Riding The Ural Is More Terrifying Than We Ever Thought... 

I would feel like a crash test dummy while sitting in a sidecar.

Back when I was drooling over these constantly I remember coming across some advice on a forum suggesting to take the bike to a large parking lot and ride it in circles to see exactly what it takes to lift the sidecar off the ground. I've never had a chance to try it myself but it sounds like good advice.

I've ridden a Ural about three times. They are hilarious each time, but also the strangest riding experience I think I've ever had.

My mate was one of the first to get one in Australia back in 2008. Everything you said is correct. They need constant input at all times and at no time can you relax. We rode around Australia with him on the Ural and me on my Harley. He was absolutely shattered at the end of each day but it made it.

Im actually thinking about buying one for winter riding here in new England.

I have a 2011 Ural GearUp that I bought used in 2013. Yeah, they can be scary. At speeds over about 40mph, it feels unstable. They don't have a lot of power. Left turns you can go fast , but you'd better go slow and cautious when making a right turn or you're in danger of tipping over. You could get yourself killed. Always have some ballast weight in the sidecar. Urals are okay for cruising around town, on two lane back roads, or off road, but don't ever try to ride this thing on a highway! Hell no. Yeah, somebody is going to say he does it, but I think you'd really have to be some kind of foolish daredevil .The first few days I had this thing I thought I'd blundered buying it ; it was scary, especially making those right turns, but I got more used to it and experienced, and it became fun. I like that it has both kick and electric start, almost no bikes have that anymore. It's is easy to start, even in real cold weather. Also, it has a spare tire, so you won't be stranded- that's saved me a hassle on two occasions. Oh yeah, it's got a reverse gear! My little shaggy dog Poppy just loved the Ural. Where's Poppy? Poppy would sneak outside and sit in the sidecar just waiting to go somewhere. Poppy and I would ride around and go to the park everyday. She would wear her goggles and we got lots of attention everywhere we went. Anyway, little angel Poppy's now in doggie heaven, so it's not as much fun anymore. I have great memories though. New Urals have become VERY overpriced, maybe because nobody else makes a ready- made sidecar rig. Instead, I'd say if you must have a sidecar bike, buy a big cruiser bike and a sidecar separately and find somebody that knows how to attach them. If you like the vintage classic look, as I do, there's a company called Inder that has some cool looking ones.

Cutest vid of the day. I've had limited experience on motorcycle/sidecar combos. 1st time while I lived in the UK. Whether a sidecar, motorcycle even a car for some. Parking lots are a safe learning tool. Albeit not as cute as seeing a Cyclist at 3:31 mins with the ability to pass you both going 10 mph 😂, good thing he was on the opposite side of the road huh. As far as the screams, it adds a whole new level of cuteness. As always we all ❤seeing you both!

You should take one of the 3 wheeled motorcycle courses. The have both trikes and side cars … they make you fly the side car … it’s great. I’m a can am rider and it was so much fun.

Washington requires a separate 3 wheeler endorsement because it doesn't actually ride anything like a two wheeler. Once you understand the differences, it's a ton of fun.

Congratulation on not mounting a kerb or ending up in a field on your first ride, which is what usually happens,. Stick with it and don't be surprised if you learn to love riding, or is it driving, it as they are great fun. As for getting a Royal Enfield . I had a 500 with a sidecar set up for about a third of the price. It had about the same top speed as the Ural but not the reverse gear or the shaft drive. I now have an 82 VF 750 Honda Magna with a chair. That gives you a bit better highway speed and the shaft drive. The centre stand comes in handy for removing the back wheel when you need to change the tyre.

I think the Ural was a Soviet copy of a BMW German WWII army motorcycle. They got/took/copied the design and have been making it ever since.

I would never trust my Ural to someone who has never driven one before. That's truly terrifying. 😵 Urals are awesome.

I’m super confused. . .when the camera in the front looks back, the motorcycle part seems to leaning to the right. . .then when when you show the view from the rider it seems that you are turning strongly to the left. . .Is it possible that those huge connectors between the moto and the car can be used to “straighten” the motorcycle part?

Riding a ural is like driving a 40 year old jeep on 37 with no steering stabilizer old suspension and years of beating and bouncing around off road it takes years of skill and finesse to drive em straight and confidentiality 😂

The center stand is useful if you need to change a tire, it does take some strength to use it.

