2001 or 2002 650 URAL,almost free...

[bullethead63]

...I thought that would get your attention,fellow Bulleteers...my friend,Guy (from whom I purchased my first Enfield,a 2002 ES with only 166 miles on the clock),has offered me a 650 Ural at an INCREDIBLY low price (don't ask),as he purchased it for the hack,to refurb and use on his BMW...it's 100% complete,with only a timing issue (he has the applicable parts,just no time or desire to fix it),which he assures me is a minor repair...anything that I should be aware of? He has just restored a 1970 Triumph Daytona (purple),and a 1970 Triumph Tiger (green),and has a BARN full of Brit Iron,and no need of a Ural...should I get it,or say "No,Thanks..."?

[bullethead63]

Dang...really?Nobody?I know some of you own URALs,too...

[ace.cafe]

Maybe try this thread in the Campfire Talk section where the Ural guys hang out.

[Bullet Whisperer]

I had the rather dubious pleasure of making an unused 1993 Ural 650 ready to go last year. The electronic ignition distributor is referred to as 'the mixing bowl of doom' on a forum I looked in on while searching for info relating to it. The CDI boxes are as big as the battery itself and fail regularly, but can be repaired using radio parts, spanners and solder, apparently. The carburettors will leak badly, new floats and float needles will make them leak a bit less. If it DOES fire up, have a fire extinguisher to hand and make sure those other lovely classics you have are well out of the way. If you get it moving under its' own [power?], make sure you have plenty of room, as it will go roughly where you point it, but will wander quite a bit. Don't worry about swarf in the oil - most of them do that, apparently and the one I refer to was no exception. Drink plenty of strong Vodka, it will help numb the pain.
 Enjoy !
 B.W.

[bullethead63]

...oh shit...

[Bullet Whisperer]

Mixing bowl of doom - here you go ...

http://bcozz.multiply.com/journal/item/870/the-mixing-bowl-of-doom?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fjournal%2Fitem

[t120rbullet]

A 2001 would be a bit past the "Mixing bowl of doom" era but not by much.
It would have Keihin carbs on it that are very good carbs.
On the bad side it would have the "time bomb" alternator that tended to destroy the engine when it froze up.
The electronic ignition is quasi reliable but horribly inaccurate.
If it has the leading link front end and he took the sidecar off you don't want to ride it as a solo bike with that front end.
2001 is the last year 650s were made, if it's a 2002 it's a 750.
Parts are getting hard to find for the 650s.
However, if the price is real right you might want to buy it and part it out.

http://www.russianiron.com/forums/

http://sovietsteeds.com/

http://www.crawfordsales.info/
CJ

 

[Arizoni]

A good friends brother bought a Ural back in the '90's and was quite pleased with it at first.

It didn't take long though before he changed its name to Urinal. 

[bullethead63]

SO...it's less reliable than the time-tested Bullet that we all know and love...OK...I can deal with that...the Enfields have been quite an exercise in,um..."Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"...but...it's almost free,and almost rideable...AND...he has a proper BMW fork assembly with it,which should bolt right up,without it steering like a grocery cart...it's a TRADE deal,and he wants something of mine that I have ZERO dollars invested in...is this thing going to be a money pit?It must be a 2001,which is more reliable than the earlier ones,and I have found a lot of URAL 650 parts on eBay,reasonably priced.Should I run,or spend a couple hundred dollars tweaking it?I can always part it out,or try to flip it on Craigslist,if it's a dog...Thank you all,my Bullet Brethren...I stand humble,before you...

[Arizoni]

Hey!  You only live once!
Go for the gusto!

As you say, what-do-you-got to loose? 

Urinals can be quite handy sometimes.

[REpozer]

Hey,...do you want a free puppy?

[t120rbullet]

SO...it's less reliable than the time-tested Bullet that we all know and love.

I always thought the early Bullets were a kit to be turned into either a great bike or a POS by the owner. My 95 Bullet had many problems but a couple of years later it was a good bike and still is to this day.
The Enfields are sleek and sexy, the Urals on the other hand are like a overweight Russian farm tractor. Handle about as good as one too!
There are a lot of parts out there but things like valves, cranks and even cylinder base gaskets have not been made in quite a number of years now. Some of the European parts being made today make some of the aftermarket Enfield parts being made in a back alley garage look good.

Ural's have gotten better every year though but my personal cutoff date would be nothing older then 2007. By then they had a Denso alternator, Herzog gears in both the motor and gearbox and a Ducati ignition. After that they still kept getting better in smaller steps.

All that said my last Ural (a sT) almost killed me, my Enfields have always been much more forgiving.
CJ

[bullethead63]

Hey,...do you want a free puppy?

NOPE...got one today! He's a beautiful six year old Brindle Boxer,but still a big puppy,none the less...and already house broken!

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

One of the best sources for 650 Ural parts is Holopaw Corvette, just outside Orlando. Soviet steeds is your best source for info, and there are lots of Uralistas in Florida to help. My biggest concern would be the leading link front end.

[chris-bartlett]

All I saw was
>>>a BARN full of Brit Iron<<<

Where is this guy located?