Touring Through Kyushu

Kyushu is the third largest of Japan’s four main islands and ideal for sidecar riding. The island is mountainous and features Japan's most active volcano, Mt Aso at 5,220 ft. It’s also known for having many hot springs and lush vegetation. Photos by Katsuji Ishii

Our sidecars are made for handling all kinds of terrain and comfortably accommodating your co-pilot.

Of course, they can also carry all the supplies you need for an adventure or a leisurely tour through the beautiful countryside with a friend. 

Follow our team in Osaka.

Waffles the Sidecar Dog

Meet Waffles, a Great Dane from the Golden State who loves to ride in her dad’s Ural sidecar. If you’re around Modesto, California, you may have seen this 1-year old pup proudly riding shotgun in a 2018 Ural Gear Up. Photos by Waffles_P2K

"The open air feeling was awesome. I tend to go with my dad everywhere" –Waffles

We asked these questions to get Waffles' insight on sidecar life:

Ural: What is your favorite thing about riding around in a sidecar?
Waffles: People can see me now! Before the sidecar, I rode around in this large metal box thing, with four wheels and people and other pups would rarely get to see me. Now they see me first – basically I have made the red lights and traffic enjoyable for people and other pups!

Ural: What do people or dogs do when they see you on the road?
Waffles: Most laugh, some seem confused. Pups in the metal box things seem jealous; many take photos of me. Almost all dogs bark at me and ask me how I convinced my human to get one of these Ural things. 

Ural: How did you react to your dad’s sidecar at first?
Waffles: The Ural was a little louder but I adjusted to it well – the open air feeling was awesome. I tend to go with my dad everywhere. When dad first adopted me, one of our first activities was bike trails and I would travel along in a trailer for kids. The first day we went riding someone started talking to us at a red light and asked how long I had been riding in a sidecar. They were shocked when my dad told them it was my first day.

Here are the questions we asked Waffles’ dad, Ryan Bauman.

What year and model Ural do you have?
I don’t have a Ural, But Waffles has a pretty sweet 2018 Ural Gear Up in OD Green. She picked up her Ural from Triquest Motorcycles in Santa Clara, CA and had a great experience working with them.

Did you make any modifications or use additional equipment to accommodate Waffles?
Yes, safety was priority number one for Waffles, me, and the people/pups we share the road with. I ensured Waffles was safe and secure her in the sidecar at all times. I fabricated an adapter that bolts inside the trunk using the factory top bolts for the seat. Two Dog Dog Seat Belts with elastic nylon bungee buffer were added and come out on the sides of the seat. This helps Waffles stay centered when riding and helps her stay in place when braking. We also ditched the shovel, and used those mounts for Waffles' Squish Face toy. It is her favorite toy by far and I am not allowed to go anywhere without it.

Would you recommend a sidecar to other pet owners?
Yes, unless you don’t like making people and other pups smile, meeting new people, having photos taken of you constantly and turning every grocery run into an opportunity to meet new people that either love dogs, motorcycles and the outdoors!

"DO IT ALREADY, you and your pup will have a blast and it is a great opportunity to meet people in your community!" –Ryan, Waffles' dad

Visit Waffles on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

If you and your best friend are interested in riding sidecars, call your local Ural dealer or visit their shop to learn more. If you have a two-wheeler to trade in, we have a special offer here. This could be the start of a new adventure for you, but like Waffles and her dad, we encourage you to look into how you can safely enjoy your travels!

Do you ride with your dog? Post pics on Instagram and tag #uralmotorcycles and #sidecardog and we may feature them in a future post.

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Trade in your bike!

Get an additional $500 on top of your bike's trade-in value toward the purchase of a new Ural. Click the button below for details or fill out a quick form and we’ll send back a quote.

Ride with confidence!

Every 2018 Ural now comes with complimentary 2-year Roadside Assistance! We partnered with MTS Towing to offer 24/7 Roadside Assistance to our US and Canadian customers. Included in your standard two-year warranty at no charge.

