Irbit Express: Trunk for your trunk!

 The Gear Up has a tool storage tray under the seat in the tub. However, not much beyond the factory tool roll fits in there, and if the tub is loaded up, it's not easy to access. While digging through Ural content on YouTube, I found a video of a guy who added an ammo can on the bottom side of the back of the tub. With this idea in mind, I set out to find a modern plastic surplus ammo can that would fit.  

Eventually, I found the perfect container. It's from a Bradley (I believe) for 25mm linked ammo, and opens from either end.  With the can in hand, and a few trips to the hardware store, I was ready to drill more holes in my new bike. Using the scissor jack I ordered for the Ural, I placed the can where I wanted it to live, I drilled holes downward from inside the tub, through the ammo can.  Using some flat steel stock, I made braces to sit inside the tub to help distribute the weight.  

My initial plan was to use silicone sealant on all the bolts, but instead, I opted for rubber washers under large fender washers. That's the same process I used (and some of the same hardware) on my Hurricane. 

The weight is nice and low, and it holds all my tools (tool roll, jack/handle, socket bag, and tire spoons) in a spot that's easy to access.  I know it decreases the rear clearance but I don't plan on doing any crazy off roading. Although, a quick disconnect system would be a fun project. 

Stay safe out there (comrades). 

Irbit Express: GETTA GRIP!

 From the very first test ride, I knew the factory bars were going to have to get binned.  Cruiser style bars with a weirdly angled pull back that made my wrists ache, and thin grips that I hated.  Besides the Ducati, all of my bikes have had dual sport style bars. So, I ordered a set of Tusk ATV Sport bars, Rox Pivoting 2" Risers, and scored a great deal on a set of Oxford Adventure Heated Grips. 

With a evening suddenly free this past Saturday, I planned to knock out all these upgrades. However, I ordered the wrong size Rox Risers and the new set wouldn't be delivered until mid-week.  I made some calls around to local dealerships but no one had anything in stock. So, I ordered another set from the A to Z delivery service (albeit of a lesser quality). Since they wouldn't arrive until Sunday, I decided to just install the bars and grips, and add the risers later if I needed them. 

Ural has a great motorcycle channel with a big library of "How-To" videos from David. Using the gas tank removal video I set out on my maiden voyage into disassembling the Gear Up.  The tank was extremely difficult to remove, as well as the fuel line from the pump. Maybe it was user error, maybe it was the gas fumes distorting my brain. Because, of course I spilled an incredible amount of gas. I couldn't find a long enough section of fuel line for proper draining. Eventually I got all the lines disconnected, fuel drained out and was ready to work. 

Now that I had clear access to the backbone of the frame, I re-routed the winch wiring, routed the wiring for the heated grips, cleaned up all the zip ties, and set out to swap the bars and grips. It's an easy process, and I even drilled out a hole for the mounting post on the throttle side control set. No more grinding them off and dealing with rotating controls, like an amateur. I plan on installing the single side mount handguards from the CBR600F, so on the throttle side, I moved the tube / control set in enough to allow about 3mm of bar to extend past the throttle tube. This will keep the grip from dragging. Otherwise you may end up with an unexpected a DIY throttle lock / cruise control. 

The Oxford Grips have a low voltage / running bike detector, so no need to do my usual relay installation. Everyone seems to have their own way to install/secure new grips but my method is hair spray! You need the strongest hold you can find, like 80's big crimped goth hair strong.

Zip tie and scrap wood to the rescue!

New bars, no risers. Felt good, but low.

New bars, plus risers. Feels great!

Pretty crowded but I made it work.

I'm not 100% happy with the controller mount but it works. The gold bolt mounting the controller is from my stash of spare Ducati hardware! This bike has bits from both the Duc and the Honda.

Grrrrrrr! I opted for a more comical design than the normal tiger shark teeth.

I took the rig out for a quick errand, and the new bar/riser/grip combo feels so much better. It's easier to control on the lunar surface of the backroads around my compound. I have more "torque" on the bars, and the thick grips feel much better on my mitts. After having not one, but two hand/finger injuries last year, I learned how important the the thickness of a gripped item can be. 

At the request of my youngest, I also installed an "aircraft" seat belt after riding on some very rough roads. The previous owner used mismatched hardware sizes, and eyebolts that were about 2"/50mm too long, plus, no rubber sealing washers between the hardware and tub. It was more of a challenge to remove those damn eyebolts than it was to install the winch bar. 

Much better! Reused some tie-down points from the Hurricane to use for dog tehters.

New tail art decal, and a wooden handled shovel to really add to the military feel. 

Couldn't resist adding my favorite sticker. Yes it's crooked, no, I don't care.

