A brief guide to Ural (aka Uralmoto) 650cc ohv motorbikes. This site is not intended to give a detailed history of Russian motorcycles, but should, with luck, allow you to easily identify the various models. Ural bikes are built in Russia and are very much still in production, although the 650cc has now been replaced by the 750cc. They are built in the town of Irbit on the edge of the Ural mountains. |
Two classic images of mid 1970's Ural 650 M66. The M66 replaced the earlier M63, the only significant change was the addition of the oil filter. This is located at the bottom of the front engine cover. It can be seen on the blue bike sticking out between the exhaust and the frame. |
The Ural 650cc engine and how to identify it. |
The general look of the Ural engine is rounded and soft, with no sharp
angles. The timing cover which can be found on the bike by looking back between the two frame down tubes at the front of the bike is tall and rounded towards the top. It nearly always has the Ural logo cast in to it |
The common Carburetors found on 650cc Ural motorbikes All the carburetors below have been fitted as standard to Urals, some are good and some are terrible, so if the bike you are looking at has some conversion to a modern carburetor, and it works well, view it as a blessing, |
K301 carburetor |
K63/K65 Carburetor |
Jikov Carburetor |
K68 Carburetor |
Ural 650 charging systems from mild to wild |
The original Russian 6 volt dynamo fitted
to M63 and M66 models up to about 1979. Reliable, as long as you don't
try to get 12 volts out of one. |
The L424 fitted to M67 onwards up to 1998,
some last forever, and prove reliable, some don't but don't be put off,
they are good enough |
The 300 watt (some even claim 500 watt)
alternator fitted after 1998. Change it before it destroys your engine,
Russian roulette for bikes |
Ural Body work, Not the same as Dnepr
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The Ural tank is very easy to tell apart from the Dnepr tank. It has
a horizontal seam running all the way round with a rubber (actually
strange Russian plastic) band to cover the welded seam. This goes under
the knee pads. Early Urals have a white band, later ones have a black
one as shown here. |
1970's Urals (M63 and M66) have a very nice simple light with
the speedo set into it and the ignition key just in front. Many of these
have been butchered as for a long time it was impossible to get original
ignitions and keys in the UK. Thankfully they are now available through
specialists |
Later Ural Motorbikes, have this more modern dash panel set above the
light, with more warning lights than before and the ignition key relocated
to the left hand head light support bracket. Square warning lights replaced
round ones in about 1998 |
Early ural bikes and later combinations all have these high mounted mudguards made up of three individual pressings welded together to form two side seems. The guard hangs from the yoke and does not move. |
Later Ural solo only front guard are attached
to the fork lowers and move with the wheel. This chromed Soviet Knight
model was sold by Neval in the 1980s and 1990s |
Pros and Cons of the 650cc Ural |
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Good |
Bad |
Find |
Avoid |
Smooth engine |
Works hard as a loaded combo Spares not so easy for early models Early 6 volt electrics only just OK |
Nippon Denso alternator conversions |
Russian 300 watt alternator K301 carburettors Badly maintained rough bikes Motors run on cheap oils Early models, unless it's as a second bike or a hobby |
Some of the picture on this page are reproduced with permission
from F2 Motorcycles
ltd (they supply parts for new and old Urals) |