Author Topic: spline of the times  (Read 3829 times)

mack75

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spline of the times
« on: March 09, 2014, 07:14:31 PM »
Hi, I noticed a very clean restored 1970s Russian Ural 650 based on a war time boxer on Ebay today. ( I hope that is not a swear word on here Ural not Ebay- oh hell I said it again :bmwsmile . The Ural ( oops said it again ) has its known faults, carbs, anything electrical and anything made to look like a bearing, but not a word about splines going Awol. Could it be that Ivan has a better transmission design or the engine is less powerful or something more..............sinister  :yow

Offline Chaos

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Re: spline of the times
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2014, 10:28:29 PM »
Ural better not be a dirty word here!  Carbs, bearings, gears, electrics are all outsourced nowadays, so they're much improved from the bad old days (pre 2005) No magic with the splines though.  The wheel hubs are splined and are known to grind down about 40,000km.  In fact, the 2014's are redesigned with replaceable splines, previous year you replace the whole wheel. Drive shaft splines are not too bad, but most of these bikes don't accumulate that many miles.  The 4 on ebay now (a 2013, 2001, 2010, & 1986) have 971 ,4200, 2450 and 11 miles respectively!  Transmission, engine, and rear end failures sort of make spline failure small potatoes in the maintenance of these beasts. That said I love the crap out of mine, would sell my trusty K except the Ural is not something to take on long trips or much highway.  I ride all winter now and it's great in snow.  The looks I get are priceless. 
  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
2023 Ural 2WD sidecar (BMW's bastard step child)

mack75

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Re: spline of the times
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2014, 04:20:24 PM »
 :clap: That's a great picture.
 I must admit I am into "alternative modes of transport" having owned a number of East German MZ 250 bikes used for buzzing around the Cornish lanes. The older 1960s Jawa machines also look interesting, as does the Ural and I have looked on the F2 website from time to time.
 I also used a K1100 for "bounding up the motorway with haste" and have now moved to the K75 which does all of the above. My local trials bike dealer has an early 1960s Chinese outfit again based on the original BMW, he loves to go off road with it - sometimes in reverse gear. :yes

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