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A brief guide to Ural (aka Uralmoto) 750cc 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 in the town of Irbit on the edge of the Ural mountains.
The Ural 750 replaced the 650 in about 2000, they have only ever been marketed as Ural or Ural Moto and were never Cossacks or Nevals
Although like the Dnepr the Ural has always been best known as a sidecar combination there has always been a steady supply of solo models. This one is a 2001 solo marketed as the Redstar. There is also a Northstar which is exactly the same apart from the seat and the exhaust. An excellent, if a little slow traditional motorbike for commuting, touring (slowly), and just generally have a bit of fun with. Solo production stopped from Jan 2007
Ural are best known for the sidecar combinations. The change from 650 to 750 in about 2000 has transformed the Ural range, the engine was stroked and strengthened not simply over bored to 750. The Dalesman seen above comes with leading link forks as standard. The same bike was available for a couple of years with standard telescopic forks as seen on the earlier 650 models. The tele forked version is known as the roustabout.
The Ural 750cc engine and how to identify it.

The general look of the Ural engine is rounded and soft, with no sharp angles.
The rocker cover to the left shows one of the two different covers fitted. The other is very similar but without the sunken band running horizontally.

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 750cc Ural motorbikes
Both the carburetors below have been fitted as standard to Ural 750s, and both are OK although not perfect.

Pictured on the left is the K68, which is OK, it runs a little rich most of the time, and requires frequent adjustment to stay perfectly in tune. These look identical to the K68 fitted to late 650cc Urals but they are not the same. So don't go swapping them from one to another.

The Keihin carburetor on the right was fitted to pass ever more stringent emission regulations. It's generally a good carb, but needs rejetting from the standard to avoid overheating at high engine loads.
The Keihin, must be kept clean and the jets need regular blowing out, especially the ones that can be seen in the carb throat if the air filter pipes are removed.

Two 12 volt Alternators, one very good, one very very bad.
When the Ural 750 was launched this alternator which had proved completely useless on the 650cc was standard fitment. It has earned the nick name, "the hand grenade" and with good reason.
Take a really good look at it, make sure you can recognise it easily and if you see one on a ural you own, replace it soon.
This alternator, can and often does stop dead. It is driven by the cam shaft gear, which in turn is driven by the crank shaft gear. Unfortunately these two gears can not stop dead, but they can shatter.

The alternator above is the solution to all the problems of the previous Russia alternator. It is made by Nippon Denso, and has a rubber cush drive between it and the gears. Totally reliable, one will fail one day, but so far non have. The good news is these will fit straight on as a direct replacement for the hand grenade unit. You do need to slightly modify the wiring, so get instructions if you are swapping them. All Urals made after Jan 2005 and sold in the UK have these alternators.

 

Body work and frame.
On the whole all body work including the tank, seats and mudguards are the same as the 650cc Ural bikes. All Ural sidecars have an opening boot, and all Dnepr sidecars have a boot accessed by moving the seat forward
The latest 750cc solo bikes have changed to Piolli forks, with new fork mounted mudguard. The brake and wheel are the same but the spindle is very different
Specification changes during 2006 for Ural 750cc
From mid 2006 all Urals sold in the UK have the new exhaust systems with mounting flange to replace the simple push in type
At the same time the air box changed to suck air in from below the filter rather than above, marked in the picture by the arrows
The rubber boot on the old speedo cable changed to a screw thread attachment, again in mid 2006.
Bikes in showrooms without these are not new.
Specifications changes during 2007 for the Ural 750cc

During 2006 the factory employed a western company called HC Concepts to look carefully at the overall design. HC Concepts went on to redesign many of the internal gears, bearings, and seals in the engine, gearbox and final drive. The results can be seen in the 2007 Ural range.
The most significant and obvious change for 2007 is the introduction of a disc front brake as standard on all sidecar outfits in the range.
Other changes which although virtually unseen from the outside give a real improvement to the riding experience and reliability.
These changes include all new gearbox internals designed in the west , new better quality valve timing gear again designed in the west, redesigned drive shaft with longer and stronger splines, all fasteners are changed to standard metric sizes, all seals are changed to standard metric sizes.
There are no half way models with only some of the improvements. For the first half of 2007 it will be possible to buy the old design at the old price or the updated model at the new and rather more expensive price.

