Ural reviews

This bike has been my daily driver for the last 3 years and 53K km's...rain, sun, hot, cold (no snow in FL). I still have a ball with it and can't see myself riding anything else. This is one tough, easy to wrench, highly utilitarian machine. Many improvements have been made in design and quality since I got my bike in 2002, plus they now have a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty. If you're looking for a truly unique and fun ride, this is it. Show less

I just picked up my Patrol two days ago. The last time I had checked out these bikes was 1995 and I was not impressed. The bikes looked cheap, and their reputation was pretty bad so I decided against it. After quite a bit of research I decided to take another look. First off, the finish is 1000% improved, it's still a little rough around the edges but overall I think they compare well to BMW or Harley. After a short indoctrination by the dealer I was ready to get on the road. I had a 120 mile ride ahead of me and the prospect of not going over 40 mph was not exactly appealing. It turned out to be a very pleasant ride; the tractor seat is actually very comfortable. The bike tracks very well although pulling a hack gets some getting used to. The transmission reminds me of our old tractor back home, although it is already smoothing out some. This is definitely not a high tech, high performance bike. I think it will be a nice commuter; the reverse gear makes it easy to back out of a parking space. But the main reason I bought it is to take my 6 year old out on rides with me. And the kids LOVE it. Today I took the wife and the two kids (3 and 6) out to dinner. Both kids fit well in the sidecar and the wife rode on the back. The bike handled about the same, the engine has a lot of torque. Once the break in period is over I'll see how it handles highway speeds and off road. Already my son is asking to go camping and I think this will be the perfect vehicle to get us out there. Will keep you updated. Show less

My Ural is the most fun you can have on 3 wheels. Plenty of power and an ultra classic look and design. You better like to talk to people because EVERYONE will want to know more about your bike. Take everyone and everything for a ride... Grandma, little kids, the pet. Simple, a no-hassle blast!! Show less

So here's the straight deal. You have to work on the bike to make it work, but it is worth it. In the 19 years I've been riding motorcycles, this is the most fun I've ever had. That is despite the fact that I had to replace the alternator, the speedometer cable, the drive shaft, and a valve adjuster screw I over tightened. If you want no maintenance, buy a modern Japanese bike. If you want a fun ride that requires easy tinkering, buy a Ural. Show less

I have a '99 Patrol, bought it brand new. It was advertised as "the only street-legal ATV" so that is how I have driven it for the past 5 years, thru mud, snow, rivers, deserts mountains and plains. I ride it hard and put it away wet. It came with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty so I figured I could beat the crap out of it and the company would pay for the parts that couldn't hold up. Much to my surprise (and pleasure), the machine kept going, and going, and going - put the energizer bunny to shame. I still ride it, in fact took it to a motorcycle rodeo today and even kept the shiny side up! Anyway, it is a great machine - has its quirks - it is old style, requiring attentive and regular maintenance as with all older machines, but it takes the abuse very well and only asks for more. It is the best investment I have ever spent money on - well worth every penny. Show less

I've had my BC-65 for four years now. It's one of three bikes I own and ride. It's by far the most fun bike I own. It's not a long-distance tourer or freeway speedster, but if you want to bop around town, ride backcountry roads and just generally have fun, this bike is great! Reliability has been very good. Once you get them broken in and keep up on oil changes and maintenance, they are bulletproof. I've had a couple small things go wrong, but I just got out the excellent manual and, even with my limited mechanical skills, went step-by-step to fix it. This 47-year-old woman loves this bike. It's easy to service, runs and rides very nice, lots of room, comfortable - I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Maybe I've just lucky with my bike, but it seems clear to me why old versions of these bikes are all over Cuba and Russia; they are practically indestructible and just keep going and going and going. Nothing high-tech here, just good old fashioned simplicity.... and did I mention that they are a blast to ride? Show less

I wanted something different. I like the old BMW R-series styling, but a big 1200 for big dollars isn't for me. The Ural Wolf fit the bill. It rides smooth, handles well and runs quiet. Odometer reads in KM. Negatives are: 1) Handlebars are too low and too far forward. It makes my backache to constantly reach for them. I'll be getting Honda GL1100 aftermarket from Flanders to fix that. They are 7/8 inch. A new brake cable is needed for the change. 2) Clearance between lower rear brake pedal and starboard carburetor is too small. It would be nice to have an adjustment on the brake pedal...all welded! It's a good thing for the forward controls. Watch your shoes on the carb extensions like the nub on the cup bottom and the choke lever. 3) 4 speed transmission is clunky. Positives are: 1) Price; $5K 2) Uniqueness; Russian war prize?Copyrights/Patents? Made from Russian tanks...Some good stories here. 3) Style; Designed by the Russian Night Wolves Club. Looks good in Black (the only available color in US). Classic timeless lines, forward controls. 4) Simplicity; this is one easy machine to tinker with. Everything is obviously accessible. So far everything is metric. Manuals are in English with good pictures. 5) Optional reverse, if you don't get reverse, the reverse shift lever behind the brake pedal will pop the trans into neutral very easily. Lever it up to enable the transmission again. 6) Reliability; So far, so good. It comes with a tire pump, shaft drive, kick-start, nothing complicated and no frills, just a great bike. Show less

I have owned my 2002 tourist for a year now. It's barely broken in with 5000km on the clock. I've owned several air-head Beemers over the years, and the Ural has lots of things I liked in the older BMW's. It pulls like a John Deere tractor and just keeps getting smoother and stronger now that it's getting broken-in. I had a problem at first with the electronic ignition, but Ural replaced it free and I haven't had a lick of trouble since. The frame and suspension are very strongly built and the sidecar and luggage rack can carry lots of gear and a passenger. Driving a sidecar rig is "different" than handling a regular motorcycle, but once you get used to it, it's a lot of fun. The rig also draws attention nearly everywhere you stop, and you get to meet lots of nice people, too. It seems like all kinds of people are friendly to you when you come into town on the rig, as it doesn't seem to make people feel threatened. Since my Ural is my only rig, and I am usually alone, I do kind of miss having a standard motorcycle to play with--but I like my Ural too. Show less

The Wolf I have is more fun to ride than any of the Harley's, Nortons or Trumps I have owned. This isn't your father's Russian motorcycle. 65-70 is a comfortable cruise speed for this bike and the seat is comfortable for 2-3 hour rides. Handleing is A+ and while it does require some tweeking to get everything working right, once there it is an absolute blast to ride!! Quality is way up over earlier Urals and the new distributor IMWA is great and have shown me the best factory support I have experienced with any bike manufacturer or distributor. Show less

As I get a few inquires from this site every month, I thought I would post a follow up after a year+ of Ural ownership. The update will be a little boring for most. No high tech. gizmos to wow about. No new fangled suspension to smooth out the ride. No twin turbo mega cc engine to rave about. Just a built-like-a-tank tough throw back to the 1950s bike review. The 2002 Patrol is my daily driver with over 30K hard km's (on and off road) put on it in just over a year. It has had a few electrical gremlins and component failures which were all easily and cheaply fixed. Everything on this bike is easily accessible for adjustment or repair due to its design (BMW) and military heritage. This is one tough rig which has never failed to do what I have asked of it. It is the 4X4 of motorcycles. What ever you can pile into it-it will haul. Loads of utility. If you are looking for a motorcycle that does more than make noise, look pretty and carry a gallon of milk home from the store...consider an IMZ/Ural. The only negative (if you consider it one)is, speed. With a top end of 74mph and a realistic cruise of 50-60mph this bike is probably too slow for most tastes (not mine). But what it lacks in speed it makes up in character and fun. When the time comes, it will be another IMZ for me. Show less