Ural at Vintage Motorcycle Days

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Vintage Motorcycle Days is a massive event put on by the American Motorcyclist Association, drawing well over 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Wilkinson brothers of Good Spark Garage tell us how they use their Urals as the ideal moto-event transportation.

Above: The Wilkinson bros brought their sons: Corey's two are on the left, Casey's is on the right.

Above: The Wilkinson bros brought their sons: Corey's two are on the left, Casey's is on the right.

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"Most people get around on mini-bikes or golf carts. We use our Urals."

The Mid-Ohio grounds cover a lot of area and there are things happening all over. "We can tote our kids and haul our swap-meet finds and camera equipment with ease. Of course, the look of these air-cooled rigs fit right into the scene and turn a lot of heads," says Corey Wilkinson.

We offer a full ceramic protective undercoating to combat snow, salt and grime.
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With all of the racks and storage, the Ural is like a 750cc shopping cart. 

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Above: We ran into Greg and Kristin on their Ural Ambassador Gear Up. They've been attending VMD for a long time and know to come prepared for staying cool and hydrated.

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Above: Casey Wilkinson of Good Spark Garage (middle) talks with fellow Ural riders from Ohio, Kevin and Sally Craig, who rode in on their olive drab M70. 

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The Ural Gear Up raffle bike is going to make someone really happy!

The Ural Gear Up raffle bike is going to make someone really happy!

Also present at this year's event was the Ural Gear Up provided by Ural Motorcycles and outfitted by the Wilkinson brothers. This special set-up will be raffled off on December 7th to benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Officials will draw the winning name during the 2018 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony weekend (see rules).

Donate for a chance to win this Gear Up: Click here

Flashback from last year's event: AMA President Rob Dingman and his daughter pose with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Raffle Bike.

Flashback from last year's event: AMA President Rob Dingman and his daughter pose with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Raffle Bike.

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"Our sons will look back on these days and remember the fun they had with family and motorcycles."

Where would you take a Ural and who would you take with you? Like the Wilkinson brothers, you can turn an event into an adventure by taking a sidecar which will create an unforgettable experience for your family.


Watch our video on best practices when riding with passengers:

Australian Family Adventure

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When this Perth Australia family of three decided to take a road trip, they bought a Ural and planned an epic journey across Australia from East to West. The Velge family (Gwenael, Cielito, and their son Anatole) prepared their Ural cT then set out to log miles and memories. (Photos provided by the Velge family)

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"I liked the rig, its ability to go off-road, its look, its history. I like that it is a little off-beat."

–Gwenael, on why he chose a Ural cT sidecar

We offer a full ceramic protective undercoating to combat snow, salt and grime.
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"Here was a machine that, instead of taking me away, would allow us to go on adventures as a family, together."

Cielito was a little reluctant about Gwenael having a motorcycle, but with time and some basic ground rules of the sidecar, she eventually saw the benefits. Gwenael had originally considered riding across the country with a friend, but "if Cielito was up for it, I’d much rather do it as a family. In fact, I think it is the adventurous trip that made Cielito see the whole sidecar thing in another light."

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Their trip will cover over 6000kms including 2500kms of dirt roads.

From mountaintops to botanical gardens, they're making the most of this trip. Anatole, the son, often falls asleep, "the sidecar is that comfortable." Part of their route includes the parts of the outback, "where there are no more towns, just blue skies."

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The family stopped to help this BMW rider who suffered a flat tire from a bent rim.

The family stopped to help this BMW rider who suffered a flat tire from a bent rim.

The Velges credit Jon Taylor from Ural of Oz as an invaluable advisor and mentor. "I had no idea about sidecars and had never done any long trip on à motorcycle...Jon helped us make decisions about the necessary accessories and put them on for us." 

They are carrying two 10L Jerry cans of fuel on the inner side of the sidecar and an extra 20L on the main rack for the most remote leg of the trip. They've also added the spare wheel and rack. Gwenael had Ural Australia add the fairing and hand guards to combat the cold temperatures.

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The family relies on their duffel bags to carry the essentials and have mailed home several items to pare down the load. On the long stretches, Anatole draws pictures in the dust on the windshield or plays hand puppet games. For the rough roads, Gwenael tries to get the third wheel in the smoothest spot to make it comfortable for his passengers. 

"The third wheel is a bonus in the bulldust, we have been flying on it!" 

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It is a genuine adventure!

"We meet many people on the road and our mode of transport certainly seems to inspire people to want to do the same. We would certainly encourage families to pack their stuff on a rig and get out there! It is amazing."

Follow along on their journey via their Instagram feed at @the.life.motonomadic. You can also read about other Ural riders and the adventures their sidecars take them on by clicking the link below:

See how other Ural owners explore worldwide.

Dog Days of Summer

Photo by @WanderfulGirl via the @RexSpecsK9 Channel

Photo by @WanderfulGirl via the @RexSpecsK9 Channel

It's summertime and dogs love to explore with the wind in their face and Ural is perfect for that! We took a quick spin around Instagram and found these canine companions traveling the world with their humans. Would your pup be a good sidekick?  

Sidecar style by @sadiesidecar.

Sidecar style by @sadiesidecar.

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

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Above: One of our favorite sidecar dogs, Waffles, was featured in a Q&A in a previous blog post. If you missed it, check it by clicking here

Man's best friend as seen on on the @myuraladventures18 feed.

Man's best friend as seen on on the @myuraladventures18 feed.

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Above: @Morgan Mastiff enjoys sidecar rides, "the dog park, destroying feather pillows, disemboweling toys, shopping, and hanging out with my mom." See more of her travels on Instagram.

Imagine how cool your dog will feel when pulling up to the dog park in a Ural.

Incredible pic by @adventurerig in Moab, Utah.

Incredible pic by @adventurerig in Moab, Utah.

Do you ride with your dog in the sidecar? Be sure to add the hashtag #sidecardog and #uralmotorcycles so we can follow your travels.

Manhattan's dog about town, Baely, being chauffered by @Richie_Akiva.

Manhattan's dog about town, Baely, being chauffered by @Richie_Akiva.

Perry the sidecar dog as featured on the @stcroixural feed.

Perry the sidecar dog as featured on the @stcroixural feed.

We love when Ural riders share their photos and stories on Instagram. It reminds us of the strong community of riders who enjoy life and share it with their family, friends, and pets. Thanks to all these sidecar folks and their dogs for sharing the adventure with us!


Want to show your dog what a sidecar looks like? 

If you think your dog would enjoy being a sidecar sidekick and you've never seen a Ural in person, check out our Dealer Locator to find a dealership near you. Ask them if you and your pup can sit in the sidecar to try it on for size.

Photo by @nat_tanatt.

Photo by @nat_tanatt.

World Cup Ural Style

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

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Preparing for World Cup 2022

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

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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!

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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

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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.

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“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


Mike Escamilla
Mike Escamilla

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 Ural Splashin
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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.


Good Spark Garage Camping with Ural cT
Good Spark Garage Camping with Ural cT

“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.


Heindl Engineering - Ural Dealers

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.


Dustin Coldicott

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.


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

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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

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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). 

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

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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.

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

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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.

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

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

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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.

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!

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

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

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Ural + MTB Adventure

“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!

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"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.

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

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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!