Topic: The 2014 Ural Revamp

[heffay]

disc brakes, better mileage, higher cruising speeds, fuel injection, and more!

http://www.imz-ural.com/ural-rolls-largest-package-upgrades-ten-years/

[Bankerdanny]

Interesting. I really like the look of the Ural. I look forward to a review to see if the changes to the engine make it a bit more rideable, with just a bit more giddyup.

[Bankerdanny]

Although if I were going to buy a new version of an old school design it would be the new Royal Enfield Continental GT

[heffay]

Although if I were going to buy a new version of an old school design it would be the new Royal Enfield Continental GT

apples and oranges...  factory sidecar rigs vs motorcycles

[oldbob]

It is still Russian junk.

Bob

[heffay]

Tell us your experience, Bob... or your point (opinion, rather) is invalid.

I'm betting you've never even owned one to be able to say that with any truth. 

Dad has a stock '06 since new with 50k miles and he's had no problems whatsoever.  It will climb an ice covered wall with the 2 wheel drive.  It is a total blast to ride in the sidecar.  It's comfortable and does exactly what it is designed to do.

Yes, it was originally built for Soviet wartime riders, but that is Stalin's fault, and the stigma remains even though it has nothing to do with the bikes of today.  Yes, they were built in wartime conditions and quality was severely lacking in the rushed builds during the war.  That was then.

I don't see how a company can survive almost 8 decades producing "junk".  The original engine design was a BMW R71, and to this day the engine is a BMW for all intensive purposes.  In their more recent past they've gone to using parts from Nippon-Denso, Brembo and Ducati just to make their crap product even worse.  The 2014 looks to be a complete disaster with all those high dollar improvements.

Ya, you're right, total piece of #$%*.

Yep, that was a buttload of sarcasm for ya.

I would challenge you to go test ride one, but I can see that you are settled into your Cold War hatred far too long to even consider the challenge. 

[70CB750]

I helped a friend over in Prague get his running, pathetic excuse of engineering it was.  You could find metal shavings in the oil pan, not because something broke, but because they left it there in the factory.

The electrical system by itself called for a bottle of brandy handy to sort that mess out and when he hit the road, you could take bets how far he gets before it brakes down.

Tolerances on gears, bearings non existent, wheels wobbled like drunken sailors ...  no thank you.

I think Bob got it right, russian junk it was nothing more.

[heffay]

I helped a friend over in Prague get his running, pathetic excuse of engineering it was.  You could find metal shavings in the oil pan, not because something broke, but because they left it there in the factory.

The electrical system by itself called for a bottle of brandy handy to sort that mess out and when he hit the road, you could take bets how far he gets before it brakes down.

Tolerances on gears, bearings non existent, wheels wobbled like drunken sailors ...  no thank you.

I think Bob got it right, russian junk it was nothing more.

Sounds to me like a lot of the bikes we all work on here. 
POs have a lot more to do with it than I think you give cred.
Also, year of Ural has a lot to do with it.  I'm not arguing that Ural had some piss-poor years.  Not too recently though, in my real life experience. 

Who here has put a good amount miles on a newer Ural?  I have.
The transmission was clunkier than the norm... but I didn't ever not enjoy my ride or feel unsafe in any way.
If a clunky tranny and a mediocre top speed in what they classify as a "heavy-duty sidecar motorcycle" are my only complaints, then that fits my review of Jeeps as well... but they are still fun as hell, and there is no other experience like it.