What’s the learning curve like?
2023 Ural Gear Up
- Thread starter Wingboy
- Start date
What’s the learning curve like?
Throw away everything you know about bikes.
Get used to going into ditches until you learn that it's OK to lean while going straight.
It can be setup to run straight at 100 on a normally crowned road, but will pull left at 60. Or setup to run true at 80 on a heavily crowned road but pull right on a 400 hwy. It's always a compromise.
Same with braking and acceleration. They usually pull right on the brakes, and left when on the gas.
Wheelies are unpredictable.
Any chance we can spin this off to a new thread! I have some questions. I’m sure others might have some too.
done
You can do valve adjustments no problem. I think the right side cylinder head can come off with the hack attached. But if you needed to remove the cylinder, it would be simpler to remove it. Ural shops have wider lifts.
They are not dangerous. Especially with those limited capabilities. I did kill a groundhog a few years ago. My built in countersteer didn't work.
Lots of info here. Soviet Steeds
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Is it easy to separate the hack from the bike? Novice territory or not?
Never done it. But with very careful measuring of the struts and toe adjustments, i don't think it would be too difficult. Novice? No.
If you are thinking about running it without the hack, no not a great idea. It's only 42hp and a 4 speed (non synchro) with tires that are not designed for 2 wheel fun. And of course you would need to add turn signals.
So for changing tires etc you just jack up the bike and leave the hack on the floor?
I carry a scissor jack in the trunk in case i need to change the sidecar.(in a pinch you can lift the hack up by the fender while someone puts a log under it) Urals come with a centerstand to change front or rear, but it's very hard to get it up. That's where you use the trenching tool to roll the rig back up on to raise it a bit higher.
I put a sidecar on a bicycle and had trouble staying away from ditches and curbs.
When riding a bicycle you keep it upright by steering in the direction it is falling. After you learn that it you don't even think about it, it's automatic.
When riding on a crowned road the sidecar, and I assume a trike, doesn't travel erect, leaning right and based on bicycle training, one compensates by a slight turn of the bars to the right. That leads you to the ditch.
It's just the mindset that needs adjusting, telling your mind you're not about to tip over.
Also you don't have to put a side-stand down. However if you switch back and forth with a straight bike you have to relearn the side-stand bit or CLUNK.
When i brought the rig home, B followed me home from Guelph. She told me later that it was fun watching me try to put a foot down at almost every stop sign or light.
