(Non-thumper topic) I'm thinking of buying an outfit...

[pigafetta]

I was wondering about that. Are RHS sidecars not allowed in the UK? When that ural was in for service at my mates place he was telling me that there is a bloke from round here somewhere that bought one with a driven RHS sidecar that had previously been removed and another fitted to the LHS. This bloke was in the process of converting it back. Would that not be road legal then?

Dave

[Bruce]

Before a certain date they are legal right hand sidecars that is,I went with a mate on his Dneper to a BSA rally in Holland earlier this year, which has a right hand chair both the rear wheel and the sidecar wheel are driven it also has reverse gear and a BMW 800cc engine in it. I do know somebody in Shropshire where I live who has a Ural Outfit with a right hand chair for sale I think he wants about £800 for it.If you are interested I could put you into contact with him.State of the outfitI have no idea.

[SteveC#222]

If the outfit was registered before, I think, 1980, you can have the chair on either side. After that date in has to be on the left. Some sidecar drive outfits were sold until recently by being registered as trikes, which they are not as the legal definition of a trike is that it must have 3 seperate tracks, not 2 as an outfit would have. This is a very grey area of legality and there was much concern in the COC that come MOT time these trike registered outfits would not be passed.

Incidentally, the russians only made sidecar bodies with the 'door' fitted for right hand side.  If you have a left hand chair Russian outfit between 1980 and the later Uralmoto bikes, the chair body is fitted to the chair chassis with the door opening on the wrong side - ie facing the engine! When Nevals adapted the sidecar chassis for left they simply chopped the chair chassis, flipped it over the other side and rewelded it .. you can see the welds.

Also, on the Dnepr chair you access the boot through the back of the seat but a Ural chair has a proper opening boot lid .. handy for putting your stove in to cook breakfast!! Also the Russian army sidecars can carry not only a machine gun but also an anti tank rocket!!!!..... I'll get my anorak

[Andy M]

I had a Ural for 6 months in 2000. It was complete ****. Everything was made of cheese. The gearbox went with less than 10000 km on the clock, plus it mostly only ran on one cylinder. I took it back and threatened to put it through the shop window until they gave me a big chunk of my money back 

The main thing with Urals seems to be what happens after the factory. If you can find one with Japanese carbs that the likes of David Angel (F2) or Mick Cross (MPC) set up (read rebuilt) on day one go for it. If it hasn't had the western rebuild by an expert in the things, I'd stay clear unless you are paying the sort or basket case price such a thing deserves.

If it's registered as a trike to get the right hand chair keep well clear. You won't get an MOT and you probably can't get real insurance. If you really want a 3x2 the only legal way is to buy a Pre-1981 bike. I've seen some of these that look a bit iffy as they've had new engines and frames (!!), but at least that way the worst that can really happen is that they'll withdraw the numberplate and give you a Q. If it's had an MOT and passed as a pre-81, DVLA will neither care nor want to admit any mistake in letting major parts be replaced, a copper or loss adjuster won't have a clue.

The reverse gear was really useful and fun, as were the interchangeable wheels.

A brilliant design that simply needs making correctly.

Andy

[pigafetta]

Hmmm. I don't know what to think, now. I wonder if there are many other people with similar experiences to Andy or if he just happened to get a peculiarly sh!t one. Also, I need to look into parts prices and availability.

Bruce, if you could get me some details on that Ural or get me a contact for the bloke who's selling it I'd be grateful.

My email is pigafetta1@btopenworld.com if you need it.

Thanks,
Dave B

[Bruce]

OK Dave I will try and get his phone number etc and pass it on to you as I say I have no idea what the outfit is like

[trophydave]

I had a Ural for 6 months in 2000. It was complete ****. Everything was made of cheese. The gearbox went with less than 10000 km on the clock, plus it mostly only ran on one cylinder. I took it back and threatened to put it through the shop window until they gave me a big chunk of my money back 

I have a mate(yes really) with a Ural outfit,it has only done about 8000 miles.A previous owner had the gearbox replaced very early on.The box that is fitted now sometimes sticks in first,leading to a stop on the roadside and much wiggling of the lever and rocking the bike back and forth until normal progress can be resumed.My Mate recently asked Mick from MPC about it,only to get the reply 'It's f***ked and you will never rebuild it yourselves'
Time to get the spanners out then.

