Twenty Years Later: Conversation with Ilya Khait

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our extended family in the US and happy upcoming holiday season to everyone around the world!

What could be better than a good conversation on a Thanksgiving weekend?

This fall marks the 20th anniversary of taking on the challenge to revive the iconic motorcycle and the factory based in the foothills of Ural Mountains where our bikes continue to be built since 1941.

Ilya Khait, President and CEO of IMZ-URAL reveals the untold story of how he became involved with Ural, the several near-death moments the company faced over the years and offers some insight about what drives the brand and its people forward.

Special thanks to David George, for several near-death moments he faced producing these videos. We'll just say producing video interviews with your boss as the interviewee is challenging work!

Here's the first installment of the four-part interview. Parts II, III and IV will be released on our YouTube channel this holiday weekend, November 27-29, 06:00 am PST.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here: Ural Motorcycles YouTube Channel 

We are thankful for you. Stay healthy!


The Team at Ural

DYATLOV PASS: NEW FILM COMING SOON

Four close friends. Extreme off-road. A team of experts from Irbit factory. One epic adventure.

New Film: “Dyatlov Pass” comes out in Moscow on November 15, 2020. Version translated into English is expected later this year.

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Requires snorkel set up. Don’t try it at home.

2WD For LH sidecar: tested in all sorts of extreme. Passed with flying colors.

URAL INTRODUCES 2WD FOR LEFT HAND MODELS WITH THE LAUNCH IN AUSTRALIA

Ural has won the hearts of adventurers around the world for its ruggedness and versatility. Built to endure the most adverse road conditions, these iconic sidecar motorcycles go further - they go where the roads end. The flagship Gear Up model equipped with engageable sidecar drive, however, was only available in countries which drive on the right side of the road. Until now.

Introducing 2WD Gear Up For Left Hand Models

If you find a loose or slippery surface while crossing a river, climbing a bank, descending a steep downhill or just crossing a wet boggy patch…

…with the simple engagement of the 2WD lever you are on your way.

Ural Gear Up is great for off-road adventures, turning country roads and bush tracks into your personal playground.

The new 2WD Ural offers added certainty and peace of mind as you motor off down some back-road.

Spotlight: Gusto Motorbikes

In the rolling hills of Portugal, Rob MacDonald and Zayne Dagher own and operate Gusto Motorbikes and Sidecar Adventures, both a sidecar touring company and an authorized Ural dealership.

We asked Rob and Zayne to give us the run down on their journey so far…

“We moved to Portugal….

with the view to operate sidecar adventures because the terrain and the weather provide for incredible riding, all year round. The majority of 2019 was spent establishing foundation for our touring business, meeting people in the motorbike and tourism industries and generally getting acquainted with the type of riding available in our region. Our goal was to start operating properly in 2020, but as we all know, that was not to be.

We use our home as our base for the tours, as well as the place to stay for people who want to adventure with us and share experiences - a bit of Gusto Life!

Unlike other regions in Europe, neither Portugal nor Spain have strong sidecar culture. We had to focus on creating awareness and understanding of these machines’ capabilities both on and off road, and the unique form of inclusivity that they offer.

We take full advantage of Urals capabilities on and off the paved road.

Out of the city, into the countryside, on tracks and trails!

In addition, we offer Sidecar Experience Days for anyone interested in getting more first-hand knowledge about Ural Motorcycles – this can be people considering purchasing a Ural, journalists or anyone who wants to experience and learn something a bit different. These Sidecar Experience Days are proving very popular and are an important part of what we offer.

With the arrival of the global pandemic, we had more free time and decided take on the role as an authorized dealer in Portugal.

The foundations were all there, and with two of our own 2020 Ural Rangers in the garage, busy social media pages, a growing network and our presence at regional and national events, we find there’s always opportunity to show the bikes off, and lots to talk about.

This is Gusto Motorbikes and Sidecar Adventures.

— Rob MacDonald MBE and Zayne Dagher

Follow Rob and Zayne on Instagram and Facebook.
To schedule a tour check out https://www.gustomotorbikes.com/gusto-life

Highways & Byways

Photos by Rick Hancock and Lily Paull

TWO-UP ON A 2020 GEAR UP

Mike Paull and Aillene Balagtas Paull have owned and driven multiple sidecars around the country and across the globe. Earlier this spring, we lent them the new 2020 Gear Up to ride around and experience the new generation Ural compared to the earlier years models as well as their other sidecar rigs they owned. You can read up on their day trip back in April here and learn about year-over-year improvements here.

The Highways & Byways, Two-Up ride recap is the most recent chapter of Mike and Aillene’s adventures and impressions. Full three part report can be found on ADVRider.

Our day begins with a morning departure across Puget Sound at the ferry terminal in Edmonds, WA. Our destination, a short 25-minute cruise underway, the Kingston Terminal. From there, a brief ride through Big Valley to a friend’s homestead and blueberry farm, a socially-distanced quarantine-circle lunch on their deck, then across the Hood Canal Bridge to find some graded forest roads on the Olympic Peninsula.

My “all in” wife, partner, travel companion and navigator, Aillene, geared-up and waiting in the ferry line.

“I believe the 2019-and-newer URAL represents the best value in a high-fun-factor and highly capable recreational and utility vehicle available today.”

