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Administrator · 07-12-2011, 02:12 PM

Original Article:
2011 Ural Gear-Up Review [Video]

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2011 Ural Gear-Up Review [Video] in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

sliphorn · 07-12-2011, 02:46 PM

Way cool!! Thanks for the review. The Ural I'd like to have is the solo, no sidecar. Though a sidecar does have its appeal.

12er · 07-12-2011, 03:54 PM

Now that looked like a fun review.

Tom Roderick · 07-12-2011, 04:06 PM

You're welcome, Sliphorn, and it was a fun review, 12er.
With or without a sidecar, Ural's are cool for no other reason than they exist. I've never lamented returning a press bike as much as this one.

bigjames · 07-12-2011, 05:43 PM

As a sidecarist, I really enjoyed that! With HD out of the sidecar business, Ural (and the Chinese Version, CJ) is the last motorcycle manufacturer still making them! The pulling to the right when you start is probably an alignment issue, not uncommon in the sidecar world!. It should never lurch either direction! Tighten up that steering damper! New Urals are light years better than the old. If you like the 2 wheeler they have two now (at least in Europe). The T and the Retro. No, they aren't for everyone, but they sure are fun!

James Allmond
Pres, Georgia Sidecar Club
1976 R90/6 w/Motorvation Royale
1988 HD FLHS w/Watsonian Cambridge

Sir_Angus · 07-13-2011, 05:47 AM

I want one!

Only one question ... Are they a UK setup? The reason I ask is according to the article:

"Finding the sweet spot between speed, weight balance and centrifugal force when navigating a right turn and elevating the sidecar skyward is akin to learning to wheelie."

With the sidecar on your right this should only happen during a LEFT turn.

Conversely ...

"When performing left turns the sidecar wheel becomes an outrigger, digging into the pavement or dirt so tenaciously you can push the front end without concern of losing control."

This seems to be a RIGHT turn scenerio.

Or maybe I forgot my left from my right. I've long since lost the "L" and "R" that used to be taped to my shoes. LOL

pushrod · 07-13-2011, 08:16 AM

Sir_Angus,

The description in the article is correct. Right turns, if taken too enthusiastically, will 'fly' the sidecar.

The rider's weight (actually, all the weight of the rider and bike that is above the cG) is trying to lever the bike over.

sarnali2 · 07-13-2011, 08:24 AM

That's why you need to carry your 300 lb former Olympic medalist weightlifter girlfriend or a commensurate amount of potato's beets and vodka in the sidecar at all times.

Sir_Angus · 07-13-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushrod

Sir_Angus,

The description in the article is correct. Right turns, if taken too enthusiastically, will 'fly' the sidecar.

The rider's weight (actually, all the weight of the rider and bike that is above the cG) is trying to lever the bike over.

Maybe it's because I've never driven with a sidecar, but the physics described in the article don't make sense to me.

A hard right turn, at worst, should bury the nose of the sidecar into the pavement. While the same "enthusiasm" during a left turn should lift the sidecar's wheel from contact.

pushrod · 07-13-2011, 11:43 AM

Nope!

It's the same physics that causes trikes so much grief in an emergency maneuver. One rear wheel lifts off the ground, and the geometry of the bike changes in a bad way.

07-12-2011, 02:12 PM	#1
Administrator Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: On My Bike Posts: 0	2011 Ural Gear-Up Review [Video] Original Article: 2011 Ural Gear-Up Review [Video] Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2011 Ural Gear-Up Review [Video] in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

07-12-2011, 04:06 PM	#4
Tom Roderick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 41	You're welcome, Sliphorn, and it was a fun review, 12er. With or without a sidecar, Ural's are cool for no other reason than they exist. I've never lamented returning a press bike as much as this one. __________________ Get smart before your luck runs out.

07-13-2011, 05:47 AM	#6
Sir_Angus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 210	I want one! Only one question ... Are they a UK setup? The reason I ask is according to the article: "Finding the sweet spot between speed, weight balance and centrifugal force when navigating a right turn and elevating the sidecar skyward is akin to learning to wheelie." With the sidecar on your right this should only happen during a LEFT turn. Conversely ... "When performing left turns the sidecar wheel becomes an outrigger, digging into the pavement or dirt so tenaciously you can push the front end without concern of losing control." This seems to be a RIGHT turn scenerio. Or maybe I forgot my left from my right. I've long since lost the "L" and "R" that used to be taped to my shoes. LOL __________________ "There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - from the film Cube

07-13-2011, 08:16 AM	#7
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,635	Sir_Angus, The description in the article is correct. Right turns, if taken too enthusiastically, will 'fly' the sidecar. The rider's weight (actually, all the weight of the rider and bike that is above the cG) is trying to lever the bike over. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

07-13-2011, 08:24 AM	#8
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,648	That's why you need to carry your 300 lb former Olympic medalist weightlifter girlfriend or a commensurate amount of potato's beets and vodka in the sidecar at all times. __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "Denser alloy. My Father gave it to me, I think he wants me to kill you"... CVF-FCV

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07-12-2011, 02:46 PM	#2
sliphorn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 200	Way cool!! Thanks for the review. The Ural I'd like to have is the solo, no sidecar. Though a sidecar does have its appeal.

07-12-2011, 03:54 PM	#3
12er Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SF Posts: 2,791	Now that looked like a fun review.

07-12-2011, 05:43 PM	#5
bigjames Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Macon, ga Posts: 409	As a sidecarist, I really enjoyed that! With HD out of the sidecar business, Ural (and the Chinese Version, CJ) is the last motorcycle manufacturer still making them! The pulling to the right when you start is probably an alignment issue, not uncommon in the sidecar world!. It should never lurch either direction! Tighten up that steering damper! New Urals are light years better than the old. If you like the 2 wheeler they have two now (at least in Europe). The T and the Retro. No, they aren't for everyone, but they sure are fun! James Allmond Pres, Georgia Sidecar Club 1976 R90/6 w/Motorvation Royale 1988 HD FLHS w/Watsonian Cambridge

07-13-2011, 11:43 AM	#10
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,635	Nope! It's the same physics that causes trikes so much grief in an emergency maneuver. One rear wheel lifts off the ground, and the geometry of the bike changes in a bad way. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.