Soviet motorcycle brands "Ural" and "Dnepr" were among the most popular and demanded among the citizens of the USSR. Both model lines were good in their own way. However, which of them still aroused more sympathy among Soviet citizens?
Structurally, "Dnepr" and "Ural" were quite similar to each other, although there were some differences between the motorcycles. One of the most important differences between the two brands was the different approach of designers to the implementation of crankshafts. So, in "Dnepr" the crankshaft was one-piece with sleeve bearings for the lower heads of the connecting rods. At the same time, the connecting rods were collapsible, which allowed them to serve longer and carry much higher loads. In addition, the Dnieper could be easily disassembled and repaired if necessary.
The situation was different with Ural Dala. Irbit motorcycles had a composite crankshaft. The non-separable part was distinguished by high reliability and endurance even in conditions of a lack of lubrication. However, it was almost impossible to repair such a crankshaft if necessary, it was necessary to change it entirely.
As for the gearbox, everything was pretty straightforward. Soviet motorcyclists loved Kievlyanin for its reliable, easily shifting gearbox. It was a pleasure to work with her. But the owners of "Ural" often complained about the frankly weak performance of this unit in Irbit motorcycles. Absolutely all Dnepros had a reverse gear, which cannot be said about Ural motorcycles. Here, such luxury was not found on all models, and mainly on rather late ones.
The appearance of both bikes was, by and large, equally good. In the end, there is no companion for taste and color. But all this cannot be applied in any way to the noise of motorcycles. The Ural was crackling, noisy, loud and harsh. But at the "Dnepr" the sound of the engine was pleasant, even and dull. The Irbit motorcycle also had stability problems with a strong skid - it overturned on a sidecar much easier than its Ukrainian counterpart. However, one should not think that Ural had no merits at all. If the resident of Kiev could pull almost any load well, then the dynamics indicators were still better at the "Ural". Ultimately, Soviet citizens fell in love with both motorcycles, because each of them had its own advantages, disadvantages and outright problems. However, if the hands and head of the motorcyclist were not afraid of work, both creations of the Soviet automobile industry could be turned into a true masterpiece!
Continuing the topic, read about 5 impressive domestic motorcycles, made in a single copy.