Tbh feels like a nice intown vehicle like to go to the store and pick up stuff kinds thing but that's about it

I don't have a Ural but I want one. I gather the center stand is useful if you need to fix a flat or change out a wheel in the field.

I totally pictured a scene from Twister popping up at the end.

I love how tommy and Alex were in the sidecar lol 😂 at different times. Now that’s the adventure I love seeing. Well kase. Brother togetherness absolutely hilarious 2:34 tommy lmao.

I've always wanted to see what these urals look like without the side car.

Terrifying - causing extreme fear. I've been riding URALs for years. Yes, they do take some getting used to especially if you're moving from a two wheel bike. If something terrifies you, you shouldn't be riding on a public road perhaps consider taking it to a parking lot to practice. And think of all the people you just turned off to this wonderful bike by the title of your article. Just sayin they are a hell of a lot of fun!

Info please...if i would buy one in mass is it possible to ride it to arizona

I have spent the past 12 years as the monkey on an overland rally rig. Right turns are scary, left turns are the ones we live in fear of. You will feel the boat start to lift before anything hilarious happens. In a left, the nose of the boat will dive and the back tire will lift. Since the front wheel is already turned to the left, it will dig in. Yes, I totaled my underwear. The running joke with monkeys is that the pilot steers the bike, the monkey steers the boat. Out over the sidecar wheel for right turns, and across the back of the bike for left turns. That rear passenger peg is where you hold on for the big ones.... :D.

Where did you get those mirrors they seem to vibrate less then the stock mirrors?

Great episode!

I owned a tourist ural For 2 years my kids and myself went on camping trips loved the bike it was not dangerous you have to learn how to ride a motorcycle but That was it

You definitely break straight if the breaks are properly setup. The is the charming thing using just certain breaks to turn in higher speeds. And the central stand is for tire change. Next time when you want to talk about something it will be better to know what you are taking about, not just talking..

Driving an Ural is not that hard, You just have to get used to it. Most of the people make the same mistake over and over again and it is to compare the ural with americans , japanese or european motorcycles. May be they don't know that keeps most of the soviet philosophy : as simple it can be, durable for ages and easy to repair. And one thing i'm sure is that they're tough. Believe me I'm from Cuba and there we're thousands since the 60's and 70's and the owners were very pleased with them. Also, there is another version called Dnepr, built by another company in USSR but worst than the Ural.

Boy, you didn't sell it. I was loving the idea but if it's unruly to control and then you mix it with homicidal traffic, like where i live, it's not an option. ☠️

You probably find that you need to tighten up the steering damper. They are a weird like to ride but I think not as dramatic as you are making out you need some Armstrong steering LOL

lols public roads not best place to learn left of center side car geometry perks .but its a lot off fun when you get the hang of it if you survive ha ha ha

i would not want to ride this in traffic at 1st. off-road trails would be fun. kick in that 2wd. i could live out of that. would hold so much cargo. always wanted a ural.🍻

Bru i would be scared to park it anywhere you'd come back to a skeleton..😅

The key to riding a bike with a sidecar is to forget everything you know about riding a motorcycle because they handle and steer completely different.

Fools rush in…. Learn to properly pilot a sidecar before blundering into traffic. Once you go hack, you’ll never go back.

Turning Right... What are you talking about... You don't understand physics of motion? no school or what...

kick start it

flat twin not parallel

Like all cars, boats, bikes and planes, you have to get used to driving it. That means knowing balance, throttle, center of gravity in turns, sway, lean, weights, etc.... Nothing worse than a newb reviewing something they have no clue about. The Russians would be laughing at them. Comparing a different street ONLY bike/sidecar to the Ural unless it is a 2 wheel drive is nonsense.

One rides a motorcycle, but drives a hack. One calls it a hack because, England....

No skills review.

I absolutely love love love our Ural!!! But then again we got educated before purchasing. This is the worst video I have ever seen . Get educated before you open your mouth

Anderson Melissa Jones Jason Robinson Kevin

Youngins really don't like being out of the comfort zone. One is meant to fly the chair, though less likely with a passenger's weight in it. There are reasons sidehacks were once popular but are no more & you've found most of them....

