Couple of thoughts:
1) Buddy of mine runs a Ural dealership, and took their mechanics training. Says they've come a LONG way in the past 2-3 years in terms of reliability (e.g., alternator is now out of a Honda car). I'd be curious to hear reports on late-model Urals and how well they stand up, but he says they're much, much more reliable than the ones made just a few (4-5) years ago.
2) As I dropped my Speedy off at his shop, he gave me a lift to the Metro in a Ural Gear-Up -- HOLY S**T that thing is FUN! I watched him trying to drive the thing, and it's clear that it very much does NOT handle like a normal bike, but it's quite capable in city traffic, and it's just a helluva lot of fun to ride in the hack! (I told my wife she needed to try it sometime.)
--Jaeger
