Scott Brady
Founder
I just can't resist funky cool old vehicles, so we decided to pick-up our first vintage (but new) motorcycle, a Russian-built Ural Gear-up. I have ridden these a few times, and on each occasion I started to like it more, and not because of some awesome performance characteristic, but just because it is fun to ride. It also helps that my wife Stephanie and my dog Atlas really like a side-hack too.
So, we decided it would be fun to have one for bouncing around Prescott and the local forest trails, trips to the coffee shop and general shenanigans. The Ural is the perfect shenanigan enabler.
Of course, there are lots of specifications, but those really don't matter. I laugh and smile when I ride it. My wife laughs and smiles when she rides in it. Sold.
There are a could practical things I really like about it, like the lockable trunk, which I use to store my briefcase for the trip to work. It also has a kick start, which you would think would be really difficult to use, given the 750cc twin, but it turns over muy easy. That is most likely because of the 8:1 compression ratio - perfect for drum fuel in Copper Canyon! So far, the only thing I really wish was better is the first gear. It only has a 4-speed transmission and it REALLY needs a lower first gear for even moderate trail use. You have to be pretty hard on the (dry) clutch when picking through ruts and rock, etc. Oh, and it has reverse, which is pretty styling and not something I realized for a few days - bonus.
For modifications, we are planning to play around with it a bit, just to personalize the machine and maybe improve the dirt performance some. A tire upgrade is planned, along with some investigation on lower gearing. Maybe a scabbard for an AK47. Otherwise, I just plan to ride it a lot. Can't wait for the nephews to visit. . .
So, we decided it would be fun to have one for bouncing around Prescott and the local forest trails, trips to the coffee shop and general shenanigans. The Ural is the perfect shenanigan enabler.
Of course, there are lots of specifications, but those really don't matter. I laugh and smile when I ride it. My wife laughs and smiles when she rides in it. Sold.
There are a could practical things I really like about it, like the lockable trunk, which I use to store my briefcase for the trip to work. It also has a kick start, which you would think would be really difficult to use, given the 750cc twin, but it turns over muy easy. That is most likely because of the 8:1 compression ratio - perfect for drum fuel in Copper Canyon! So far, the only thing I really wish was better is the first gear. It only has a 4-speed transmission and it REALLY needs a lower first gear for even moderate trail use. You have to be pretty hard on the (dry) clutch when picking through ruts and rock, etc. Oh, and it has reverse, which is pretty styling and not something I realized for a few days - bonus.
For modifications, we are planning to play around with it a bit, just to personalize the machine and maybe improve the dirt performance some. A tire upgrade is planned, along with some investigation on lower gearing. Maybe a scabbard for an AK47. Otherwise, I just plan to ride it a lot. Can't wait for the nephews to visit. . .
