World Cup Ural Style

As the World Cup picks up speed, we break away from the desks to get our football fix.

Preparing for World Cup 2022

That’s why you’ll find us throttling down the sideline for a helmeted head ball.

The team at Ural loves soccer (especially Ilya). Our children play the sport and our families spend time together watching matches on TV. As we all gather together to see how the World Cup unfolds, we hope your favorite team does well!

Score big with our special offers!

Kick off summer on a new sidecar! Click here to view our current deals and learn more about our different models. Follow us on Facebook to see what's new and where we'll be next.

Happy Father's Day

When Father’s Day comes around, we’re often contacted or sent photos by sidecar families from around the globe sharing their stories of togetherness. We love it. And we love that Ural motorcycles play a big role in combining quality family time with motorcycling. Here are photos that have come across our desk and continue to make us smile.

“The Ural Sidecar is an amazing way to share motorcycling with my disabled son.”

Stephen Trudeau takes his son Devin for rides in the mountains, in the neighborhood, in parades and everywhere. What a great dad! Photo at right by JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers

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Mike Escamilla is a BMX pro, stuntman, and perhaps most importantly, a sidecar pilot for his daughter Luna.

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Mihai Barbu is an incredible photographer and seasoned world traveler. He and his wife and son spent months traveling the world on their Ural Gear Up. Here they are at the highest point of their 17,000 mile journey, Tajikistan. Mihai said his son enjoyed the trip,

“I can guarantee you there isn't a child in the world that wouldn't enjoy riding in a sidecar motorcycle!”

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Donni Reddington and her father Don spent 10 days traveling around Washington state via motorcycle sidecar to raise awareness for Alzheimer's. They're also pictured at the top of the article.

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Jamie Robinson explored Southern California on our 2WD Gear Up with his family. He actually flew his dad in from England for a visit and weekend of camping and fishing. See the story here.

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“We wanted to find a place off the beaten path where we could explore nature; the Ural helped get us right down into the heart of it all.”

Corey Wilkinson took his sons on a camping trip with his Ural cT, which made his father-son experience even more memorable.

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Here’s Dave and Jon Heindl, the father-and-son team behind Heindl Engineering. Jon is president of the company while his dad, Dave, is the vice-president and sales manager of this Ohio-based Ural Dealership.

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Dustin Coldicott an avid sidecar rider with his family, knows that rides in the Ural will bring smiles to his kids' faces. Surely these little ones will have many stories to tell about riding with dad.

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Ural makes a great gift idea.

If your kids ask what you want for Father's Day, Ural is a great gift idea. ;) Send them to this page. Or if you're a father of little ones, treat yourself to the best dad-mobile out there. We even have some special offers currently available. Happy Father's Day!

Learn more about our sidecars and follow us on Facebook to see what's new and where we'll be next!

Camping Near Mount Fuji

We recently received this set of photos from our Ural Japan team, featuring an event called "YBC." It's an annual motorcycle event where riders camp within a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji. Sounds like the ideal Ural adventure! Photos by Koichi Inagaki

Mount Fuji can be seen from Tokyo on a clear day, thought it is about 60 miles away. It’s the highest mountain in Japan (2nd highest in Asia) which provides a beautiful backdrop. Towering over everything around it, Fuji stands at 3,776.24 m tall (12,389 ft). 

This adventure was made up of a traveling community of fresh air fanatics who came together under one big sky. 

Riders packed all their dietary needs, cooking utensils, and tents. Of all the motorcycles, the Urals were clearly the best pack mules, loaded with all the necessary goods and supplies.

A sidecar adventure starts the moment you start the engine.

There's something about the introspective time spent camping that is a good match for motorcycling. After a night of spending time with friends and sleeping under the stars, hopping on a motorcycle and propelling yourself through the trees and rocks simply adds to the continual outdoor experience.

Riders prepare to ride toward Mount Fuji where they will set up camp. 