[SteveC#222]

Problem was that when Uralmoto first started importing bikes around 2000, they were very keen to get lots of people selling them.  Several dealerships started selling the bikes but knew sod all about them and just sold them straight out of the crate.... very bad move.  They do need a lot of work doing on them from the crate if you're going to have a reliable outfit.   I know of other people who have found MPC less than helpful shall we say. Talk to dave Angel at F2 motorcycles as he has been selling these bikes for years and really knows what he's taking about.

by the way, the ural gearbox has an adjustment for the throw of the gears if they are not engaging properly. just behind the gear lever shaft thee should be two M8 threaded stubs with locknuts and a slotted end.  Instructions  on how to adjust are in the handbook. 

[Andy M]

Talk to dave Angel at F2 motorcycles as he has been selling these bikes for years and really knows what he's taking about.


[/quote]

That's they key to it IMHO. Get a 2007 that David Angel has waved his magic spanner over if you can. Ural had a US consultancy firm go in and specify modern bearings, carbs, forks and electrics in about 2005. The 2007 model year (has a disk on the front) has all these tweaks and I'm told is a different bike.

I didn't mean to put you off with my own experience, it was the dealer in Leeds that was IMHO the biggest issue, these are great machines when working. The problem is that if you go into it without the full picture it will be tempting to pick up a 199?-2004 machine for second hand prices on e-bay. If this is rock bottom sub-MZ/Jawa money and you have the time and skill to sort it it might not be a bad idea. If you have £6000 for new I think they are a good idea if you can live with the downside in the performance as well as the good bits (for example 55 mph cruising speed). If it's £1000 and you want to ride it, take care.

There is a 2005 on e-bay now for £950. Seller says nothing about the technical bits except pointing out it has the newer alternator rather than the Russian version which is know as a "Hand Grenade". Caveat Emptor!

F2 have a 2005 with only a few thousand on the clock. This is sorted, but it's over £4000. I can think of alternate ways to get on three wheels for £4000 albiet without the reverse gear, leading links and so forth.

Andy

[pigafetta]

I see your point entirely, Andy. I've been having a good nose about on t'internet too. David Angel does seem to be the way to go but to be honest, if I had the cash to afford one that'd been fixed up properly I'd spend it on something else. The whole idea was to pick up a cheap, mechanically sound, low maintenance outfit for fetching my kids around, not another toy/rebuild for me to be endlessly chucking spanners at. I think, although I'd love one to play with, a Ural is not the right tool for the job. If any pop up, I'll certainly have a look at them but I'll keep my options open.

Ta,
Dave B

[trophydave]

by the way, the ural gearbox has an adjustment for the throw of the gears if they are not engaging properly. just behind the gear lever shaft thee should be two M8 threaded stubs with locknuts and a slotted end.  Instructions  on how to adjust are in the handbook. 

We are intending to try that before delving into the oily depths of the gearbox,we shall see what happens.Another problem has been the interuppter disc thingy for the electronic ignition.This is a top hat shaped thing made of two pieces pressed together which comes apart leaving you stranded.After a couple of failed attempts at welding it my mate bought a new one piece one from MPC,problem solved.

[Andy M]

Another problem has been the interuppter disc thingy

Isn't that what's required to fire a machine gun through a propeller? On a Ural I wouldn't be surprised 

Andy

[themoudie]

Aye DaveB,

Either of these worth a look?

Ebay: 170156925534 or 130159899440

Regards, Bill.

[pigafetta]

They're both on my'watching' list. I'll see how the bidding goes

[pigafetta]

Bruce,

I got your email. Thanks very much for the info. I've got my 'indecisive head' on at the moment so I've not phoned the chap yet. I can't decide whether a Ural the right way to go.

Cheers,
Dave B