National Ural Demo Day

**cheesy** · 01-19-2019, 07:56 PM

Decided to put this here.

Today was National Ural Demo Day and the local Ural dealer partook. We had a heck of a snowfall last night but I took the Ural anyway. The roads were dicey, to say the least. It was a ride of trial and error just to find the right speed that allowed for something that felt like traction and the right gear to keep the engine from lugging. I ended up being the first one there, so I sat and had coffee with Randy for a while.

Folks started showing up about ten, the first being a young Indian couple. The demo unit was a 2018 Gear Up in a burnt orange metallic. Sharp. Randy's sales guy instructed the couple on the ins and outs of how to ride it. Then both asked me for some pointers. Basically, all I said was drive it like a snowmobile and don't bother putting your left foot down.

I was getting ready to leave when the youngsters came back after a half hour ride. The young lady ran into the shop to warm up and the guy told me that his upper arms were sore and the steering felt sketchy. I took a look and they were in 2wd. No diff, so steering can be a struggle.
Next pair were an older couple. I think there were six or eight more waiting for their turn, but I didn't stick around. Wanted to get home and finish digging out.

The ride back was on cleaner roads so I was able to do something that had some semblance to a speed limit. Downside was that the wind was picking up and the temp was dropping. It was getting pretty cold. 19F when I got home. And then I got stuck in my front yard. Snow was so deep that I floated the sidecar, which lifted the bike. No traction at all. Took me about a half hour to get myself dug out.
Last ride for the next two weeks.

Getting ready to head out.

At Randy's. Folks were impressed that I rode in.

Cute little SSR.

Selfie of me and my commie hat.

Randy also took a pic of my Ural and myself in that hat to send to IMWA.

Just another view of my sorry self stuck in my front yard.

Sport Rider · 01-20-2019, 12:09 PM

so much for 2WD, huh?

I've not even gotten brave enough to take the rig out in snow yet. what little I did in the driveway gave me some confidence though. the car tire on back seems to grip through the snow pretty well. certainly more than a standard motorcycle tire.

**cheesy** · 01-20-2019, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport Rider

so much for 2WD, huh?

I've not even gotten brave enough to take the rig out in snow yet. what little I did in the driveway gave me some confidence though. the car tire on back seems to grip through the snow pretty well. certainly more than a standard motorcycle tire.

Well, I did tell folks at Randy’s that the 2wd will just get you more stuck. Just proved it to be true. The snow was almost to my hip in the spot I chose to ride thru.

Bruces · 01-20-2019, 03:58 PM

You didn’t feel like showing off by flipping the front wheel in the air and riding it through ?

**cheesy** · 01-21-2019, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruces

You didn’t feel like showing off by flipping the front wheel in the air and riding it through ?

With no momentum and 4” wide tires? Nope.

wheelbender6 · 01-22-2019, 09:18 PM

The Ural looks great in its "milieu".

Emerikol · 01-29-2019, 06:33 PM

There was a really bad accident out here a few years ago involving a Ural. Seems a guy was out riding, and the railway crossing arms weren't working. The guy got hit by a train going full speed down the tracks. It was terrible. Nobody on the train survived.

**cheesy** · 01-29-2019, 07:15 PM

I had to read that a couple times. Then I snickered.

Emerikol · 01-29-2019, 08:54 PM

Must be the cold up there slowing the brain down a bit. That's ok, you get a pass for putting up with the weather. Is it really as bad as the news reports are making out? Do you guys need anything?

**cheesy** · 01-29-2019, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerikol

Must be the cold up there slowing the brain down a bit. That's ok, you get a pass for putting up with the weather. Is it really as bad as the news reports are making out? Do you guys need anything?

As I am working in Miami this week, I have little input for how bad it is up there. Every time I call home, I get called rude names. However, folks in Miami think I am crazy because I am working outside with short sleeves because 63F is, supposedly, too cold.

01-19-2019, 07:56 PM	#1
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,792	National Ural Demo Day Decided to put this here. Today was National Ural Demo Day and the local Ural dealer partook. We had a heck of a snowfall last night but I took the Ural anyway. The roads were dicey, to say the least. It was a ride of trial and error just to find the right speed that allowed for something that felt like traction and the right gear to keep the engine from lugging. I ended up being the first one there, so I sat and had coffee with Randy for a while. Folks started showing up about ten, the first being a young Indian couple. The demo unit was a 2018 Gear Up in a burnt orange metallic. Sharp. Randy's sales guy instructed the couple on the ins and outs of how to ride it. Then both asked me for some pointers. Basically, all I said was drive it like a snowmobile and don't bother putting your left foot down. I was getting ready to leave when the youngsters came back after a half hour ride. The young lady ran into the shop to warm up and the guy told me that his upper arms were sore and the steering felt sketchy. I took a look and they were in 2wd. No diff, so steering can be a struggle. Next pair were an older couple. I think there were six or eight more waiting for their turn, but I didn't stick around. Wanted to get home and finish digging out. The ride back was on cleaner roads so I was able to do something that had some semblance to a speed limit. Downside was that the wind was picking up and the temp was dropping. It was getting pretty cold. 19F when I got home. And then I got stuck in my front yard. Snow was so deep that I floated the sidecar, which lifted the bike. No traction at all. Took me about a half hour to get myself dug out. Last ride for the next two weeks. Getting ready to head out. At Randy's. Folks were impressed that I rode in. Cute little SSR. Selfie of me and my commie hat. Randy also took a pic of my Ural and myself in that hat to send to IMWA. Just another view of my sorry self stuck in my front yard. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	4

01-22-2019, 09:18 PM	#6
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	The Ural looks great in its "milieu". __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	1

01-29-2019, 06:33 PM	#7
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	There was a really bad accident out here a few years ago involving a Ural. Seems a guy was out riding, and the railway crossing arms weren't working. The guy got hit by a train going full speed down the tracks. It was terrible. Nobody on the train survived. __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up Last edited by Emerikol; 01-29-2019 at 07:35 PM.
	2

01-29-2019, 07:15 PM	#8
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,792	I had to read that a couple times. Then I snickered. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	2

01-29-2019, 08:54 PM	#9
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	Must be the cold up there slowing the brain down a bit. That's ok, you get a pass for putting up with the weather. Is it really as bad as the news reports are making out? Do you guys need anything? __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	1

01-20-2019, 12:09 PM	#2
Sport Rider Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Mooresville NC Posts: 2,038	so much for 2WD, huh? I've not even gotten brave enough to take the rig out in snow yet. what little I did in the driveway gave me some confidence though. the car tire on back seems to grip through the snow pretty well. certainly more than a standard motorcycle tire.
	3

01-20-2019, 03:58 PM	#4
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,577	You didn’t feel like showing off by flipping the front wheel in the air and riding it through ?
	1