A beautiful sunrise awaits the campers at YBC, with a majestic greeting from Mount Fuji in the distance. Where would you travel if given a chance to pack up a sidecar and venture out? So many places in the world are waiting to be explored and we've got the perfect adventure-mobile to do so! 

Learn more about our sidecars and find accessories to outfit your Ural. Follow us on Facebook to see what's new and where we'll be next!

Overland Expo West 2018

The scene at Overland Expo West just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona defines the adventurous spirit. It's a place where Urals are right at home. The guys at Kalaber Creations are regulars here, known for hosting a Ural campsite full of their own sidecars and attendee rigs. Here’s a photo re-cap of their time at the recent 2018 event.

Kalaber owner and experienced adventure traveler, Mark Tetreau is a Ural dealer from Prescott, AZ who has developed several Ural accessories of his own design. He has been attending Overland Expo West since 2012.

"Overland Expo—where adventure begins and friendships last."

This premier overlanding event features countless adventure-related vehicles, gear, and variations of aftermarket equipment. Many of the sidecars on the grounds were mobile showrooms, customized with bags, hardware and travel enhancements.

It’s become an annual challenge for a growing group of women to hop aboard a Ural and power it forward for a certain distance. This year, they smashed the record with 17 passengers and 1 pilot.

The sidecar community is abundant here.

These outdoor enthusiasts like being ready for any kind of terrain and whatever mother nature throws at them. That’s why the Urals are crowd-pleasers here. Several sidecar riders displayed their rigs at the Kalaber booth since many of Tetreau's bikes were being used in demonstrations and by show organizers.

Elspeth Beard and Carla King: Many, many miles have been logged on motorcycles by these accomplished women.

"The Ural caravan was a super hit!" –Esteban from Kalaber Creations

At one point, a Ural caravan was seen parading through the grounds nearly 20 sidecars deep. So, if you plan on attending next year’s Overland Expo West, you’ll definitely see many Urals crawling around the event. If you’re on the other side of the country, you can also check out Overland Expo East in Asheville, NC.

Adventure motorcyclist and travel writer, Carla King, takes a ride over the recently-built log bridge.

Learn more about: Kalaber Creations, Overland Expo, and our 2-Wheel Drive models. Follow us on Facebook to see what's new and where we'll be next.

VIDEO: Rigorous Quality Testing

The Ural Board of Directors isn't made up of guys who are just desk jockeys or pencil pushers - they're riders. And they take quality assurance seriously. Each year they plan a trip to truly test their machines in challenging conditions.

Watch the video!

The test riders in this feature are the company's accountants, plant managers, controllers, etc.

Awhile back, a longer version of this video made its way around the internet and became a hit with Ural riders. We received many comments like, "this video is why I bought a Ural!" Or when faraway friends ask what kind of bike they ride, they'll send them that particular video.

Are your friends curious about why you ride a Ural? Send them this article!

People also ask how the Urals in the video can be submerged while crossing such deep, swift waters. Quick answer: They have breather tubes added (see pic above). Overall, what you see is the true workhorse nature of these motorcycles and how they can tractor through some daunting obstacles.

"Badass!" –Gerald in Louisiana

“This was the video that sold me on a Ural. Great stuff!” –Sawyer in Canada

Some motorcyclists brag about speed or horsepower or how long they can ride a wheelie - to each their own. At Ural Motorcycles, we're more interested in smiles per hour and engineering unstoppable fun. If rocks, water or rough stuff stands between you and more fun, throw your Ural in 2WD and carry on!

"Leave it to the Russians to build a beast like that!" –Adam in California

After a deep water crossing, the guys bail water out of the tub of the white Ural.

"This is why these are the best f***ing bikes ever." –Instagram comment

Learn more about the different sidecar models and compare them to see which one fits your lifestyle best. Enjoy the smiles ahead on your sidecar motorcycle!

