Mike And AillenE
Mike Paull and Aillene Balagtas Paull have been friends of Ural for well over a decade. Avid motorcyclist/sidecarists and GlobeRiders adventurers, they’ve owned and driven multiple sidecars including a couple of Urals. Older Urals. In the Ural world, those who follows us, know this well, 2006 and 2008 models are light years away from even let’s say 2013’s - the last year of the carbies. That is not to mention new generation EFI models. We’ve lent our new shop Ural to Mike & Aillene to experience what 2020 Ural feels like and give us a report. And pictures. Mike has an impressive and long career as design engineer and product developer … so we knew the report will be very detailed and uncompromising. We will share the full report here once it’s completed. In the meantime, here are some highlights from the day trip Mike and Aillene took to lift the spirits during these uneasy times we are all experiencing.
Stay healthy, safe and go for a ride if you can!
The Team at Ural Motorcycles
As always, I’m doing my best to be objective. I’m reviewing this 2020 model against the three 2006-2008 model year Gear-Ups I owned back in the day, and in the context of currently owning four BMW-powered adventure touring rigs (one with a Ural sidecar mated to it!).
We had a nice break last weekend from our normal spring pattern of overcast and rain, and a sidecar is made for a passenger, so it was a great time to see how the Gear-Up performed “two-up”. Before you rain fire and eternal damnation down on me, under WA State’s stay home order (at least we have one!), we’re still encouraged to get outdoors, observing all recommended precautions and keeping physical distance. From what we know, the virus hasn't mutated to airborne viability, otherwise, herd immunity might be the grim future or our generation . . . .
My wife, Aillene, dons her gear. Yes, we are ATGATT riders.
To keep physical distance and not enter any business we packed lunch, snacks and beverages.
It’s so cool to back out of a garage when you’re sitting on a motorcycle, and never have to put your feet down either!
A three-point turn, and we’re headed down our Olympic Bobsled Run of a driveway, headed for Carkeek, one of Seattle’s most underrated saltwater parks.
A huge fun factor about sidecars that motorcyclists don’t generally experience, is miles and miles of smiles. Whether in a car or truck, on bicycle, a motorcycle, or just on foot, people (and dogs) love sidecars. A lot of smiles are directed your way when piloting one. And that all gets kicked-up a notch when two-up on a wonderfully retro/modern Screaming School Bus Yellow Ural Gear-Up; those smiles are amplified with friendly waves from young and old. We waved back to most everyone we passed in our neighborhood. People were out, physically distanced, but collectively enjoying the simple pleasure of Seattle Sunshine.
A huge difference in piloting the 2020 Gear-Up is the throttle-body, closed-loop fuel injection upgrade, first introduced in 2019. The motor pulls cleanly and steadily at throttle even when two-up.
“As a daily driver, an errand runner, or an escape-the-rat-race machine, the new Urals no longer have to apologize for feeling under-powered, there’s enough response at the throttle to keep it interesting and fun.”
Aillene unpacks lunch. Love backing into a parking space!
We hit another short/twisty/rutted road winding down into Golden Gardens and Shilshole Bay Marina
The Gear-Up has always had an optimal front end, called a leading link fork. Improvements have been made in bushing and bearings, and the steering effort with the weight of a passenger in the “chair” is reasonable and predicable. On a beeline road with little crown and constant speed, the rig drives straight. The front end is now equipped with a steering damper, so it’s possible that the trail has also been reduced, though that’s a guess on my part.
Some might voice a concern for a rather choppy ride. A sidecar is a rolling mix of compromises to begin with, and the Gear-Up is optimized for rough road operation. The suspension is robust, relatively stiff, and has short travel; it’s designed to take punishment, and this translates into a ride that is predictably harsher than a standard street bike. However, it’s a surprisingly comfortable ride for the passenger. Unique to Urals, the sidecar has a dual suspension system. The suspension at the wheel is a normal trailing arm and shock absorber, but unique to Urals, the suspension at the chassis has the sidecar body shock-isolated as it pivots at the nose, and rides at the rear on two “snowmen”, or rubber shocks.
“My wife’s daily driver is a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and she says for her, the Gear-Up’s ride is comparable”
Drivability in an urban environment matters, and the Gear-Up does just fine in all respects. The motor pulls strongly enough and cleanly, a passenger is protected and comfortable, with three-wheel disc brakes, it stops with authority. The transmission has straight-cut gears, so yes, selecting gears is a bit clunky, but it evens out a bit with time. With a heel-toe gear selector pedal, you have options on how to execute a shift.
Before heading home, we pass through Seattle’s delightfully Bohemian Fremont District, where one can see The Troll, Waiting for the Interurban, and an old friend, possibly the world’s largest statue of Lenin…
I have a sidecar in Japan, one in Germany, two at home. I don’t have room for another. The opportunity to do an extended test ride of the Gear-Up was an unexpected one, one that I gladly accepted. I’m impressed, it’s come a long way. I won’t have it long enough to comment on long-term reliability, and the dealer network is sparse, but I’ve heard the customer service is exceptional, and it comes with a two-year warranty. Compared to the cost, time, and hassles of building your own or commissioning a build from a non-certified facility, the Gear-Up is a compelling package for anyone considering a sidecar for the first time, or, lives in a rural area where you could experience it’s full potential.
“In summary, one no longer needs to make excuses for the Ural’s powerplant. It starts. After a brief warming period, it pulls cleanly. There is enough power to move you and another (two-legged or four), along nicely. The brakes can lock all three wheels. The ride is perhaps a bit choppy for the rider, comfortable for the passenger, and the suspension works as intended off-pavement. You get a locking trunk, miles of smiles, a reverse gear, and 2WD drive. All in all, it’s a remarkable package for the price.”