Ural Patrol Classic PT75 reviews

'We bought the forest green gear up in Arizona. It came with everything except windshields. After setting the sidecar up to handle to suit me (first time side hack for me), things have gone well. After putting 1,700 klicks on her I set out on a 700-mile round trip. The bike wasn't real fast on the highway, which I knew when I bought it. Half the the trip was on I-25 & I-40, the return was all the backroads home. This trip was from Deming, New Mexico to Gallup, New Mexico, and return. Mileage was good - 31 mpg. It was a fun trip. The seat was a killer. While at Farm and Tractor supply, I found a steel tractor seat, same as on my old Moline tractor. I welded four lugs on the seat so it would use all the original hardware from Ural. I painted it flat black with intentions of having it done up in matching fabric if I liked it. I have owned the bike since June 16, 2012. Today is August 14, 2012 and the bike now has 6,200 kilometers on it. I had the brake light switch go bad and a flat. Since I would have to order a new switch, I used a Honda switch, fit it in the same place and just changed the terminal ends on the wires. My original driver wheel was just rotated to the side car at 6,000 kilometers. It is wore maybe 40%. All my road miles are at 60-65 mph. One time with no wind and cover on the side car it really huffed but it hit 80 mph., and no I won't do it again. Would I buy another one? Yes, in a heartbeat. My wife loves it! Show less

I read about Urals in the May 29, New York Times. I sold my last bike in 1994 and decided this looked like fun. I read a review on some website by an owner who recommended shimming the carburators for smoother operations and told the dealer. He did not have the shims in stock so the first 500KM were without. There was a lot of backfiring and I felt the mixture was too lean. After the shims were installed at the 500 km. service, the engine was a smooth as silk and the dealer is making their installation standard on all future deliveries. Last week we went to Stanley, Idaho and in the morning the frost was thick on the bike, temperature in the 20's. She started with two cranks and I turned the enrichers off as soon as I could reach them. This bike has been the most fun I have had in years! We have done 4,270 km. in less than three months. Show less

Just about the most fun I've had on a bike! The quality is much improved over older models. Mine was purchased used this spring (2005) just out of the break in. I've had the alternator, speedo cable and ignition go bad, and replaced. The drive shaft splines also stripped. BUT, you can't go into this expecting a modern, problem free bike. Buy a Japanese bike, then. These are old tech, with few changes over half a century. But now this bike is getting better and better. It pulls like a draft horse, and easily keeps up in traffic. It handles great, and has become my daily rider (I also own a Yamaha Road Star and an Enfield Bullet). I make more friends on the Ural, as it always draws a crowd and everyone wants to talk about it. I'd get another with NO hesitation Show less

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

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 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

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

Have now put over 500 miles on a Ural Patrol with sidecar in the last couple of months. Have a Harley for touring but the Ural is so much fun to take to town that it gets a lot of use. Plan on any trip taking a while as you will spend many hours with admirers every where you go. Happy at 50mph and any terrain is okay. Only wish I had gotten the machine gun option so that nobody would pull out in front of me. Show less