1999 Ural 650cc on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Ural Sales Increase 39 Percent In 2011

Ural, the funky motorcycle sidecar manufacturer from Russia, is boasting a 39% increase in unit sales for 2011. Considering the company’s total expected output for last year was approximately 1,100 models, you won’t notice an influx of sidehacks dominating your local roadways, but this is really good news for the small manufacturer of eclectic two-wheelers, especially in the midst of a deficient economy. Ural recognized an article in the New York Times and a collaboration with bike builder James Hammarhead for some of the company’s increasing popularity.

Russian Motorcycle Racers Carry Sochi Olympic Torch

A pair of Russian motocross racers took part in the Olympic torch relay this week, carrying the Olympic flame on their motorcycles on its way to Sochi. On Dec. 15, Russian sidecarcross racer Evgeny Scherbinin (pictured above) carried the torch into Kamensk-Uralsky, an industrial city described as the birthplace of motorcycling in the region.

Help Fund Motorcycle Retrofits for Impaired Riders

Don Jackson, owner of Yesterday’s Rides Metalworks in Newberg, OR, and a marine veteran, has announced a crowdfunding initiative to raise money to complete the prototype of a motorcycle retrofit designed for persons who require the use of a personal mobility device. The retrofit allows the owner to ride their personal mobility device (wheelchair, scooter, etc.) onto a sidecar via a ramp, lock it in place, retract the ramp using electronic controls, climb on to the motorcycle and ride off. When the rider reaches his/her destination, the mobility device is right alongside, ready to unlock and use. The initial prototype is based on a modified Ural, which is already sidecar compatible.