New "Old StocK" bike coming in two months...

Also, the power issues with sidecar clad bikes is really a non-issue...
you really don't want to drive over 40 MPH with sidecar although it can be done easily, but taking it to 60 is a practice in both skill and dare. What happens is that with a sidecar, you lose the gyroscopic forces you are accustomed to when you ride a two wheeled motorcycle or bicycle. Small shocks on the front end will try to flip you over. If you watch European motorcycle w/sidecar races, you will occasionally see the severely traumatic crashes which I can only describe as imagining ragdolls being spun and tossed and then struck with a baseball bat.
 
Congrats on the 1999 NOS Kawasaki Drifter. Those are very cool looking and reliable bikes. I almost bought a Ural with a sidecar a few years ago. It had a camo paint job and it looked like it had just stared in a WWII movie. I REALLY want a new BMW R1200 GS. I love that bike more than any other in the world. Every time I look at one on the street or at a dealership, I look up and ask God, "Why did you make me only 5'5"?!?!?!?"
 
At 5'5", a Chang Jiang would be perfect for you. If you were any taller than 5'8", that bike would be murder for you to ride for any long period of time.
 
JAlexander said:
So I gotta ask, what do y'all know about the relative reliability of those Urals? The design and simplicity really appeal to me. I was also wondering if the sidecar can be removed for solo travel then replaced later on. That'd make checking fence lines and similar things much easier and quicker, since there's not always enough for two people to walk abreast through the trees.
Give me your opinions, if you've got any about this particular bike.

Thanks.

James
Click to expand...
Hey James, sorry about the late reply as I did not have an answer till after I visited the New York Motorcycle show last week.

I spoke with quite a few owners who were at the Ural exhibit and they all loved it. It's just about as reliable as the new bikes, but reliable in different ways. Nowadays, you have very complex bikes that don't tend to break down. With these bikes, you lack the complexity, but when something does break down, it's very simple to fix. They were careful not to mention how often they break down, or what kind of breakdowns happen, but logically, simple bikes tend to stay operating. One thing to remember is that these bikes were not made to perform like the Jap bikes or the Harleys so as long as you shift up early, and down late, you're fine (keep your RPM's low).

The sidecars come off very easily and you can buy them without the sidecar altogether.
For that matter, this is also a great bike to learn motorcycle mechanics on.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Hey James, sorry about the late reply as I did not have an answer till after I visited the New York Motorcycle show last week.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, Mutt. I'm gonna keep an eye out for one, since it sounds like a lot of fun.

James
 
Riding a sidecar is a lot of fun... it's a little like riding a quad, but not exactly.

here are some dealers in Texas


Texas
B&B Enterprise
210 Green Ave. Orange TX 77630
Phone: (409) 883-6916
Fax: (409) 883-6916
bbenterprise@pnx.com
www.bbhotrods.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diamond Jims Outdoor Power Sales & Service
11500 Manchaca Rd Austin TX 78748
Phone: (512) 280-4388
Fax: (512) 280-0980
djop@ev1.net
www.djop.biz


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Fix-it
4450 FM 1387 Midlothian TX 76065
Phone: (972) 723-0171
Fax: (972) 723-0801
mrfix-it@msn.com
www.mrfix-it.net
** Parts and Service only
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top