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Dnepr?
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Many moons ago (ok ten years or so) I remember those Urals making
their debut on US shores for a measly sum. Today Ural sells them for
the same price as a Jap/Euro offering! Supposedly with vastly improved
engineering. But every review I've seen makes the "vastly" part look
relative to something from the capitalists.
So what's with this Dnepr? They seem to be something like the original
Ural at the same cheapo price. Anyone familiar with this brand?
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Looks to be a slightly earlier bmw production line. Seems to be
something
similar coming out of China. During the war, there was a requirement
that
BMW/Zundapp share about 70% (??) parts. The BMW/Ural engine
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Is this something that Albert Speer arranged? During WW2 he had
the industrialists sharing their proprietary technology to facilitate
the war effort.
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Dunno if Speer was involved. The parts interchangeability was
a requirement though. BMW and Zundapp both built OHV
twins, 750 ccs I think. The Zundapp was actually a 170 degree
opposed twin, with the extra 10 degrees supposedly helping
to keep the cylinders out of harms way.
The earlier BMW was (I believe) a sidevalve twin, currently
incarnated as a Chang Jiang and previously built by
Dnepr. I guess now both Ural and Dnepr use a 650 twin
similar to the BMW /2.
My understanding only. I could be way off base on some or
all of the above.
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Sean Q
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was actually a Zundapp design. The Dnepr looks to be the model
prior to the BMW/Ural.
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I haven't heard of it. Time will tell I s'pose!
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Trying to disuade me eh? Looks who's talking Mr. Harlie Ableson diner
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Why would I do that?
What's cool about them (Ural) is that if you get the sidecar bike you
can engage the sidecar wheel so in the snow you get two-wheel drive and
reverse!
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After yet more research it seems that the Dnepr is a pre-improved
Ural. If you note the Urals originally cost $4000 when they came to
these shores. Now they're about double that and have a lot more shiny
trinkets on them and better paint. Looking at the closeups of the
Dneprs they are missing the finer touches, more exposed welds, etc...
But the Dnepr allegedly has a heavier transmission that's
semi-automatic to boot like a Honda Supercub. Also 2wd with reverse.
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Looks who's talking Mr. Harlie Ableson diner
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glide!
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Three bikes, 17 years, over 200,000 miles, no strandings, no tow bills.
I'm sold.
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You can say that about virtually any new bike. That isn't Russian!
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I did a lil' more research. Seems like a parallel developed Ural with
a few different features. From what I gather it's available in kit
form in the US.
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Do they have the drum brakes like the Ural?
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Yes. With the chair flying on one turn and the rig running wide on the
other I don't think high-speed hijinks will be the order of the day!
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I am intrigued...
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Get one! I like readings those "adventures" like the one that I linked.
You're an excellent writer too, so I'm looking forward to it!
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Translation:
"I look forward to being enterained gratis at your expense!"
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Of course! You don't really think anyone hangs around here for the
motorcycle content, do you?
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A few websites about them:
No warranty expressed nor implied!
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