Plan your trip and go! 

Australian Beach Excursion

The guys at Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine recently got their hands on a Ural to review, so they threw on a surfboard and headed toward the beach. Their test bike quickly earned their respect as they traveled down gravel roads and into the dirt. Photos and quotes by Mitch Lees

“This thing was tougher than we gave it credit for...

 ...so with a new-found confidence in the Ural we headed for some dirt behind Mandalong, NSW and then for a beach the name of which we’re probably best not disclosing.”

“The bike has plenty of power for your average sidecar riders who want to cross rivers and mud.”

There’s a nostalgic allure with the Ural.

"If you’re looking for something different to take your other half for a spin on over the weekend, have a look into a Ural. There’s more carry space than some small cars! They’re a head-turner and I can guarantee it will be the talking point for bench racers every time you pull up to the pub."

Check out Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine, a great source for off-road motorcyclists of all types!

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Trade in your bike!

Get an additional $500 on top of your bike's trade-in value toward the purchase of a new Ural. Click the button below for details or fill out a quick form and we’ll send back a quote.

Ride with confidence!

Every 2018 Ural now comes with complimentary 2-year Roadside Assistance! We partnered with MTS Towing to offer 24/7 Roadside Assistance to our US and Canadian customers. Included in your standard two-year warranty at no charge.

Plan your trip and go! 

The Sportsman is Back!

Back by popular demand, the Ural Gear Up Sportsman can be yours when ordered through your Ural dealer. This is one of our most talked-about special edition packages, inspired by adventure-filled hideaways like Camp Wandawega.

Folks fell in love with the Forest Fog paint color so we're making it available for future orders. Visit the Sportsman page to see what else comes standard and what other options are available to outfit it for long weekends off the grid.

Can you see a Sportsman edition Gear Up in your future?

Talk to a Ural dealership today for timing and details. If you're not sure where the nearest shop is, use our Dealer Locator.

We offer a full ceramic protective undercoating to combat snow, salt and grime.

After a day of sidecar adventures, gather 'round the campfire and relax with friends.

Watch the video below to see the original iteration of the Gear Up Sportsman in its natural habitat just a few short years ago.

Trade in your bike!

Get an additional $500 on top of your bike's trade-in value toward the purchase of a new Ural. Click the button below for details or fill out a quick form and we’ll send back a quote.

Ride with confidence!

Every 2018 Ural now comes with complimentary 2-year Roadside Assistance! We partnered with MTS Towing to offer 24/7 Roadside Assistance to our US and Canadian customers. Included in your standard two-year warranty at no charge.

Plan your trip and go! 

Recap: Demo Day Fun!

Photo: Ural of New England

Sidecar enthusiasts and Ural fans gathered at Ural dealerships across the country to experience new models and customer bikes. If you missed our recent National Demo Day, we are planning more –  stay tuned!  And don’t forget, you can stop by or call your nearest Ural shop anytime to see what models are available to see and test ride.

Photo: Ural Portland

Photo: Ural Miami

Photo: Kustom Workz

During the event, Ural owners shared their experiences and enjoyed some show-and-tell with curious motorcyclists. It’s a fun bunch of people, drawn together by the sidecar lifestyle. Parking lot conversations turned into test rides full of smiles and perfect photo ops.

Rolling out for a demo ride at Ural Portland.

"RAIN or Shine" test riders at Ural Portland.

If you’re interested in becoming a Ural rider, or know someone that would like to check out the new models, we’d love to introduce them to you. Click over to our Dealer Locator to find the nearest shop and they’d be happy to answer any questions.

Photo: Testing out the Gear Up Sahara at Ural Miami

Photo: Ural of New England

Trade in your bike!

Do you have a motorcycle you want to trade in toward a new Ural? Want a quote on a new rig? Click the button below, fill out a quick form and we’ll send the details! 

Ride with confidence!

