are the two-wheel drive rigs, while the conventionally driven units include the Tourist, the Retro and Tourist LX. Only one solo model exists - the Wolf. All Ural sidecar rigs are powered by an OHV air-cooled, four-stroke (Boxer-type) 745-cc flat-opposed twin cylinder motor fed by twin KEIHIN 1 22 AA carburetors with manual chokes for cold starts. The motor makes 40 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. It sports a five-speed transmission - four forward and one reverse with a dry double disc clutch, through a shaft drive to the rear motorcycle wheel. Two-wheel drive may be manually engaged, also transferring power to the sidecar wheel, courtesy of a crossover driveshaft. Starting is accomplished by either an electric or kick-starter.
The Ural rides on 19-inch wheels with chrome steel spokes and cast aluminum hubs, shod with 4-by-19 tires all around. The front suspension consists of leading link forks up front and hydraulic spring shock absorbers aft. Stopping duty is handled by a Brembo disc forward and IMZ drums for both the bike's rear and the sidecar.
I managed to obtain a Ural Gear Up for review, but before I could take delivery, I had to take a crash course in sidecar rig operation. Piloting a sidecar rig is only vaguely similar to riding a conventional motorcycle - the mechanical controls are essentially the same, but the physics are dramatically different. Side car rigs are asymmetrical with the sidecar wheel positioned ahead of the motocyce's rear wheel rather than in line with it. The motorcycle counter-steering principle is out the window with a sidecar setup - sidecar rigs steer directly. Roll on the throttle and the bike pulls to the right - roll off and it veers left. Hang a tight, righthand corner going downhill at speed, particularly on a reverse camber surface, and you flirt with disaster. Body English is important with sidecars - leaning to the inside of turns is recommended in either direction, but mostly right.
My test Ural Gear Up was done in Forest Camo with side car cloth camo tonneau and spotlight was base priced at $10,995. The out-the-door tag amounts to $12,500 to $13,000 following dealer handling and preparation.
Summary
The initial appeal of the Ural comes from its classic appearance and aura of romantic adventure. Adventure is the operative element here - if it's all-out racy performance you're after, look elsewhere. The Gear Up Ural is ideal for a leisurely trek over the winding and picturesque Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley Wine Country. The Ural is happiest and more in its element in the 50-mph-or-less range, though it is capable of achieving up to 62 mph when pushed hard. The fuel recommendation is for 91 octane, and the 5-gallon tank will deliver 26 to 33 mpg. The suspension is most compliant, even over rough and irregular surfaces and comfortable for both the rider and sidecar passenger.
Acceleration is not blistering, but is adequate given the Ural's intended purpose. The Gear Up comes with two rubber-covered, bushing-mounted, solo-style seats for accommodating two-up on the bike itself with foot pegs for both, but two-up is only recommended when the sidecar is also occupied. The downside of the rubber-covered seat is an unsightly transfer of the seat pattern to rider's pants (wear black, not denim). The side-car seat and seat back are padded vinyl, so no problem there.
The reverse gear feature is handy indeed, unless it decides not to engage (generally attributable to not being in true neutral), so advance planning when parking is not a bad idea. Manually engaging two-wheel drive is simple, but is only for off-road use or scenarios where traction is an issue. Steering becomes nearly impossible with 2WD engaged on paved surfaces.
A few things about the Gear Up take some adjusting. There are no windshields on the Gear Up for either rider or passenger, so adding them is recommended for country excursions. There's no fork lock either, but there is a parking brake that isn't intuitive to the casual observer. The trunk in the aft section of the sidecar behind the passenger allows for carrying 2.9 feet of cargo; it doesn't lock however. There is also no fuel gauge, which requires resetting the odometer (in kilometers) and judging the the tank from full to empty is roughly 150-175 Kliks.
Improvements made from '06 models to the current Urals include new smoother, cleaner cast gears, which are also quieter; a new solid-state electrical system by Ducati Intergina; and new upgraded fasteners - hex head and grade 8 Allen.
The only real drawback associated with traveling on a Ural is that you have to field a a multitude of questions from passersby. The Gear Up was actually thought by most observers to be a restored World War II bike, no doubt due to the Forest Camo paint treatment. Disbelief showed visibly when told it was an '07 model. Maximum speed and cost were other frequent queries. The latter also prompted disbelief. Despite those inconveniences, I for one am glad that Urals are available to now be enjoyed here on our shores, and not simply back in the U.S.S.R.
2007 Ural Gear Up
Base Price: $10,995
Price as tested: $12,500-$13,000
Engine/transmission: 745 cc, 40-horsepower OHV air-cooled, four-stroke flat-opposed twin cylinder; four forward speeds/one reverse one dry double disc clutch
Final drive: Shaft to motorcycle rear wheel with manual sidecar shaft engagement
Tires: 19-inch, chrome steel spokes and cast aluminum hubs
Wheelbase: 58 inches
Length: 101.6 inches
Seat height: 30.9 inches
Curb weight dry: 739 pounds
Fuel capacity: 5 gallons
Fuel consumption: 26-33 mpg avg.
Russian sports utility motorcycle is ready for off-road adventure
Okay, it had to happen sooner or later -someone had to come up with a Sport Utility Motorcycle. Actually, such a machine has been around for quite awhile - it's the Ural, a Russian-built side-car motorcycle, and it's been here in the United States since 1993.
The Ural motorcycle family descended from a late 1930s BMW R71, when Joseph Stalin ordered the production of a motorcycle/sidecar rig for military use by the Red Army, but these days Urals are favored by bikers looking for recreational cycling off the beaten path.