— Mike Paull

Ural has continuously made investments in the powerplant, braking systems, electricals, hardware, even the paint. They’ve improved manufacturing and finish quality, and now procure components from the same suppliers as the world’s major motorcycle brands.
Even if you had the tools, equipment, and skills to build your own sidecar rig, you’d be hard-pressed to build a highways/byways/off-pavement-capable outfit for the cost of new Gear Up (and of course, your labor is “free”). And if you did (my hat’s off to you!) you would NOT have: an all-new vehicle, an unlimited mileage/2-year warranty, locking 2-wheel drive, reverse gear, a limited but supportive global dealer network, schematics, brand-specific after-market accessories, and an international community of owners to tap into for self-help and socializing.

HIGHWAYS:

My previous carbureted Gear Ups would struggle to maintain 55MPH, two-up, loaded out, on a level stretch of highway if there was any headwind at all. Though the overall HP and torque increases are modest, the new closed-loop, Keihin throttle body fuel injection system and A-Racer engine control module, and improved cooling from new cylinder castings, allow us to touch 70MPH on a level road (if speed is your need, buy something else). What matters is, the rig will motor along, two-up with your belongings, at 60 to 65MPH, all the while having the suspension to let you transition to unpaved two-track with aplomb.

Ahead of us, our friends on a BMW R1200GSA, BMW R800GS, behind us, a Honda Africa Twin, and a solo-rider on an R1200GSA-LC sidecar.

The point? We’re keeping up, while two-up, with lunch for all!

byWAYS:

Where the Ural shines!

Take the roads-less-travelled, enjoy the great outdoors of continental North America. Leave the boredom of the interstates behind, and when the pavement ends, keep on going in the knowledge that, rider error aside, you have a vehicle where ”when the going gets tough, the tough can keep on going”. The suspension that feels a bit stiff and unresponsive on tarmac, transforms into sure-footed vehicle that can navigate the graded roads, forest service roads, hills and valleys that street riders won’t venture onto.

Unique to Ural is its suspended sidecar body. Like any rig, the sidecar chassis has a trailing arm and shock absorber to carry the full load of the sidecar assembly.

The passenger ride is smoother, as the sidecar body pivots up front on a pair of rubber bushings camped to chassis cross-member, and rides on two rubber “snowmen” under the rear. This secondary suspension system de-couples the mass of the sidecar body, passenger and gear from the chassis, essentially creating a dual suspension system. Whether your companion has two legs, or four, they’ll appreciate the added comfort!

Structurally, it’s a tough beast. Tubular chassis, steel body, and due to its roots as a war machine, Ural has some of the highest ground clearance of any commercially available sidecar kit. . . . and that ground clearance also translates into approach angle clearance as well.

“As a designer, sidecar enthusiast, owner, and now builder, I believe that Urals have finally come into their own. If properly set-up, operated within their performance envelope, and regularly maintained and serviced, I believe a 2nd-gen, fuel-injected Ural can give years of service.”

— Mike Paull

In every respect, a more-capable, more reliable Ural. I’m proud and happy to own one again!

IN SUMMARY:

“If you love riding, enjoy the great outdoors, are willing to take it all in at a measured pace, and have sidecaring in your blood, then the new Urals have your name written all over them. If you want one, buy one.”

For long-haul travel, I would not recommend running at greater than 60-65MPH for any extended period. On paved roads, the short-travel, relatively stiffly sprung suspension is a bit choppy for the pilot, but does the job intended off-pavement, while the dual-suspension system provides a more compliant ride for the passenger. Long-term reliability has yet to be put to the test, but I’ll give periodic updates as I log more miles. So far, it’s been all good.

Urals have always had good bones. They’re now equipped with components and running gear to match. The value is there. The fun-factor is unmatched. Capability, simplicity, improved reliability, reverse gear, optional 2WD, a complete tool kit, today’s Ural is an awesome way to see our world on your terms.

Ural Tech Tips: Speedometer. Steering Damper.

This week’s video from David, as usual, based on popular demand. How to program electronic speedometer. How to adjust hydraulic steering damper.

Optimistic

The factory in Irbit is reopening this month and will resume production with initial shipments to Europe and Japan.

Ramping up will take time and  the first shipments heading to US will be arriving sometime mid to late July. US and Canadian dealers currently have good inventory levels but by mid June we expect some pre-order situations. The sooner you let your dealer know what you are looking for, the more precise we can plan production and get your bike delivered quickly. Please plan ahead. Dealers have never been set up better for remote orders and safe deliveries!

May retail registrations in the US have been very strong, almost the same level as last year. This is great news! It's great that folks are feeling optimistic and plan on riding. As a result our New Jersey warehouse bike inventory is quickly thinning.  We have  approximately 15-20 day supply to support back-to-normal sales levels should the upward  trend continue. Our focus now is to figure out how to replenish inventory as quickly as possible. Stay tuned for further updates!

Our Parts Department has been super busy and working fast to make sure we keep you on the road and/or occupied in your garage. The new Parts Drop Shipments service  and waived drop shipping fees have been extremely popular. 

And, last but not the least.... 90 Days Warranty Extension* 

All Ural motorcycles currently under warranty will automatically have three months (90 days) factory warranty extension. All new motorcycle sales registered during the period between March 25 and June 30, 2020 will also have automatic 90-day warranty extension on top of standard 2 year manufacturer warranty.


* For US, Canada and Australia markets.