Topic: Retro Kits

[jaannaktin]

 

I thought I would share these cool links for some retro bikes coming out of the soviet union. Thought they would have some aesthetic appeal to this crowd. Some are popping up on ebay, too.

www.ural.com

www.dnepr.ru

Has anyone heard or seen one? The movie "Garden State" features one -- I had actually wondered what kind of bike that was when I saw the movie (very funny BTW).

[Kixx007]

They've been around for a few years now. A friend of mine had a ural, he dadn't care to much for it tho.

[Japbikemike]

There was an importer/retailer in Seattle that had/has Urals, read the spec.'s, top speed 50-60mph.  Freeway driving could get a bit dicey.

[Sam Green Racing]

The word agricultURAL don't even come close!

[Sam Green Racing]

Or dose it ??

[Uncle Ernie]

Pretty funny Sam- and you're kee-reck-toe. The Dneper is named after a Russian river, the Ural a town I think. Both are basically WWII BMW engine designs that have changed very little over the years. Ural is definitely the better of the two as far as fit and finish goes. Ural has been sort of the Royal Enfield of sidecars, but has been improving the last couple of years. I think the Dneper and Chinese Chiang Jiang are actually grey market- a couple of people bring the over in parts and assemble them here.
The Ural has a couple of sites, esp on Yahoo I think, but also you can get more info at www.sidecar.com  the United Sidecar Association site.  Just like the German Beemrs used in the war, they have direct 2 wheel drive. Not fast, but rugged. There's a Ural ralley at the KOA near Black Mountain in NC (if anyone will be in the neighborhood) next Sat- the 15th.  A lot of folks just get the sidecar only because it's roomy, rugged, and relatively inexpensive.

[bryanj]

There used to be a 350 two strock as well and the only road test i saw said something like:-
Stopping distance from 30mph---THE HORIZON
Stopping distance from 60mph (if you ever get it to go that fast) 14 miles past the horizon!!
And the headlight main beam was like two geriatric glow worms copulating at the back of an aluminium pan

Seriously though i worked for a dealer that sold a couple of these years ago and they came with RH chairs, OK not a problem for you Yanks BUT in UK meant the bike was in the Gutter and boy was it a pig to steer!! When imported they had to change the cardboard brake linings to get any sort of brakes and the exhaust valves as cheapest unleaded was too rich for the engines.
One BIG fault was that although the sump held 8 UK pints (20 oz) the oil pump only fed one side of the engine--the other was "splash" lubed so 1 pint down and the engine siezed!!

[Terry in Australia]

I had a 1979 BMW R100RS for 12 years, and it was a horrible thing, vibey, poor handling, terrible electrics, hard to start, etc etc. I think those URinALS are a better copy than a lot of people give them credit for, ha ha!

Oh, why did I keep it so long you ask? Well I bought it for $5500.00, then spent another $4400.00 to get the engine and gearbox rebuilt, (those Mahle Pistons were $500.00 a pair back in 1992!) then I replaced the terrible front forks with later models, the #$%*e-ful ATE calipers with Brembo's, the worn out discs with new cast iron items, etc etc.

Total cost was way over $12000.00 for a bike that was worth about $5500.00, so I kept it as long as I could bear it, just so I could get some of my money back. When some fool offered me $4000.00 last year I couldn't get shot of it quick enough, I've owned a K100RT and it was a great bike, but that old air cooled boxer was just a pig. Cheers, Terry.

[Terry in Australia]

There used to be a 350 two strock as well and the only road test i saw said something like:-
Stopping distance from 30mph---THE HORIZON
Stopping distance from 60mph (if you ever get it to go that fast) 14 miles past the horizon!!
And the headlight main beam was like two geriatric glow worms copulating at the back of an aluminium pan

Seriously though i worked for a dealer that sold a couple of these years ago and they came with RH chairs, OK not a problem for you Yanks BUT in UK meant the bike was in the Gutter and boy was it a pig to steer!! When imported they had to change the cardboard brake linings to get any sort of brakes and the exhaust valves as cheapest unleaded was too rich for the engines.
One BIG fault was that although the sump held 8 UK pints (20 oz) the oil pump only fed one side of the engine--the other was "splash" lubed so 1 pint down and the engine siezed!!

Sooo, was it an English design Bryan? Ha ha, Cheers, Terry.

[bryanj]

NO Terry it was a russian design nicked from the aussies and improved!

[Terry in Australia]

NO Terry it was a russian design nicked from the aussies and improved!

Now I know you're bull#$%*ting me Bryan, there was no beer can holder in your description, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[bryanj]

Optional equipment catalogue just under the Machine gun mount Mate