The only remaining mods are a storage box under the rear of the tub for a small scissor jack, and my tools, and some skid plates. It's not like there are performance upgrades for the old Russian Iron. One free evening, I plan on going over all the fasteners, checking the spokes, and just giving it a good once over.  The pusher (rear driven wheel) is getting close to retirement. I'll swap over the spare wheel, and change the tire and check the wheel. I've never changed a tubed tire on a motorcycle, should be a learning experience. 

Stay safe out there comrades.

All aboard the Irbit Express!

Say hello (or rather привет!) to the newest addition to my garage! For many many years I have wanted a Ural Gear Up, but it just wasn't in the cards.  I had the opportunity to finally pick one up after long suffering the deep desire for hand crafted Russian 3 wheeled steel after borrowing a friends Patrol in 2017. 

It's a 2019 Gear Up, with just under 7k (miles not km) on the clock, and I love it! Since it's prior to 2022, it was built in Irbit, not Kazakhstan. Ural moved production out of Russia when the invasion into Ukraine began. Each outfit (that's the correct term) is hand built with jigs, no fancy robots or automation. So, they're all a little different, for better or worse. 

 I had originally planned to purchase a 2021 that was a little over 8 hours away. However, the timing didn't work out and it sold, so I went and checked this one out about an hour away.  Needless to say, I'm very happy with my purchase. I've already put almost 200 miles on it just farting around town and taking my kids out for rides. I find it every bit as fun as the Ducati, maybe more so, but in a different way. I like air cooled twins, and I like bikes that are a bit, uhm, agricultural in feel and function.  

There are only a few mods that I want to do, and I managed to knock out the major one already. Kalaber Creations winch/accessory bar, winch, and rear cargo basket. The bar was super easy to install, and it's really strange to be able to slide under a bike to work on it! I also swapped out the factory headlight for the LED unit from my project Hurricane. The only future mods are heated grips (maybe new bars), skid plates, and a rear rack/back rest for the bench seat. 

BEHOLD the Irbit Express! Ready for the apocalypse!

Still need to finish the wiring, but I need some grommets* first since I need to drill a new hole in the tub.

This is the cargo basket from my car, and it's a bit heavy so I'll probably end up with a 1 1'4" basket with a goose neck to add clearance. 

Finding good street gear for kids is tough!

 I'm really enjoying learning the tricks and tips to sidecar ownership. Like using the throttle to assist with turns, or varying the pressure on the brakes between the front wheel, and the pusher/tub to control braking direction.  Very very interesting. 

Stay safe out there (comrades)! 

*Grommet is currently printing.  I found an awesome parametric grommet generator on MakerWorld.

Project Odd Duc: The Oil Pipeline

 One of the ugliest spots on my bike are the oil cooler lines.  They aren't the only rusty spot, but the most visible, sticking out like a sore thumb.  Last year, maybe the year before, I got a set of new old ones from eBay and intended to swap them out with the next oil change.  But, there they sat on my messy work bench, stuffed in a box with other Duc odds and ends.  

Recently, I started cleaning up my work space and bought a second tool box so I could fully separate all my SAE and Metric tools.  The Metric went into my fancy new box, and the barely used SAE and specialty tools stayed in the old Craftsman. I still need to address the other cabinet, but those drawers are overflowing, so a larger one is the only fix. While cleaning up the rest of the clutter, I found the oil cooler lines and decided now was the time. 

Soooo much better!

After a general application of PB Blaster and some soak time, the old ones came off without issue. However, the vibration dampeners tore apart when I tried to remove the cooler side connections.  Luckily, I found a set on Amazon and they should be here any day.  I ordered 2 sets so I could keep a spare. With older bikes, that's generally a good idea.   Sometimes, it's the only option, like when I had to order the vacuum port o-rings for the Hurricane. I got them from a manufacturer and could only get them in a large quantity. 

Oil loss was about 4oz not counting what soaked into the headers.

Much better!

There is plenty of other rust to tackle, like the crusty header pipes but that's off season work, along with those pesky leaking head o-rings. Maybe I'll add another bike to the garage this year, so the Duc can be down for extended service and clean up? 

Stay safe out there!

Project Odd Duc: MOAR POWAR!

 Somehow, I got it into my head that the jets on the 900ss were back to factory spec. Might have been because I was working on the Hurricane at the same time? A few weeks ago, I decided to tear down the carbs again because it was still smelling a bit rich at idle. What did I find you ask? Well, jets, jets that were not at stock config.  The main was 127.5, and the pilot was a 40.  The Ducati Bible states that the main should be a 140, with a 42.5 pilot. So, I did what the good book says and fattened it up. 

I also added some filters to the breather lines to keep the yuck out.

With the carbs back on, and the battle with the throttle cables complete (I still need to get a new throttle cable, despite all my effort, I cannot get the throttle to snap closed), I warmed up the bike.  I had the mixtures set at 3.5 turns out and it started without issue. Took it out for spin. 

