The Bike
Descended from the legendary M-72, a reverse engineered copy of the pre-war BMW’s R71, and perfected over the years to provide solid performance and reliability both on and off road, Ural is the only design-specific sidecar motorcycle on the market. Thanks to its unique set of technical features, Ural has become the gold standard of modern sidecar motorcycles.
EnGINE
Ural’s engine is an air-cooled, 749cc, overhead-valve boxer twin. Todays’ fuel-injected Euro-5 compliant mill, introduced in 2021, is tuned more for torque and pulling power rather than top-end speed. Its architecture and location in the frame provide a low center of gravity, improving handling on the street and in the backcountry.
On paved roads with the added weight of a passenger, luggage, and gear - not to mention the weight of the sidecar itself - the torquey engine quickly gets the bike off the line and up to speed. Off road, it provides ample power and torque to handle everything, from gravel country roads to the rough, broken terrain of Siberia, Mongolia or the Andes.
Transmission
Ural Motorcycles are equipped with a 4+1 gearbox that transmits the engine’s power to the rear wheel via a shaft drive. The transmission has four forward gears with a standard motorcycle-style shift pattern. The “+1” is a reverse gear - Ural is one of a very few motorcycle manufacturers that offers a transmission with a reverse gear standard.
This feature gives the bike extra maneuverability and allows the rider to get the bike into and out of tight situations without having to dismount and push the bike around. This is especially handy in off-road situations where the reverse gear can mean the difference between successfully navigating a tricky obstacle or getting stuck.
Two-Wheel Drive
Ural’s famous selectable two-wheel drive system uses a CV shaft to transfer power from the motorcycle’s rear wheel to the sidecar wheel. This gives the bike unparalleled off-road performance and allows the Ural to tackle even the most challenging terrains.
During regular, one-wheel operation, the sidecar wheel rotates freely with its driveshaft disengaged from the bike’s final drive. When two-wheel drive is engaged power is transferred to the sidecar’s CV driveshaft, connecting the final drive hub to the sidecar wheel. This increases the bike’s traction and improves performance across rough surfaces.
It’s important to note that Ural’s two-wheel drive system doesn’t have a differential, so both the bike’s rear wheel and the sidecar wheel turn at the same rate. This means that the two-wheel drive system should only be used on soft or broken surfaces—gravel, sand, dirt, snow, etc.—where the tires can slip and break traction when they need to.
In 2020, Ural introduced a new two-wheel drive system for its LH bikes, for sales in left-hand drive markets like Australia and the UK. These bikes feature a completely redesigned rear hub and final drive that routes the sidecar’s driveshaft back through the left side of the hub, final drive, swingarm, and wheel to the sidecar wheel.
Leading Link Front Suspension
Rather than a standard telescopic fork, every Ural utilizes a proprietary leading link front suspension system.
The addition of a sidecar imposes large lateral forces on the bike front suspension during steering. The leading link is more rigid than a telescopic fork and stands up better to sideloading during maneuvering, making the bike’s steering lighter and more accurate.
Along with compensating for sidecar-related lateral forces, the leading link front doesn’t dive like a telescopic fork. A sidecar adds a lot of moving mass, which contributes to dive. Ural’s leading link front suspension maintains a consistent rake and trail under load which makes it easier for a rider to keep the bike and sidecar under control.
Rear and Sidecar Suspension
Rear suspension of Ural utilizes a traditional double sided swing-arm with two Sachs hydraulic 7x adjustable spring shock absorbers. For the sidecar wheel, Ural uses a single sided swing-arm with the same Sachs shock absorber as for the rear of the bike.
Braking System
Urals are equipped with Brembo disc brakes on all three wheels.
The rear and sidecar brakes are linked together and activated by the foot pedal. The bias between rear and sidecar brakes can be manually adjusted as needed to compensate for various riding conditions and loading of the sidecar.
All Urals are also equipped with parking brake that utilizes a cable-operated caliper installed on the rear wheel, with the actuation lever conveniently located on the left side of the handlebars.
Electrical System
The heart of Ural electrical system is the Denso alternator, able to produce a massive 500 watts of peak power output. The reason for equipping Ural with this very powerful alternator is that many customers are operating the bike year round, including in winter conditions when heated riding gear is necessary. It also allows for installation of additional lighting and other powered accessories.
The sidecar is equipped with auxiliary electrical panel with BMW-style power outlet, which is ideal for connecting powered accessories, charging devices and more.
Wheels and Tires
All four wheels (including the spare wheel that comes standard on some trim levels) are the same, utilizing 2.15x19” lightweight aluminum rims and steel spokes.
The fact that all wheels are the same makes the spare fully universal. This means the spare wheel can be used to replace a wheel on any position of the bike in the event of a flat tire. This is especially handy when you find yourself in remote locations!
Rims are supplied by an Italian manufacturer, Italcerchio, and are built to Ural’s specifications with a uniquely designed cross-section. They are assembled with oversized spokes for additional strength necessary for sidecar applications, specifically the rear wheel which experiences significant side loads.
Since a sidecar motorcycle does not lean while cornering and needs to be steered, the tire profile for sidecar motorcycle should be “square”, as usually found on automotive applications. In addition, the sidewalls of the sidecar tires should be stronger. This is why both the Heideanu and Duro tires used for feature 6 ply sidewalls and specially designed profiles.
The Sidecar
The full metal, sidecar body is beautifully shaped and spacious. It is the most iconic element of the Ural motorcycle – as well as most copied and replicated by sidecar builders around the world.
In addition to sidecar chassis with swing arm and shock absorber, the Ural sidecar tub is mounted with two rubber-spring absorbers installed between the sidecar body and the frame. Combine that with the comfortable seat, and you get a very enjoyable ride for the passenger.
There’s a storage compartment under the removable seat cushion for tools and other small items. In addition, the seat can be easily removed altogether if more space in the sidecar is needed, maybe for a four-legged companion or extra luggage when traveling solo.
The sidecar trunk features 80 liters of weather resistant lockable storage space. It has plenty of room for larger items, from a pair of motorcycle helmets to a week’s worth of groceries.
All Ural sidecars come equipped with rubber floor mats as well as cordura tonneau covers. There’s also a huge selection of accessories that come standard on selected trim levels or can be purchased separately – from windshields, front bumpers with fog lights, to fluid canister and folding shovels. Not to mention numerous optional luggage racks and light protection.
