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After having too much fun with my FZ-1 sidecar combo, it was time to look at
a dedicated sidecar machine. The Fazer is just too much fun to leave a three
wheeler, and a true sidecar machine can be extensively tweaked to handle well
and be easy to steer. These types of mods would ruin the Yamaha, and so the
search was on for a new ride.
The Russians have been importing bikes into the USA for several years that
were sidecar equipped from the factory. Both Ural and Dnepr both based their
design upon a pre-WW2 BMW design and have built the same basic bike to this day.
The Dnepr factory is now closed, but IMZ-Ural is still going strong and have now
released several well received upgrades to their machines, including a new 750cc
Boxer style engine, electronic ignition, and modern switchgear. This may seem
like small issues to people who have grown up with Japan supplying their bikes,
but to the old Soviet Republics this was a cause for celebration!
The closest Ural dealer was in Whitesboro, New York. The 199 mile ride to North
Country Cycles is uneventful, though it rains most of the way
there. Brad, the owner of North Country, meets me on this Sunday and leads me to
the machine. The dealership is also an outdoor sports store that specializes in
kayaks and canoes. It was a very nice shop! This 2002 Tourist is waiting for me
out back.
The initial impressions are very positive. It looks great and the fit and finish
is actually very good. The bike fired right up cold, and settled into an easy
idle. It revs very slowly, and is a somewhat noisy engine with a bit of valve
clatter.
Sitting on it, the first thing you notice is the horrible bicycle style seat.
This thing has got to go. Besides being uncomfortable, it places you too close
to the bars so you operate the bike kind of hunched forward. The controls were
nice, and were modern Japanese switchgear. All the cables were also of high
quality with easy movement. The bike had only idiot lights and a large
headlight-mounted speedo for instruments. The gas cap is non-locking.
I hop on the bike, and notice that the shifter is VERY close to
the left carb. A large boot will be whacking that unit for sure. The rear brake
lever is set off farther to the left side than usual and operates both rear
brakes - bike and sidecar. The reverse lever is just behind the left foot peg on
the tranny housing.
I pull out and notice right away this thing won't be winning ANY dyno
shootout's soon. I'm quickly up to top gear - fourth - and steadily
cruising at 45mph. The bike had 122 miles on it, and was still breaking in. The
engine was fairly smooth, but was just lacking power. Trying to hit 50mph was
hard, and when I had a long uphill I had to downshift to third. Brad told me
that t gets stronger with proper break-in, but how much? I hope a LOT more!
The nice thing about a bike designed for hacks is that it handles very well, and
steers very easily with the leading link front end. This was a very nicely
riding bike. I pulled off to a side street to turn around and made a point to
use reverse. Just put the bike in neutral, squeeze the clutch and push down on
the reverse lever. Then, ease out the clutch and your going backward! Very cool
indeed!
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| In spite of a serious lack
of power, the bike was fun to ride! |
The ride back was fine, except that I really had to push it to
go up long hills. It will barely do 50mph! As I was downshifting to pull into
the dealership I hit a neutral between second and third and one more press had a
nice grinding sound coming from the tranny. The shifting was OK, if a little
notchy.
I liked the bike, but its more like a third bike to have for a once in a while
ride. To live with this machine as an only ride would really limit what you can
do. With two people and a weekend's worth of gear, you are not getting anywhere
in a hurry. It really makes you wonder how the German Army rode this bike across
Europe and Africa in WW2 in its 650cc form. They must have held it wide open the
entire trip! As Brad said when I asked about the power, " You still get
where you want to go. You just get there a lot slower!"
I'm glad I rode the Ural, and would still like one or a Dnepr to mess around
with. But, it won't be going on any long trips. If this thing is lacking power,
just how bad was the 650?
Factory
Information on the 750 Tourist
The
IMZ-URAL website
North
American Russian Motorcycle Association
06/29/2003
If you have any questions or comments, please mail Dave.
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