I never understood all the talk about the 900ss being a wild machine, even with Hunter S. Thompson's tail of the sausage creature, the bike seemed mild.  Fun, but a bit mild. I thought maybe it was because the big twin 1200cc Buell Ulysses set such a high expectation. While it's not match for the XB, the 900ss now feels like I expected it to feel.  The front end feels lighter on throttle, where I used to have a flat spot at 6k-7k, it now pulls hard all the way through! Yeah baby! 

The ability to tune the mixture screws by ear is not something I have gained, I just can't tell the difference enough to know if it's in the sweet spot. So, I did what I did before and tuned them to allow the bike to roughly idle one cylinder.  The horizontal still requires more turns out than the vertical, and I think it's because some chucklehead widened the ports on the throats, and they are not equal size. 

Hard to tell in pics but they are not the same.

So...that is probably the root cause of the mixture discrepancy. Now I am faced with a choice. Do I live with it? Do I get a new carb body and move all the bits over? Or...do I save my pennies and put a set of FCR39s on it and open myself to a whole new world of jetting adventures? ( I really want the FCRs.)

Listen to that sound (and look at the vapor condensation)!

Stay safe out there!

Looking to the future...

 With the Duc safely curled up for it's winter nap, it's time to plan what's to come for 2026.  First things first, I plan on putting more miles on the bike as I barely rode more than a few miles this year.  Life has been busy, and work has been insane.  There are multiple issues I need to address, mainly around corrosion and the ever present oil leak/consumption.  However, having only one bike makes it hard to take the Duc out of commission to make those repairs, when it's still ridable but just a little leaky.  

• Check the vacuum side of the carbs for more black mystery gunk.
• The oil cooler looks awful, time to replace it with the used one from eBay. 
• Replace any corroded hardware, including stud nuts (cylinder head, and exhaust).
• Revisit clip-on placement for maximum comfort.
• Investigate oil leak and consumption. 
• Check mixture. (Possibly get it on a dyno for proper jetting.)

If, and that's a big if, I were to add another bike to my garage, it would be something like a TW200.  The ol' TDub has been on my wish list for a very long time.  A perfect around town and camping bike, as long as you can avoid the highway. Other than that, I still plan on getting a Ural Gear-up / Patrol to take the goblins camping but that won't be for at least another year, probably two. With the release of the new Ural Neo or whatever that abomination is called, I imagine the "retro" style bikes will increase in value.  

I was reviewing my gear the other day, and I'm definitely due for a new lid, and I need to sell a pair of riding boots I bought prior to my trip in 2024.  First, I don't believe they offer me any more protection than the work boots I wear every day.  Second, they have a logger style heel and that angers my back if I have to do any walking in them.  I'm really surprised at how poorly constructed a lot of riding boots seem to be these days, especially for the price tag.  I'd love to have another pair of the Icon El Bajo boots (but in my correct size).  I have a pair but they are too big, so I doubled up on insoles and wear thick socks.  However, the soles are worn out (I bought them second hand.  Don't do that, and if you do, sanitize them very very thoroughly. You don't want second hand double enthusiastic athlete's foot.). I really want a quieter helmet, with less buffeting at highway speeds. I love the visibility from ADV style helmets but they don't work well on the Duc.  I'll probably stick with LS2, due to the internal shape, and multiple shell sizes; but I've also been eyeing some of the vintage style helmets from Bell and I like the MIPs technology.  Anything to help keep the old meat suit safe is fine with me!

No pictures, no funny gonzo style writing, just a brain dump as I sit at my PC and there's inches of snow and ice outside. 

- stay safe out there. 

Project Odd Duc: Jet Setting and Twiddling Thumbs

 Last year, I noticed my bike was running very rich at idle.  The common cause is the needle jet getting worn into an oval from the needle drag.  With parts on hand to resolve this, and swap out the mixture screws for thumbscrew style, and a few hours of free time, I got started. 

Old vs New

This should make adjustments much easier.

Well, I've never seen this before. 

In the cap for the horizontal carb, I found whatever that yuck is.  It was gritty but yet I saw no signs of wear on the slide nor the diaphragm. I cleaned the carb out (thankfully nothing was in the bowl) and reassembled. 

With the carbs reassembled and reinstalled (I hate fighting throttle cables), I was able to reset the mixture the next morning.  Originally the Horizontal cylinder had to be enriched an extra 2 turns to keep the bike running on 1 cylinder; while the Vertical was set at stock (3.25 turns out).  I retuned the Horizontal to 4 turns out and the bike is running well.  I'll put some miles on it and check the plugs. 

My favorite riding season is here, while I won't be taking any long trips this year, I hope to get out and roll south to see some of the beautiful fall colors and dodge the deer as they get ready to go insane.  

Stay safe out there.