Ural Side Cars, Help Me Decide

[Gizmo]

I am teetering on a consideration to buy a Ural side car rig and as a nooby in the world of hacks I can use a little help. The two Urals that have piqued my interest are the Tourist and Patrol. The main difference between the two as I see it is the Patrol offers two wheel drive which I see as an advantage off road. If I get one, I plan on riding mostly paved roads (70%) and some off-road (30%), nothing to tough, fire & gravel roads and perhaps slightly more challenging as I develop skill. So is my assumption that the two wheel drive Patrol an advantage and if so, is it needed for the kind of off-road riding I described? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Prmurat]

As a newbee with only 350kms (Ural have a km odometer...), I can only give you my first impression: DO IT!!!. It is really fun if a lot of hard work...I bought myself a Gear Up as I want to do some fire roads, trails etc (I have a Spyder for the open roads/when I am in a hurry or want to cover some miles). The price difference between 2wd and normal 1wd will be paid the day tou are in the boones and need someone to pull you...
Good luck with your choice! (maybe you should ask this question on the Soviet Steeds forum? http://sovietsteeds.com/)
Philippe

[Thermos]

If your looking to eventually challenge yourself, get 2wd. When you need it, you'll know

-Tom

[RedMenace]

I know the search function is cumbersome but in this case you will find it worth the effort. There are pages and pages devoted to this question. The short answer: you don't need it. It can be fun and it will increase the resale value. If you drink the kool aid you will come to believe you can't live without it, but you can.

[tml82]

The only use for 2wd is snow probably not an issue for you, or mud or loose sand. Its a matter of want you want. Would you
buy a 2wd or 4wd truck to go the same places you are going to ride your rig. That said I have a Gear Up and love it use it, but 2wd really only gets locked in to get me though deep snow ( western New York ) or though mud. 90% of the time I'm in 1wd.

[Qwik]

Lots of sand down that way and mud in monsoon season. I would go with the 2wd

[windmill]

I probably use 2wd much more than most folks, and I don't use it that much, but I am very happy to have it when I actually need it.

It's kinda like my wifes car, a Subaru outback which replaced a FWD Hyundai. She really didn't "need" a AWD car, but I sure don't miss getting up early in the morning to put chains on her car when it snows so she can get up the hill..

2wd isn't a must have, it's just nice to have sometimes.

[backdaddy]

I bought a Gear-up in October, my first hack. I ride mainly fire roads but being a nooby I have gotten stuck many times just turning around, lots of sand here in the high desert. I think most of it is my lack of skills, having ridin mo sycles for 40 years that third wheel is throwing me off. But then again I know I have the 2 wheel option in the back of my mind. I'm fascinated by my Ural. Every thing inside me says I shouldn't like it as much. I've always wanted the latest, fastest, newest technology in my motorcycles. The Ural takes me back to when I first learned to ride as a kid. I would ride in a small field everyday after school and weekends, the same loop. It makes me smile.

[Tarka]

For your intended useage you don`t need 2WD.


The 1WD Ural is surprisingly capable off road,or on snow/ice and it has more ground clearance and a lower CoG than the 2WD.

[elefantmans]

If its got to be a ural get the real deal 2wd,better to have something you dont use than something you find you need but dont have,do your homework though there are much better built motorcycles out there and with a little work they can all have a sidecar attached,have you ever seen a dauntless BMW/GSA-Ural combo,bottom line urals are fun,slow,thirsty and will need ongoing work to keep running even from new,if this olde worlde charm floats your boat buy one.

[Boondox]

Originally Posted by elefantmans

If its got to be a ural get the real deal 2wd,better to have something you dont use than something you find you need but dont have,do your homework though there are much better built motorcycles out there and with a little work they can all have a sidecar attached,have you ever seen a dauntless BMW/GSA-Ural combo,bottom line urals are fun,slow,thirsty and will need ongoing work to keep running even from new,if this olde worlde charm floats your boat buy one.

[Heyload]

I myself had this internal debate as I have been looking at a Ural in my own future. Personally, I have no use for the 2wd version, so a one wheel drive will be perfectly suitable for my intended use, which will be paved roads.

Now, Retro or Tourist?.....hmmmm.

[dialdn]

I have also had this internal debate. I love the look and features of the Retro (clearance, road handling).

However, I do plan on hitting a few dirt roads/atv trails with the kids and will appreciate it that 10% of the time. For me it will be a black Patrol (not a huge fan of camo). I can't see me getting a Patrol and then longing for a Retro. But, I could see it going the other way. Not having ever owned a Ural (just ridding a couple), I may not know any better

D

PS - I had a similar internal debate between a BMW GS and GS Adventure. I went with a the GSA for features that I found important to me. No regrets. BTW, Ural not replacing a GSA but complimenting it.....for now

[MartyL]

I'm on my 2nd Ural now. Both models I had and have are 2wd. Do I use the 2wd feature? Not much. But as others have said, "It's there when I need it." The reliability has come a long way with Urals. Sure they require routine maintenance, but which bike doesn't, plus it's very easy to work on and that is a big money saver. There are many choices out there in the motorcycle world, but all I can say is my Ural is the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle and I've been riding for over thirty years....

[Bobmws]

but this link was posted on the BMWMOA forum. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/01/ural/
I found it to be somewhat interesting, probably old hat to most here.