Ride Three

For Ural Sidecar Motorcycle Enthusiasts

Don, a newbie 2008 Gear-Up rider in California, recently left a comment that got me thinking about all the great resources out there about Urals and other sidecar motorcycles:

Hey, folks! I cannot praise the folks at Soviet Steeds forum enough! I have bothered them from everything from side car balance to getting the dang locked gas cap off! John and the gang there are the best. If you haven’t allready not done so please join the forum. You won’t be sorry! I am a newbie and their advice is right on. They will kid you though from time to time, but hey, I am a rookie so what do I expect! Anyway, great advice.

When you get a Ural, or any sidecar motorcycle for that matter, you don’t just get a motorcycle – you get a golden invitation into some of the handiest online resources available for Ural owners and sidecar motorcycle riders. Here are the top 4 Ural and sidecar motorcycle message boards you want to check out and be part of:

• Soviet Steeds Motorcycle Collective
• IMZ Ural Message Board
• Hacks - ADVrider
• Russian Iron Motorcycle Club

These message boards are one of the best resources available for any Ural motorcycle rider, be you a sidecar newbie or a hack veteran. I’ll warn you though – from how-to maintenance issues to finding accessories, debating oil or checking out some cool sidecar vids, you run the high risk of spending a great deal of time on these boards. Just make sure it doesn’t cut too much into your riding time!

So whether you have a sidecar rig or you’re thinking of getting a Ural, get on the boards above. My personal favorite is Soviet Steeds, followed by the IMZ-Ural board. In any of them, you’ll find great discussion and helpful folks. By the way, you’ll find me on all of them but Russian Iron (I’ve only time for 3), under the handle “Antsaint”.

For more helpful Ural and sidecar websites, see Ural Resources.

Since new IMZ-Ural CEO Rick Clark took the helm in late 2007, things have been pretty quiet in “Little Irbit”, as the Seattle-area Ural headquarters is known. What is happening inside Ural? What operational changes are underway? How are they weathering economic challenges, both in the U.S. and in Russia? There’s been some idle speculation here and there, but no real news

Maybe there are big changes afoot. Or maybe there aren’t. Maybe it’s all just “no news is good news”… for now.

Back in 2004, a “Ural enthusiast” named Sergey Sinelnik rode a Ural around the world. Ultimately logging 75,000 km (46,603 miles) across 5 continents and through 35 countries, one leg of Sinelnik’s trip took him overland across the whole of Australia. Here are some more details, photos and stories about this amazing trip:

Here are just a few of the incredible photographs that were taken during their final leg of the trip around Australia. Starting from Sydney on April 25, 2004 and finishing on May 19, 2004, they traveled a total of 14,500 km or 10,000 mi. Of that distance, 3,500 km were across the Great Victorian Desert, Gibson Desert and the Great Sand Desert

Follow this and other Ural Adventures…

The Arctic Circle on a Ural – some of the most beautiful country, and some of the crappiest roads, I have ever seen. Andy Grow, proud owner of a 2008 Ural Gear-Up in Arctic Camo, recently completed a huge Alaskan road trip, that took him and his Gear-Up into the Arctic Circle and home again. In one piece. (And with no problems, by the way, the any perpetual Ural doubters lingering out there.)

I was fortunate enough to hang with Andy Grow back in April, when he had just taken delivery of his Gear-Up. He and I rode to Salem together, to get our 500km maintenance done at Raceway Services. It was a joy to see his ride report, especially the many incredible photos he got of Alaska and a rally he intended.

Check out Andy’s full ride report: D2D and the Arctic Circle on a Ural - ADVrider

• “I had complete confidence in her the entire way…and nothing - NOTHING - occurred that would make me reconsider doing the trip again. Fuel mileage was anywhere from 25-30mpg. It’s a beast on the hills and going through the mountain passes. But it gets it done.”
• “You MUST know your bikes limits. I knew from the start I wouldn’t be able to keep up with anyone on the pavement, and I was right. But on the dirt I was doing the same speeds - if not a bit faster - than some of the regular motos (only because they were riding slower!).”
• “I ended up changing out the pusher at 3350kms. The Dempster highway took it down to darn near nothing, but it was still good enough to call a spare. For those taking notes, I am running the stock Uralshinas.”
• “Being the only sidecar - and a Ural at that - at a gathering like this - you are sure to get attention. And chicks. Lots of chicks.”

Go, Andy! Good job, mate.