The safety concerns associated with sidecars have prompted my country to impose a speed restriction of 70 km/h. While I have considered installing a sidecar, the practicality of lane splitting in urban environments would be compromised, potentially hindering my mobility within the city.😅

I just passed 24 thousand mile on my 2021 Ural Gear Up, on the third anniversary of its purchase. I think you tried to do too much on the very first ride. You can't make a proper judgement of this machine with 5 or 10 or even 100 miles. I would be terrified also, if I'd ventured out on the open highway for the first time, with random traffic. Learning to handle a sidecar is a sliding scale. The longer you ride, the more experienced you'll become and the fear factor will diminish. Good luck with this journey.

The trick is to add a second sidecar as a counterweight, then a third on the back to keep the front steering tire pressed to the pavement.

I bought an 2008 ural brand new The bike was in Edmonton Alberta And I live 300kms away in Calgary. When I picked it up from the dealer they had not done their job. They turned me loose on under inflated tires and badly miss aligned sidecar adjustments. The bike would change lanes on you when you rolled off the throttle and there was no holding it. After 4.5 very long hours i made it home. The thing that saved me from killing myself was a book on how to ride a sidecar motorcycle. I'n that book it also gave the specs on the sidecar alignment. I ended up keeping that bike for 5 years and rode it all the time. The reason for getting rid of it was it was grossly underpowered and it broke down constantly. Because I'm a certified mechanic and welder I decided to build my own sidecar rig. I bought a 1977 honda goldwing, and after reverse engineering the ural sidecar went to work and built my own. I still have it. It has out performed the ural in every way, and no break downs. I can't emphisis enough how critical proper alignment between the bike and sidecar is. If its right they steer down the road effortlessly. If there wrong they will wear out your arms in 10 kms. and the experiance will be terrifing. After awhile flying the car is as easy as popping a wheelie. The one other thing about sidecar rigs that you need to know is they are tire eaters. when you corner you are scrubbing tires, no getting around it. The ural is an interesting experiance but after owning one and seeing how badly built they are i'd never buy another one, And they're not cheep to buy either. If anyone is looking for a sidecar rig get a used 1800 goldwing and have a champion sidecar installed on it. you won't reget spending a few extra bucks .

I love my Ural and I also have an Indian Chieftain with a sidecar. I always bring my dog on my rides and they love it.

1 of the few experiences on wheels I have not had. In my youth, it would have been a blast to master. Not so interested in road riding something like this unless I had mastered it prior. There are learning curves to everything. Glad you all get/got a chance to tick this off the bucket list.

Thank you, Case, for not screaming into your helmet mic. Alex… you’re cool, too.

I want to see Roman or Andre in the sidecar!

Hey guys, this is Brian from your other Ural video a few years ago in South Dakota. You gotta practice and it doesn't hurt to have a bit of weight in the sidecar trunk when you start. The MPH ratings on turns actually mean something and when you're starting out go at least 5mph under those numbers. Lots of good info on the Ural forum called Soviet Steeds. Good luck and have fun!

A two wheeler drive motorcycle is more of a pickup truck and extends the riding season. BMW got it right years ago and it is a shame this concept hasn’t been capitalized. There is a genuine need for three wheeled bikes, but sadly the concept has been met with poor examples through the years. An enclosed reverse trike that rides in tandem is incredibly utilitarian and the people that attempted it had no idea what they were doing. It is entirely possible to construct an aerodynamic vehicle that gets 100mpg without a bunch of electric nonsense. What is better, a vehicle that gets 100mpg on gas or one that makes that claim that isn’t feasible for any distance traveling?

I took a ride on a bud's old BMW with a sidecar. Went around the block. Nope. No. Not no, hell no. I like to have a good time on my rides, not see my whole life flash before my eyes every few seconds. Not for me. That ain't a motorcycle, it's a carnival ride.

Auspicious timing. I was just looking at Ural sidecars earlier this week.

You don't buy a Ural to go fast. You buy one to take every single person you know on a motorcycle ride. AFTER you spend about a month/1000 miles learning how to master your 3 wheel monstrosity.That center stand is very useful for changing the tires by the way. Congrats on playing at being sidecar monkeys! Sweet video!

LOL Just yesterday I was telling a friend that my most terrifying ride of all time on a bike was … in the sidecar of a Ural 😱😂

I've owned a couple of Ural's. I've been through many motorcycles. The Ural has by far been the most fun and joyful to ride, and the one bike I will never get rid of. I remember taking my first ride like it was yesterday. Maybe it came more natural, not sure, but I was immediate smiles. As with any motorcycle, ease your way into it. Practice. Get used to the bike first. I wouldn't say it's terrifying at all. Ride safe.

