Texas to Tuktoyaktuk by Ural!

[Mastercylinder]

Thanks for the trip report so far. Nice pics.

[koifarm]

Hello there,
I just subscribed after getting a note from Elmer and Sharon about your trip....
Finished reading the posts today and am glad to meet you both, looking forward to your posts about the trip....
Sounds like you were off to a rough start but you're headed down the road now....sounds like a Ural....

The pictures are wonderful, America is a beautiful place and being in Florida, we don't get too many mountains to gaze at so I love those expansive vistas of the country.....
Good luck on your journey, godspeed and don't forget the pictures of all the great food you run into, Elmer and Sharon have me spoiled on that account

Koifarm

[XPatriot]

Breathtaking photos!

Good luck and safe travels.

[Beater]

When you come back down through the Yellowstone area, you must do the 'Beartooth Highway'. It's really from Red Lodge, MT to Cook City, WY. 110% beautiful, and full of vistas, animals, winding roads, and motorcyclists.

Me and the bride did it this year, and I cannot speak highly enough about it.

Love the trip, and keep it coming!

[Strong Bad]

Thanks for posting about your adventure I've subscribed to this thread so I can follow your trip.

I've been thinking seriously about buying an Ural for the wife and I for a while and am learning more about them daily. I understand that these Urals can be a bit parsnikity in the daily operation and they have unique tendencies. Many of which have prolly been discussed some where around these boards and I'm sure I've missed many of them. If I'm off base here I hope that someone would chime in to set things straight. I would like to think that I've been around the block a few times mechanically and with bikes in general. So allow me the make the following observations and ask the following questions:

You've been fouling a lot of spark plugs and from the pics they look very black and sooty.

Black in spark plug language means cold, perhaps you should go a step or two hotter the next time you by a set? Additionally, you can increase the gap which will cause the plug to run slightly hotter, but it may cause the ignition to work harder too.


The sheer volume of soot on the plugs doesn't look good either. How much oil is it burning? Any? Have you noticed any real significant change in how it runs at altitude? How sensitive are Urals' carbs? Would a change in jetting even be recommended?

I was hoping someone would comment on the tire wear as shown in the pic, it looks pretty extreme to me. What could be the cause and how could it be cured?

[snoid]

great ride report!

i see you got the proper seat for touring. my butt is cussing me out for not ordering one sooner.

you two be careful...

me

[windmill]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

I was hoping someone would comment on the tire wear as shown in the pic, it looks pretty extreme to me. What could be the cause and how could it be cured?

It is normal for sidecar rigs to go through pusher tires quickly, especially the stock Russian tires on a Ural. Two up, loaded down, hot weather, and twisty roads will really eat them up.

[NikonVT]

This is fantastic. Can't wait to see the pics when you get a little further north.

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by stoney4vida

Looks like a great trip ! Enjoy it all and best of luck to you .

Thanks! It has been a great trip but we've got a long way to go...

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

Awesome ride

Moved to Hacks at OP's request

Thanks very much

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by TEXASYETI

Matt, if you and the missus need a little siesta on your way back you have got a place to rest in Fort Worth. Would love to host and hear about your adventure. Drop me a PM if interested.

Godspeed to you both!

Thank you so much for the offer. We really, really appreciate it and may take you up if our route takes us your way. Thanks!

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by LoCat

Just caught up with you two. Glad to see you making some great progress

I just couldn't pull the trigger on my short trip with the Ural so I boarded the dog and will hit the road in the morning on the GSA.

Keep it coming and stay safe!

running gear oil in the transmission for xxx miles and developing a new leak didn't have anything to do with my decision no way. Douh!

Well, we definitely had a few issues up front, but our rig has really been running great lately and I don't regret our choice of motorcycle for the trip but I understand... be careful of that oil!

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by Fat_Man

FWIW (not much..) I disagree. I found this ride report and added it to my subscribed threads. Had it been in Hacks, I probably wouldn't have found it. Now that I have, I will probably peek into Hacks more often in search of good ride reports...and it has my gears turning about a sidecar one of these days. I guess it is fine if you wish to preach only to the converted, but keeping it in ride reports might have won some new fans for sidecar rigs.

Well, I did think that and there's definitely part of me that regrets that decision but I just though other sidecar owners would receive our trip better. You're right on preaching to the choir though... oh well.

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by Abenteuerfahrer

Welcome to the Hack area. Eventually you will get noticed and will be adviced......!

You both still have a long way to go before hitting the Dempster. At least I think you still could transit the Dempster and get christened at the Arctic Circle before the weather Gods there shut you down.

If you happen to go through Watson Lake and need lodging sans camping, I'd recommend the former Canadian Air Force Lodge that has turned into a motel/roadhouse and is run by a German that charges only $73 for a room. Do your tire changes there if needed, he has compressors.

Also leave your mark at the Sign Forest!!!

Cheers....

Yes, yes we do have a looong way to go. We're just going to be watching the weather and hopefully we can make it that far north. I will not be putting us in danger, however, and if the winter hits then we'll be heading back south. Thanks for the advice on the lodging - I'm definitely always looking for that kind of info. Thanks!

[mightymatt43]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Great trip! But I'm curious as to how you plan to reach Tuk? There's gravel to Inuvick but from then on no road unless the river is frozen.

Hubert went to Tuk at the begining of his RTW trip.It ain't easy.

To check out Hubert's report Google "The Timeless Ride "

However your trip turns out it has already been very entertaining.Thanks

We were going to ride to Inuvik then fly to Tuk. I don't think we're tough enough to ride it during the winter...

And yes, Hubert is the man. I've seen his site before. Very interesting guy.

Glad our trip has been entertaining, thanks!