Urals have arrived in Australia! At long last, too. gtrpete at ADV Rider attended and gave a great write-up and posted some photos: Aussie Ural Launch - ADVrider

The list is long, and often Russian… or, at least, with Russian variations. As I ponder what to name my Ural Patrol, I’ve been paying attention to some of the other Ural names out there. Here are a few (note that these are the “official” names, and not the, ahem, endearing nicknames we have for Urals when it’s time to get out the wrenches):

• Kermitski
• Nacht Hexen
• War Pig
• Chernobyl Chariot
• Frog of War

IMZ Ural Message Boards - Ural Foilhead on the Radio

Mike Palmer recently did an interview with Vancouver, B.C.’s Rolling Thunder Radio about Urals and the 2007 CURD Rally:

“Recently, I was contacted by the host of the Rolling Thunder Radio Show out in Vancouver, BC, and asked to do an interview. They had seen an article about last year’s CURD Rally in a Canadian motorcycle magazine and thought it would be of interest for their listeners. I just finished the phone-in interview with the host a few minutes ago; the 5 minute segment will be aired on 14 Apr and a sound clip (and photo of Hector The Wonder Dog and I on the Ural) will be posted on their website shortly afterwards.”

Follow the discussion: IMZ Ural Message Boards - Ural Foilhead on the Radio

Listen:

• Rolling Thunder Radio Programs For Download
• Download Rolling Thunder Clips – go direct to the clip (audio will load automatically in 1-2 minutes, please be patient, along with some great pics of Mike, his bike and his dog, Hector) (as of the time of this post, Mike’s clip hadn’t been posted yet, but keep checking back)

Update: Got an update from Mike on the Ural message boards. The segment will be airing on Apr. 28, and should be available for download “a few days after the airing.” Looking forward to it!

“First Ural shipments to come to Australia since 1987″

IMZ Ural Australia has released an update about Ural motorcycles heading to Down Under:

We are pleased to inform all our interested friends and enquirers that the new 2008 Ural motorcycles and sidecars are now passed for registration in Australia. Since October we have had a Ural outfit in Sydney undergoing inspection for ADR certification so we could seek import approval for the registerable Urals to enter Australia. This process is now complete.

The factory in the heart of Russia is now assembling the first shipment in their crates for the start of their long land and sea journey to Sydney. We expect the first container load early in May and this will be followed soon after by a second shipment.

There will be a launch ceremony at Armidale northern New South Wales which is provisionally set for the afternoon of 24th May. We are expecting a crowd with representation from media, Russian Motorcycle Owners Club, Sidecar club members, interested and already committed customers as well as the new Ural Dealers from Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Armidale. There will be a range of models on show including the 2WD model for off-road use, Tourist and camouflage-coloured Gear-Up model. We cannot facilitate test rides on the day, but arrangements can be made with Ural of Oz or dealers for alternative opportunities.

There is a lot of excitement generated by the first Ural shipments to come to Australia since 1987. The quality of the new outfits whilst maintaining their classic style has aroused the interest of many bike riders, many who have waited a long time for the opportunity to purchase a fully registerable left-side outfit that has current specifications.

We will post our dealer names and the recommended retail prices on the website by the first week in April. Keep watching and contact us if you want an invitation to attend the launch or more information regarding it.

More Information

• IMZ “Ural of Oz” Ural Australia website
• Urals Expected to be in Australia in May 2008 » Ride Three

“We expect to have the official market launch on May 24th” – IMZ Ural Australia

The news is out! Ural sidecar motorcycles are expected to be in sunny Australia in early May:

It’s Official!!! Our 2008 Ural bike and sidecar has passed its ADR test for registration. This has been a hurdle stopping import in the past which has now been cleared. Whilst it is cause for celebration and excitement, there is a wait now while the bikes are shipped to Australia. This process has commenced and we expect the likely arrival is early May.

The first shipment is expected to include:

• Gear Ups: Forest Nato Camo or Desert camo
• Tourist: Black, Maroon, Dark Blue, Green, Red
• “Off-road only” Gear Up, with permanent 2-wheel drive, right-hand sidecar, in Forest Nato camo (at least one of these has the sidecar on the “right” side)

Rental Urals? There is also speculation that Urals will be available to rent for use in Australia. Hopefully this comes to pass – Jodie and I are thinking of renting one during a trip to Aussieland later this year.

Congratulations, Ural Australia!

More information:

• Ural Australia
• Australian Ural Launch News
• ADV Rider - Hacks Forum - Urals in Australia

Good press

Ural is by no means a well-known brand in the motorcycling world. That is changing every year though. Reviews such as the one below can only improve Ural’s name recognition, and further expose these unique, awesome machines to a marketplace that had no idea sidecar motorcycles were even still in production.

In Arv Voss’s December 8, 2007 review, the SF Gate has some overall very positive things to say about the Ural — and one “drawback”:

“The only real drawback associated with traveling on a Ural is that you have to field a a multitude of questions from passersby. The Gear Up was actually thought by most observers to be a restored World War II bike, no doubt due to the Forest Camo paint treatment. Disbelief showed visibly when told it was an ‘07 model.”

I’ve gotten this reaction too, when people ask me about my “vintage” Patrol. It takes a minute for it to sink in that I’m not lying when I say it’s a 2007.

It’s a good review, and I’m glad Ural is getting press like this. My only quibble with the review is that it didn’t answer one crucial question — how well would a Ural “sport utility motorcycle” handle all those steep San Francisco hills?

Read the whole review: SFGate.com - 2007 Ural Gear Up / Russian sports utility motorcycle is ready for off-road adventure