There are five side-car model Urals, two of which are equipped with on-demand two-wheel drive. The Gear Up and Patrol models are the two-wheel drive rigs, while the conventionally driven units include the Tourist, the Retro and Tourist LX. Only one solo model exists - the Wolf. All Ural sidecar rigs are powered by an OHV air-cooled, four-stroke (Boxer-type) 745-cc flat-opposed twin cylinder motor fed by twin KEIHIN 1 22 AA carburetors with manual chokes for cold starts. The motor makes 40 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. It sports a five-speed transmission - four forward and one reverse with a dry double disc clutch, through a shaft drive to the rear motorcycle wheel. Two-wheel drive may be manually engaged, also transferring power to the sidecar wheel, courtesy of a crossover driveshaft. Starting is accomplished by either an electric or kick-starter.
The Ural rides on 19-inch wheels with chrome steel spokes and cast aluminum hubs, shod with 4-by-19 tires all around. The front suspension consists of leading link forks up front and hydraulic spring shock absorbers aft. Stopping duty is handled by a Brembo disc forward and IMZ drums for both the bike's rear and the sidecar.
I managed to obtain a Ural Gear Up for review, but before I could take delivery, I had to take a crash course in sidecar rig operation. Piloting a sidecar rig is only vaguely similar to riding a conventional motorcycle - the mechanical controls are essentially the same, but the physics are dramatically different. Side car rigs are asymmetrical with the sidecar wheel positioned ahead of the motocyce's rear wheel rather than in line with it. The motorcycle counter-steering principle is out the window with a sidecar setup - sidecar rigs steer directly. Roll on the throttle and the bike pulls to the right - roll off and it veers left. Hang a tight, righthand corner going downhill at speed, particularly on a reverse camber surface, and you flirt with disaster. Body English is important with sidecars - leaning to the inside of turns is recommended in either direction, but mostly right.
My test Ural Gear Up was done in Forest Camo with side car cloth camo tonneau and spotlight was base priced at $10,995. The out-the-door tag amounts to $12,500 to $13,000 following dealer handling and preparation.
Summary
The initial appeal of the Ural comes from its classic appearance and aura of romantic adventure. Adventure is the operative element here - if it's all-out racy performance you're after, look elsewhere. The Gear Up Ural is ideal for a leisurely trek over the winding and picturesque Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley Wine Country. The Ural is happiest and more in its element in the 50-mph-or-less range, though it is capable of achieving up to 62 mph when pushed hard. The fuel recommendation is for 91 octane, and the 5-gallon tank will deliver 26 to 33 mpg. The suspension is most compliant, even over rough and irregular surfaces and comfortable for both the rider and sidecar passenger.
Acceleration is not blistering, but is adequate given the Ural's intended purpose. The Gear Up comes with two rubber-covered, bushing-mounted, solo-style seats for accommodating two-up on the bike itself with foot pegs for both, but two-up is only recommended when the sidecar is also occupied. The downside of the rubber-covered seat is an unsightly transfer of the seat pattern to rider's pants (wear black, not denim). The side-car seat and seat back are padded vinyl, so no problem there.
The reverse gear feature is handy indeed, unless it decides not to engage (generally attributable to not being in true neutral), so advance planning when parking is not a bad idea. Manually engaging two-wheel drive is simple, but is only for off-road use or scenarios where traction is an issue. Steering becomes nearly impossible with 2WD engaged on paved surfaces.
A few things about the Gear Up take some adjusting. There are no windshields on the Gear Up for either rider or passenger, so adding them is recommended for country excursions. There's no fork lock either, but there is a parking brake that isn't intuitive to the casual observer. The trunk in the aft section of the sidecar behind the passenger allows for carrying 2.9 feet of cargo; it doesn't lock however. There is also no fuel gauge, which requires resetting the odometer (in kilometers) and judging the the tank from full to empty is roughly 150-175 Kliks.
Improvements made from '06 models to the current Urals include new smoother, cleaner cast gears, which are also quieter; a new solid-state electrical system by Ducati Intergina; and new upgraded fasteners - hex head and grade 8 Allen.
The only real drawback associated with traveling on a Ural is that you have to field a a multitude of questions from passersby. The Gear Up was actually thought by most observers to be a restored World War II bike, no doubt due to the Forest Camo paint treatment. Disbelief showed visibly when told it was an '07 model. Maximum speed and cost were other frequent queries. The latter also prompted disbelief. Despite those inconveniences, I for one am glad that Urals are available to now be enjoyed here on our shores, and not simply back in the U.S.S.R.
2007 Ural Gear Up
Base Price: $10,995
Price as tested: $12,500-$13,000
Engine/transmission: 745 cc, 40-horsepower OHV air-cooled, four-stroke flat-opposed twin cylinder; four forward speeds/one reverse one dry double disc clutch
Final drive: Shaft to motorcycle rear wheel with manual sidecar shaft engagement
Tires: 19-inch, chrome steel spokes and cast aluminum hubs
Wheelbase: 58 inches
Length: 101.6 inches
Seat height: 30.9 inches
Curb weight dry: 739 pounds
Fuel capacity: 5 gallons
Fuel consumption: 26-33 mpg avg.
RonB - January 26, 2008 06:50 PM (GMT)
Some Egyptian friends of mine, I resurrected this Depner from a junk pile. I wanted to take a pic of the bike by itself but they didn't understand English that well.
Really a low tech bike and easy to work on.I had it up and running in about a week of evenings putting it together.
I took more pics but they took all my undeveloped film away from me, I only got away with what was in the camera.
This was in early 1982
Well---- I meant to only post 2 pic's, but looks like you got the whole album?? Ahhhh-- Life in the Fast Lane is Good !! :old: