Anyone ever owned a Ural. I never owned a sidecar rig and their don't seem to be a whole lot available from the factory these days as a complete unit. Ural however does have one. I have heard some negative remarks in the past about them but from what I understand they have improved much in the last couple years with fuel injection and steering dampener. Has anyone ever owned one that can comment? I would like the sidecar to take my dog along. I think it would be fun to take off on a cross country trip with a sidecar rig you could throw a few items in for the trip.
jefft
Hi jefft,
sign up to the STC site:-
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SCT/info
to get all the information on sidecars that you'll ever need.
As to Ural sidecar rigs, check out the Ural site on the web for models and prices.
A new Ural rig will run you $10,000+ depending on which model you choose.
The new ones are reliable and have warranties.
The older they are the less they cost and the more TLC they'll need.
To hang a reasonable used sidecar onto an XS650 can cost as little as the $500 I paid for my collision damaged Velorex plus another $500 in good attachment hardware.
Performancewise, a Ural rig is about like an XS650 rig, great round town and OK on 2-lane blacktop, be prepared to spend a lot of your highway miles running on the hard shoulder being overtaken by little old ladies in K cars.
Ridewise, you gotta realize it ain't a bike no more, it only looks like one.
A rig don't countersteer like a solo.
That little leftwise twitch on the bars that starts a solo leaning over to turn right?
That same leftwise twitch will start a rig turning left.
Across the street.
Into the ditch if you're lucky.
Into a semi if you ain't.
A rig handles like a lopsided quad and you can steer it with the throttle.
Accelerate and it turns right. Slow down or brake and it turns left.
Spend a day or so in a deserted car park doing figure 8s learning how to lift the sidecar wheel and more importantly, how not to.
Problems:- They ride funny and they are as wide as a car.
Advantages:- They don't fall over, they happily ride on mud, frost, gravel and up to an inch of snow, they can carry an amazing amount of stuff, a dog or even a lady in a party dress. And they are a great chick magnet.
