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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
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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):
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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:
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!
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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
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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:
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:
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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
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Greg on the Ural message boards is kicking around a sidecar purchase — but he’s caught between getting a Ural or a vintage sidecar rig. What should he do?
“Hello everyone, newbie here. I am shopping for a bike and sidecar rig of a vintage style. I have looked at Urals for well over a year, but have noticed after speaking with a few dealers that the delivery is very sporadic and somewhat unpredictable. Can one you folks provide some reasons why Ural is the way to go nowadays instead of looking for a real vintage bike like the R71 or a replica like the CJ750? “
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Ural motorcycles have increased in price about $1000-$1300 for the 2008 model year, mostly due to compliance changes for new EU pollution standards. Here is info on model changes for the 2006-2008 model years.
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IMZ Ural has updated their website with 2008 model specs and pricing. There have been some various part improvements for 2008, but the upshot for most prospective Ural buyers is that 2008 models will cost about $1000-$1300 more than the 2007 models. For example, the Ural Patrol sold for MSRP $10,299 in 2007, but is going for $11,499 in 2008.
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The future of Ural is always a good topic for discussion. Personally, I see Ural and its uniqueness as having a lot of opportunity to grow and become a stable, globally well-known brand in the motorcycle marketplace. Ural will be facing some real and tough challenges to get there, mainly in securing more capital (which is a long story in and of itself), but the company’s new CEO, Rick Clark, sounds like just the person to help the company get the money and growth they need to succeed:
Siberian bike’s allure draws investor | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA
As the article points out, Clark is optimistic, and I’m glad to see that. He has good cause:
“There’s something unique about this bike that people get passionate about,” he said. “People love this bike. At shows, people take pictures of the bike, they sit in the sidecar. There’s something visceral about this. Of all of the consumer products I’ve been involved with, none comes close to the passion these owners exhibit.”
I’m curious, and excited, to see where the next few years take Ural. With the company’s unique position in the motorcycle industry — offering nothing but sidecar rigs, and with a rich history of doing so — I think they’re going to stabilize and grow.
