Things have gotten really weird for me, and I couldn't be more delighted.

I started riding 4 years ago on a 2008 Ninjette, then sold that for a 2009 Versys two years ago. Last night I traded in my Versys...

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/Ninja/Versys/IMG_1448.jpg

For this!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1453.jpg

It's a 2006 Ural Raven, with only 1878km (1166 miles). It's one of 30 sold in the U.S. (another 30 were sold in Europe). It's also a 2WD model, so now not even the snow will stop me (that was the only time I would stop riding the Ninjette or the Versys).

It is definitely a new riding experience, and I found my self saying "This is sooooo weird!!!" all while smiling and laughing like a fool.

I'm sure I will have many adventures in this rig. Lots more utility, and maybe the fiancee will even ride sometimes. She didn't like the bikes because of the perceived instability, and being completely out in the open. This will fix both of those issues (and be able to carry all the stuff she takes along :D)

I'm trying to schedule a training class or some one on one training shortly. This is a completely different animal.

More pictures (in the garage, it was about 1AM when I got home with it)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1455.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1456.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1457.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1458.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1459.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1460.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/IMG_1461.jpg

From Japanese to Russian. Now that's a switch. Nice bike and rare too.

That my friend... is bad *ss!

I gotta admit....this is the first pushrod flat-4 I've ever seen. Also the first powered sidecar I've ever seen. Thanks for all the firsts! Hope you enjoy it!

It's a flat-2. Or an opposed twin. :) Copied decades ago in Russia from the German BMW machines, way back when there were even some parts that interchanged. Neat bike. :thumbup:

Interesting! SIDECAR!!! put a dog in it!! :)

Oops...I thought I saw two heads on each side. Multi-tasking with tired eyes. :-) Well, that's my first opposed twin! Looks like a shin-buster.

I LOVE IT! I've always wanted a Ural, but have been just outa my price range. You are going to have a hoot!

Aww that thing is awesome!!! I now want one. Haha. That's gotta be interesting to ride.



Nice trade! I am not a big fan of the Versys.

Thanks everyone. I actually loved the Versys, but wanted a Ural, and as they are generally more expensive, I thought why wait until years from now when the Versys has depreciated? I found a good deal on this one locally, so I jumped on it.

Actually I think further down the road I will probably by another Versys (or Ninjette) just to have a solo bike for joy riding.

The Ural is very much not a modern machine. The front brake is good (its a 4 piston Brembo), but the rear and sidecar are not very useful (I will adjust them and see if that makes it any better.) The gearbox is not very smooth, and gettting used to a heal shifter is taking some time. The engine is fairly smooth, not very powerful, but tons of torque.

That said, I've loved every kilometer so far, and the fear of the unknown handling is dissipating allowing me to enjoy the ride even more. This bike certainly has tons of character.

That is so cool!

:leghump::leghump::leghump::leghump::leghump::leghump::leghump:

Disregard the title, it was the only Youtube video I can find of it.

So can I please sit in the sidecar with an M1 carbine?

p1YOianItjc

Very nice. :thumbup:

that ural should hold value good

theres a ural shop a few mile from where I live.

they are neat bikes but I would need an alternative bike
cant push three wheels full time ....

nice trade

Is dat some gulf livery e30 rally car?

One of the guys on a podcast I listen to has a Ural and sidecar. It sounds like a blast, though a very different riding experience - very much an upper body workout. Sounds like the thing is forged from pig iron or something :) It also sounds like stuff goes wrong in a spectacular fashion, but its pretty easy to fix.
Coincidentally one showed up for sale on the local classifieds here today:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=19773364

The podcast is at www.wheelnerds.com if you're interested.

Make sure you put some weight in that side car...

Looks great though!

Yeah Russia! My dad used to ride motorbikes with sidecars as a kid!

Yeah Russia! My dad used to ride motorbikes with sidecars as a kid!

http://gifr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/conan_thumbs_up_clapping.gif

Cool bike. I'd just get rid of the logo on the sidecar. Are you planning on getting anything else? Or do you plan to use this daily?

Well worth the trade!

http://gifr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/conan_thumbs_up_clapping.gif

Cool bike. I'd just get rid of the logo on the sidecar. Are you planning on getting anything else? Or do you plan to use this daily?

I LOLed

URAL for the win!

My granddad used to give me rides on his ancient URAL when I was a little kid in Russia... woot woot!!!!!!

That is a pretty cool video. That looks like a lot of fun.

For right now this is going to be my daily driver. I do also have a truck, but I drive that as little as possible.

I'm getting more used to it, but I will be keeping 100 lbs of sand in the sidecar for a while.

Mountain Dew, it is a submarine themed E30 24 Hours of Lemons car (with a 5.0L V8). You can see more at: www.looksgoodonpaperracing.com (http://www.looksgoodonpaperracing.com)

I'm just surprised I'm seeing one of these, jeeze cynical.

awesome

I actually just read about this in the airport the other day... pretty coincidental that someone on here would post about getting one seeing as how they are so rare!!! Pretty cool deal :thumbup:

Thanks all, and the fiancee likes it. She actually asked to go for a ride this weekend, and that would have never happened before.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/WP_000585.jpg

She even decided she liked it enough to say she would be using the helmet and wanted to personalize it a little.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/2006%20Ural%20Raven/WP_000586.jpg

Very nice. I've always liked the R series BMWs and I've seen a few Urals around and they've always seemed fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDj6ofYpRzI&list=UUJT9gFPKy343Wk21KfvRoFA&index=6&feature=plcp

Skip to 5:47 :D

I actually practiced flying the chair last night (in a parking lot, like they tell you to do in the manual), and with some weight in the car it is hard to get it flying, and hard to balance it in the air, but with no weight it can come up pretty easily, but is easier to balance.

They tell you to make clockwise circles and go tighter until it flys, then try to keep it in the air for a full circle. Never quite made it that far. Also it is interesting how moving your body around can either keep it down, or get it in the air. It was also quite an upper body workout. If I just do this every day after work, I can probably skip the gym haha.

(It was hard to write this post while consciously trying to avoid the phrase "get it up".)