Greetings all!

Long-time sidecar lover, short-time rider here. Two years ago I got a hold of a vintage looking 2013 manual 150cc Stella 4t with Cozy sidecar. Been having a lot of fun with that! However, it has left me wanting for something more... powerful... Something that can get on the highway as my rig could only do 45-50 mph tops on a good day (empty).

Thus my quest began! An old WW2 reenacting acquaintance from way back in the day had a Chang Jiang with sidecar from the 1960s or 70s. I had gone on a few rides in it and loved it. So I started looking for them, as well as any other options. Peeked at some 500cc Royal Enfields with hacks but found their power lacking for long distance travel. The Cozy sidecars most seem to come equipped with are also not up to the quality of other hack makers. I don't like the look of most other bikes with sidecars... Far too modern for my tastes! And Harley's seem very very 'spensive. What was I to do?!?! <Le sigh>

On eBay last month I ran across something that got my full attention: A 2016 Ural Retro Classic, with glossy black paint and pin-stripping. A BEAUTIFUL bike! It was in New England however and I am in Texas... So a few calls, a dozen or so e-mails and many pics later I bought it sight unseen and am having it shipped to College Station, TX. Should be here in a week or two!

So now for your part: What in the world do I need to know other than that these things can be maintenance whores? (My Stella 4t was also a tinkerer's scooter).

This is the one I purchased from Ural of New England:

http://www.alphacars.com/web/vehicle_photos/33740946/#00

they have not changed much in the past 40 odd years, I had a go on one back in 1975, very agricultural indeed and quite reliable too, they are quite low geared and not very fast. The biggest difference I see between the bike of 75 and that is the updated switch gear and disk brakes. I was sorely tempted to buy one back then, there were 2 models of Ural available then and one of those had a reverse gear for use with a sidecar.


A friend has a genuine 1943 Wehrmacht BMW with sidecar, he also has a MG32 for it





Please note the period Garmin Zumo 550 GPS mounted on the handlebars

More pics here: https://imgur.com/a/atwmW

Very cool guys, sidecars are lots of fun.
I passed my test here in the UK on a Vespa 200 with sidecar.

Worst bike I had, the Ural, but that was back in 1972! Top speed 55mph. Compression was so low one could kick start by hand.
Sidecar on wrong side for England (now illegal I believe) that it turned over due to camber on a right hand curve once.

Overheated so much that the solder of the floats in the carb melted, petrol everywhere the vapour of which ignited on contact with the red-hot downpipes, causing traffic chaos in the middle of London during rush-hour in a very Irish Republican neighbourhood which one wouldn't normally tarry in as this was during the height of the 'Troubles' in Ulster.

Interesting though, one stripping down the engine, it was found the fly-wheel and various other parts had German wording in the castings. From left over BMW booty I presume.

That is great! I love the original BMW R71/R72 bikes - which is what the Ural is based off of.

This one has all disk brakes (even on the sidecar) and doesn't have the front leading forks but rather a standard fork for highway driving. The final drive is also geared taller at 3.89:1 so I should be able to cruise nicely on the freeway once broken in.

Mark, I bet that Vespa 200 pulled the sidecar nicely. My Stella 4t 150cc struggles a bit...

Well my new bike came! Was a little late due to awful Houston traffic (typical), but Ivan did show up around 4:30:











I'm reading over the manual now, and trying to get a hang of the controls. Finding that neutral is a bit tricky! Any suggestions?

There is no neutral. Russian vehicles only go forwards!

LOL U-96!

Is the chair wheel powered or freewheeling ?
If its freewheeling accelerate to turn right and brake to turn left.

That looks fantastic man, have fun!

Never ridden an Ural myself so no tips but man that looks clean as heck. Enjoy yourself and I can't wait to hear your report on how it rides.

e: Darn you, found this locally!
http://destinationcycles.com/images/16gearupasphaltcustom1%20015.jpg

I remember on mine one had to select first with a hand lever and then change up with a standard foot pedal.
Doesn't look different to mine, (except for disc brakes instead of drum) which is a nice retro touch, except mine was a hideous baby-blue!

Is the chair wheel driven? On mine you had to engage it separately, and if you had the chair in reverse and the bike in first, inadvertent doughnuts ensued.

Have fun with it old chap.

Where's the MG? What about the mine layer and the rocket launcher?

Are all my ideas about sidecars just a dream???




The Jedi Master

This thread reminded me of that utterly great motorcycle + sidecar chase sequence in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Looks cool as heck!

That trailer it came in however... yikes... triple the size of the two pickup...

What is the appeal of a Sidecar for you? I appreciate the looks, but as far as riding, isn't it a bit sterile?

All the shifting except for reverse is done with the left foot. The reverse is on the tank on the right-hand side. This model is geared and suited more for pavement driving so no 2-wheel drive.

LOL @ Jedi Master and PanzerMeyer! Actually, I could have gotten a machine-gun mount option... But I wanted a classic civilian look.

GET IT! Very military-styled!