2007 and the future of the Solo models
During 2006 the factory produced very few solo models and some of the European dealers waited up to 8 months to receive their order. Then in October 2006 the factory announced it would end production of all solo models including the Solo, the Wolf and the Retro. Many dealers returned their customers deposits and removed all the solo models from there sales lists. Then in December 2006 the factory had a change of heart and said it would make all three solo models in very limited numbers although they would not give any idea of delivery dates. Most dealers not wanting to get caught in the position of handing back deposits again have decided not to offer the solo models as they do not feel the bikes will ever arrive.
Specifications changes during early 2008 for the Ural 750cc
Ural 2008/01 - New sidecar swingarm and wheel back plate including factory fitted linked sidecar brake .European bench seat option to replace Russian bench seat. Improved shock absorber spring rates. Some frame numbers started X8JM and some started X8JL with the 14th digit being 8.
Specifications changes during late 2008 for the Ural 750cc
Ural 2008/E3 - Many minor changes to reduce emissions including, air bleed into the exhaust port, larger catalytic converter, redesigned air box to separate any oil out of the crank case breather pipe. At the same time the specifications for the Dalesman Gear-up so this model was supplied with black wheels and trim rather than green. All 2008/E3 from numbers start X8JL400. The first delivery to the UK started in July 2008 and the 14th number in the Vin was 9.
Specification changes for 2010
Many minor improvements were introduced in 2010 including stainless steel exhaust system, handles and other parts which had previously been chromed. Internally the improvements included needle roller bearings for the rocker arms starting with frame numbers with the 10th letter being A. Later in the same year starting with frame number ending A0219893 all Dalesman models were supplied with alloy wheel rims to replace the chromed steel rims of the past. Dalesman gear-up models retained the black steel rims.
Specification changes for 2011
Very late in 2010 disc brake replaced by NG manufactured disc, still using the Brembo caliper. Light brackets on sidecar and dashboard surround now painted rather than chrome. In the UK name changed from Dalesman to Tourist to bring the UK market in to line with the EU market names. April 2011 Ural Retro with left hand sidecar launched in the UK.
Specification Changes for 2014
March 2014 saw significant changes to the whole range. Carburetors replaced by an all new EFI system including new air box, cylinder heads, etc.
At the same time all wheels got disc brakes, so no drum brakes at all
Oil filter changed to spin on and the whole of the front face of the engine changed to allow this
Camshaft changed to give even more torque
During 2014 it was possible to buy either the new EFI model from March at greater cost or the Carb model while the change over occurred at the old 2013 prices.


2008/E3 new catalytic converter and PAV air valve
2008/E3 Gear-Up model; with black wheels
Other Models based on the Ural 750cc
The Ural Wolf was from about 2000 is still produced today, it makes an excellent alternative to all the V-twin custom bikes and actually handles better than you might expect.
The Ural Classic, deserved to do well, lower seat than the standard solo and better brakes, but for some reason just didn't sell well and although it is still in production it has now been discontinued in the UK.
The Ural Retro from late 2005 is a very rare bike in the UK, partly due to price and partly because it is built to order so the wait for a new one is a bit much for most buyers. Handsome though.
Pros and Cons of the 750cc Ural
Good
Bad
Find
Avoid

More power than 650cc
Pulls well when loaded with sidecar
Spares supply easy
Modern switch gear
Electric start

Not as smooth as 650cc
Not much faster as a solo
Nippon Denso Alternator
Leading links on combos
Keihin carburettors
Mikuni carb conversions
Owners who use good oils
Russian Alternator
K68 carburettors
Telescopic forks on combos
Badly maintained rough bikes
Motors run on cheap oils
Some of the picture on this page are reproduced with permission from F2 Motorcycles ltd (they supply parts for urals)