Ural of New England Spring Rally

People often consider Urals rare beasts, but citizens around Boxborough, MA see them in droves, especially during the Ural of New England Spring Rally. Here is a recap of this popular annual event that took place on May 5th, 2018 with a special homage to Fredda Cole.

Ural riders are a community of motorcyclists that gather when they can. Small groups or large groups, they're a likeminded bunch. The staff at Ural of New England intend for their Rally to be a great way for Ural enthusiasts around the world to come together and spend the day doing what they love, riding.

The Rally starts with a beautiful ride through the New England countryside.

After the ride, Ural riders return to Ural of New England to feast on traditional Russian cuisine, relax, and tour the state-of-the-art facility. Attendees can peruse the latest in Ural accessories as well as a collection of unique automobiles and motorcycles.

Bring your co-pilot!

Enthusiasts of all types are welcome at this event. Some riders brought their pet and, as you can see in the pic above, they weren't limited to just the canine variety. :)

In Loving Memory of Fredda

One of Ural's greatest and most kind ambassadors was Fredda Cole, who recently passed away suddenly. The folks at Ural of New England had her sidecar on display along with a memorial at their Spring Rally, where she was a regular attendee. "We remember her today as she was, always a big smile on her face, and what she has done for Ride for Kids, and the Ural community. She remains the holder of the World Land Speed Record on her Ural, set in Utah in 2000 on the Bonneville Salt Flats."

Fredda and her husband Russ looked for any opportunity to combine their desire to do good with their desire to ride motorcycles. "She left large shoes to fill and we want to continue the legacy she began in helping these children. If you would like to donate to Ride for Kids or volunteer in honor of Fredda Cole, click here. Every event we've had here at Ural of New England, she has come and volunteered her time to help us out."

She made sure every person walking through our doors felt welcome.

Fredda Cole and Russ Fitch during the 2014 Ice Run. Photo by The Adventurists

If you get a chance to attend next year's Ural of New England Spring Rally they'd be glad to have you. Or, you can also check out their Summer Rally coming up in July at their North Hampton, New Hampshire location. 

Sidecar + Mountain Bike Adventure

Whatever kind of adventure you’re into, it’s often necessary to drive out to a starting point. Why not make that commute an adventure as well? Ural riders from all over have done this by making their own modifications to attach surfboards, kayaks, skis, or in this case, bicycles.

Watch the video!

The guys at Good Spark Garage decided to make their trip to the trails as much fun as riding mountain bikes. They fabricated and secured a hitch mount that doesn’t permanently attach to the cT's sidecar chassis and firmly holds their bike rack in place. The trunk still opens to store their helmets and tools.

Have an adventure on the way to your adventure!

What adventures do you find yourself driving to that could be made even more memorable if you traveled by sidecar? Imagine the looks on the faces of your fellow enthusiasts when you arrive on a Ural, packed with your equipment.

“When we pull up, it doesn’t take long before mountain bikers approach the rig to take a pic.” – GSG

There’s plenty of storage with the ample trunk space and available steel for various mounts. Plus, it just looks cool in the parking lot. Folks who like the outdoors appreciate the Ural because of its adventure-ready design. It allows fresh-air fiends to be out in the elements before and after their ride, hike, run, climb, game, swim, etc. 

Folks who like the outdoors appreciate the Ural because of its adventure-ready design.

Learn more about the sidecar featured in this story or compare models to see which fits your lifestyle best.

A Moab Ural Expedition

What does a Ural rider do when he sees the daunting ledges, steep drops, rocky washouts, and off-camber trails of Moab, Utah? He invites more sidecar riders and heads toward the action! Follow along with this sidecar convoy as captured by Ural rider and photographer, Tim Laughlin.

We wanted to gather some real-world insight directly from a few of the riders in these photos and share it with you. As with any product or vehicle, you’re bound to come across some Negative Neds out there, but more often you'll encounter riders like these guys. Riders that roost dirt, climb hills, and bang through the gears while adapting to the whatever the environment throws at 'em.

