Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 09:13:16 -0800
Reply-To: Courtney Hook <chook@NISA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Courtney Hook <chook@NISA.NET>
Subject: Re: Mercedes 5cyl 300TD/ motorcycles
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I've driven the Ural and and Enfield, but wouldn't do it for a long trip. I
own bugs because they are fun, and DEAD reliable. The Enfield is a slug, and
readily available up here in Canada as is the Ural or it's close cousin the
Neiper, but the parts are not all interchangeable. Wise people in the UK
used to swap out the pistons and rings from Beemers to help the Urals.
Harley's have vastly improved since the evolution engine, I wouldn't give
you two cents for a pre evolution engined harley unless I wanted to tinker
all day. (Come to think of it, I do like to tinker all day). My dad's
favorite ride of all time was his 1943 Norton which he promptly stole from
another soldier while in England, leaving the poor sap his Harley 45. As he
liked to say, rank has it's priviledges. :-) Nowadays either bike is worth a
fortune. What's my point? Nothing, thought I'd share some knowledge and
opinions.
Take care,
Courtney
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Blotz" <Mike.Blotz@PEARLIZUMI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 7:47 AM
Subject: Re: Mercedes 5cyl 300TD in vanagon?
> People copy what sells.
>
> no one is originall anymore
> --------------------------
> New Royal Enfields are available, made in India. Castings are rough but
> it appears to be a sound bike.
>
> the new royal enfield is not new at all. yes--they are still made--but
with
> the molds and castings of bike designed in the 40's. check out
> www.motorearth.com. some friends who did india for a year on royal
enfields.
> they held up and they cant say enough about em--but dont over tighten
> anything. very good mechanical section in there.
> -------------------------
> Ural Motorcycle made in Russia, looks like an R65 BMW bike with
> telescoping forks (also copied) from 100 feet you can't tell the
> difference from Ural and BMW. Up close the castings are rough.
>
> the truth is that when germany invaded russia in WW2 they stole the
> motorcycle design for the ural. this design was put into play as the
german
> BMW. If you've ever owned one--all the parts are interchangable. Sorry to
> say--but the germans were the unoriginal ones here--ouch--that hurt
> -------------------------
> Do people in NZ actually buy Harleys? I always figured they only sold in
> the U.S. out of patriotism.
>
> no comment on why americans buy these archaic, heavy oil leakers--I cant
> figure it out either--and i'm from milwaukee--there home. I could go off
for
> a very long email on why I dislike harleys--but I dont want to offend
anyone
> -------------------------
>
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