Every 2018 Ural now comes with complimentary 2-year Roadside Assistance! We partnered with MTS Towing to offer 24/7 Roadside Assistance to our US and Canadian customers. Included in your standard two-year warranty at no charge.

Plan your trip and go! 

Sidecar Camping

Camping is all about getting outside and enjoying the open air, something Ural riders know all about. Whether you travel to a faraway forest or a nearby campsite, a sidecar can make the experience much more memorable.

These pictures show how our Ural cT model is a perfect vehicle for a 2-day, 1-night mini-adventure inside the Hoosier National Forest. With 2.9 sq ft of trunk space and an added luggage rack, there was plenty of room for a tent, chairs, gear, and food. Once set up, these campers rode into town for extra firewood after exploring the gravel roads and historic sites in the area.

A rack for your luggage...or loggage. :)

The nose of the sidecar served as a good table for condiments and hot dog preparation. A lot of fun can be had around the campfire, but often, there are many things to see and do within a few miles. This cT helped cover a lot of ground while keeping its passengers out in the fresh air as they traveled to lakes, lookout towers, and trailheads.

Not far away is the historic Story Inn near Nashville, IN, a great place to stop for lunch.

Corey Wilkinson of Good Spark Garage chose this destination for a father-son weekend,

“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.”

Load up your Ural for a weekend outdoors and create your own special sidecar memories!

Thinking of buying a new 2018 Ural? Already riding one? We partnered with MTS Towing to offer 24/7 Roadside Assistance to our US and Canadian customers with 2018 model year Urals. Included in your standard two-year warranty at no charge and available as part of Extended Warranty coverage (should you choose to purchase one).

National Demo Day is set for March 24th! Check out all the participating dealers and head over this Saturday to check out the new Urals, grab some food and get a demo ride. Most importantly, have some fun and ride!

The Ice Run 2018

What kind of people would plan a ride in subzero temps over a frozen Siberian lake? Answer: Ural riders. Hosted by The Adventurists, the 2018 Ice Run is now under way and headed toward the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal (the namesake of our recent Limited Edition Ural).

Ice Runners packed and ready for departure.

What’s this route like? The Adventurists say “parts of the ice will be sculpted by the wind and smooth as a well-oiled otter, other bits will be as cracked as your nan's elbow.” Most of the Ural motorcycles they’re using on this trip are from the old days, a different animal than today’s completely upgraded models. But, it’s a testament to the workhorse origins of these adventure-ready sidecar motorcycles.

Team Baikal Beach Boys before taking off on the 2018 Ice Run.

It takes a special (crazy?) person to tackle the Ice Run; the team names reflect their sense of humor: The Maximators, Icy Dead People, Baikal Beach Boys, and Biscuit and Orange Juice. There are 11 teams participating over this 10-day journey in Irkutsk, Russia.

Team James Poulter camping on the beach during the 2018 Ice Run.

As part of their incredible experience, the Ice Runners have raised funds for the environmental charity, Cool Earth. You can follow the trip and learn more about the Adventurists on their website.

Image by The Adventurists

Read more about our 2WD Gear Up and plan your own adventure!

Sidecar Tours in beautiful Colorado!

As any (and every) Ural owner, Scott Kirkwood has had his share of UDF (Ural Delay Factor) over the years. Then one day he decided to combine his love of Colorado with all the fun you can have in a sidecar and created City on the Side a sidecar tour company!

City on the Side provides an exceptional, personal and private sight- seeing journey, a different look, authentic and genuine, allowing passengers to experience the world from a completely unique perspective.

City on the Side is unique because they are located in such a beautiful part of the country. A state that can claim 300 days of sunshine plus beautiful mountain views combine for a perfect first ride in a sidecar opportunity. 

There is plenty to do in the Denver/Boulder area so even if you aren’t from the area it’s worth the trip out to spend a few days soaking in the sun, getting out on a hike or doing some wildlife spotting at Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Head over to City on The Side and get a trip booked!