They smile through gritted teeth. They are our people.

Here are the riders we talked with:
Colorado resident, Tim Laughlin, the man whose window to the world you are looking through in this post, riding a 2011 Patrol. He has been frequenting Moab for the past couple decades, via canoe, Jeep and Ural.

Rich Chierici from New Jersey rode his well-used 2010 2WD model with admittedly worn tires. He has a lot of East Coast off-road experience, but had never ridden in Moab.

California rider Cris Liliedahl navigated the twists and turns, ups and downs on his 2008 Gear Up with his wife/co-pilot, Kimmie.

Would you recommend riding Urals in the Moab terrain to other motorcyclists? 

Tim: Definitely. Moab hosts an abundance of trails that vary in length, terrain, levels of difficulty, and it is fairly easy to link several trails together to form longer rides or loops. 

Rich: Yes, definitely! Part of the challenge of Moab is not always the obstacles themselves, but the setting. The 50ft drop off just a few feet away makes line selection that much more critical. Moab has this reputation of being really difficult wheeling for Urals; the reality is that the VAST majority of trails around Moab are easily navigated by Ural.

What’s it like riding a sidecar in Moab?

Tim: Knowing how to pick a line and the correct speed for ledges, drops, off-camber situations, and slope makes the sidecar a more challenging ride than just about any other vehicle. I do believe that the Ural has a big advantage over some other vehicles in the sand. Put it in two-wheel drive, keep the revs up, and it’s like surfing when floating through the deep sand.

Rich: Once there I found that, while challenging, I already had the necessary skill set to navigate Moab successfully. The rocks were a challenge, but not unlike picking a line up a rutted/rocky slope on the East Coast.

Cris: It's a fun challenge. Picking lines and drifting through corners is pretty great; needed to be careful of popping up the sidecar when negotiating stair steps.

What was it like to be part of a caravan of Ural sidecars?

Tim: I asked the lead driver of a group of approaching UTVs if they would wait while we all cleared a ledge, not only did they want to wait, they wanted to watch the circus. He asked, “What are you doing way out here?!”

Rich: It's always good to have a lot of riders around who understand your rig and who can share experiences, advice and gear recommendations specific to Urals.

Cris: Everyone is trying to find the best line so it feels like a friendly competition in who can make it up a run better.

Why do you ride a sidecar?

Tim: The ability to easily carry camping gear and/or a passenger combined with its esoteric nature make the sidecar a truly wonderful ride. My youngest daughter loves to ride in the hack and has traveled with me for a couple of local trips including the National Sidecar Rally when it was hosted in Hotchkiss, Colorado.  

Cris: I don't have to worry about dropping it with my short 26-inch inseam, which is a bit of a worry with my dirt bikes. It's the only thing my wife will ride with me because she no longer feels comfortable riding two-up on two wheels.

Anything sidecar riders should know about this kind of off-roading?

Tim: If you typically ride with someone in the hack, increase the padding especially at the edges of the tub and add a couple foot blocks to the floor of the tub like a kayaker might use. Also, at night out here, a good set of auxiliary lighting is a must as the area can be quite dark, especially with no moon out. Most of us carry a variety of spare parts and a good set of tools. Like any other vehicle in this terrain, you just never know what may need attention.

Rich: Know your bike! That means knowing where the low hanging parts of your bike are located, know what size obstacles you can straddle and be aware of your approach angles and how big of a ledge or ridge you can drop off or negotiate without getting hung up or high-centered.

We tip our helmets to the adventurous riders in these pics and send a big thanks to Tim Laughlin for sharing the pics (follow him on Instagram). This group of Ural riders has an incredible story to tell and memories to revisit for the rest of their lives.

What kind of adventure will you take? Ready the cameras, load up the sidecar, and ride your own story!