I used to have one of those in the early 80s. Keep a big bag of gravel behind the seat in the chair, that will help keep the chair down.

Sidecares are not for soy boys, keep that in mind.

the Driving dynamics is typical of a TRICYCLE and has nothing to do with the URAL Brand... even here, a Honda Tricycle Yamaha or Kawasaki typically behaves that way, when braking it wants to turn right, its because of the Tricycle Geometry... some Designs are build different than others depending what purpose the Tricycle is built for lets say for Passengers even more so for Cargo Layouts that have longer Sidecar geometry, configurations that are used to carry Live-Stocks, Glass, Plywood, Up-to-30cases of Beverage, imagine how stable that can be?

Cannot believe you would drive a Ural, with no training, no experience, and no one to help / advise. Right turns are easy if you know how. When you let off the gas in that sweeper... wow! My heart stopped... Technique is to slow down before the right turn, then add power thru the turn. You have to keep the MC ahead of the sidecar. It will about turn itself. These bikes are sort of like learning to fly an airplane, you just don't do it without some basic training and lots of practice. Glad you guys are OK

Terrifying?? Pansies. I loved my 2019 Gear Up. Rode it across the country…nothing but smiles and thumbs up from people. 😎

Hilarious thanks guys

I have Ural. It brings so much fun. Feels like a real man’s bike..

You should take one of the 3 wheeled motorcycle courses. The have both trikes and side cars … they make you fly the side car … it’s great. I’m a can am rider and it was so much fun.

Well What I have noticed here is that the handlebar is slightly tiled towards left hand side. So may be this might be the possibility that the bike takes hard left when you hit throttle had !!!

The 'Lean out' on that Rig is excessive....so badly set up.

it seems that your bike is tilted a little bit, so it might be a part of the reason why is it unstable in turns

My first bike, so much fun. It's better if you've never ridden.

I’m in

20k lol

Urals are tractors. Once you accept that the shifting and all falls into place. LOL. I think the worst thing about the Ural are the obnoxious Sachs shocks and the rock hard enduro bench seat. To improve them means spending another $1500.00-$3500.00 for suspension upgrade and having the seat redone by a local shop. It all adds up quickly. I see the one you're riding has been reworked by Kaliber Creations. Nice looking winch mount. NOTE: for newbies at LEAST watch some videos about how to ride these beasts before you ride one the 1st time. If you have neck or spinal issues this is probably not the bike for you as they require way more constant input from the rider than you'd first imagine. Ural is phenomenal in honoring their warranty too. Coming up on 3 yrs ownership of a 2021 Gear Up I honestly can say it is a blast off pavement. They are slower accelerating than any two wheeled 750 so don't expect to race traffic but, do be prepared to be waved at...a lot!

Looking forward to a video of the Ural taking on the challenges at Tumbleweed Ranch! Really curious to see how having that rear axle (?) locked helps on Trenches. Tommy in control, Roman in the sidecar?

The first 10k are the hardest, it starts getting easy after that and yes it is easy to fly the sidecar at will, looks cool on the highway ;-) you need it on gravel or snow to learn how to slide it.

From what you are describing, I would check your rear wheel alignment. It seems like it might be cockeyed somewhat...

Just watching your video frightened me...I'll pass on these...

Oh now i def wanna see the two of you do a cross country trip on a bagger together. Flip a coin every tank of gas for who has to sit in the back.

You talked about the accessories but not much about who makes them or where to get them.

To bad they cost so much! And Dealers are so scarce.

Its left turns that are scary...

Buy a microphone

I want one so bad

nice!!!

The veering one way on letting off the gas is because the ural is a drive shaft motorcycle.😂

They call this motorcycle with a cab a Tricycle in the philippines. 🇵🇭

Do you know which way is right?

I used to put an 80 pound bag of gravel in the sidecar when i had no passenger

👈🏾👨🏾‍🦲👍🏾

First off a Ural though designed for sidecar just will never handle as good as some other bikes not even designed for sidecar. They just aren't a good bike by any standard

They're super cool but I just don't know if I'd trust a Ural in terms of reliability. I wish BMW could dust off the old R-71 plans, do their own modernization and sell something that looks similarly vintage but has the GS Adventure pedigree, but it'd probably cost $60,000.

Also, Case I like your jeans, but you need a belt, buddy.

Would riding it in 2wd fix how it rides?