The motorcycle as we know it is more than 115 years old, and it's become reasonably difficult to stand out on two wheels these days; most manufacturer's offerings tend to be slickly sanitized standardizations, and even so-called retro rides from Triumph and Moto Guzzi are fairly refined pieces of engineering.
On the other hand, Russian manufacturer Ural prides themselves on building bikes with Iron Age-era stoutness and no-nonsense utility, as I first learned when I tested their lower-priced sidecar, the $9,999 T model. The second time around, I jetted up to Seattle to kick up some snow on their two wheel-drive Patrol T and sample their new solo motorcycle, the sT. After splashing around, burning out, and romping through several local landmarks, I offer a meditation on this rather atypical ride in my 2010 Ural sT Review. Read all about it, and see shots in this photo gallery.
Related:
- 2010 Ural sT Photo Gallery
- 2010 Ural Patrol T Review: Oh, the Places You'll Go
- 2010 Ural Patrol T Photo Gallery
- 2009 Ural T Review
- 2009 Ural T Photo Gallery
Click for review
“Individualists unite” I suppose you think that’s pretty clever eh? Actually it is…well done.
Thanks for getting it, Pete. “Socialists unite” just wouldn’t have had the same ring to it…
Might’ve been almost as funny…but definitely not PC.
That means a lot, coming from a decidedly un-PC person…
These motorcycles have steadily improved over the years and are much more rider-friendly. Ask your local Ural dealer about the sources of some major components. Ural has selected the best available components from an impressive list of global manufacturers
At almost $8000 for a mildly optioned bike seems very high for what you get with this bike. Lot of better bikes out there in that price range.
This is not about a better bike, it’s about a DIFFERENT bike
Joe is right…like it or not.
Other than a very small niche market, if it’s not better, it’s going no where fast. Bikes like this might do OK in Eastern Europe. They have unfortunately may have been ’state of the art’ there since the 2nd WW ended, only because they’re affordable, but in N.A. they haven’t got a prayer.
I think Ural will be OK with “very little niche market”
I have a friend who got a leftover (brand new) Honda 1300 VTX for $8300. Which one do you think most people would take in that deal IK? Would you take this bike mildly optioned at almost $8k or the bike my friend got?? With deals like that going on now a days I think that is going to be a VERY SMALL niche.
As Basem said, “chances are you’ll either “get” the Ural sT, or you won’t”
Your right Ik, guess I don’t get it, I’m one of those guys who doesn’t want to have to fiddle with a carb on a brand new bike when I get it going.
I have to confess I don’t get it either. If I wanted to ride a 1967 vintage bike (and I’d love to), I’d restore something of my choice…and it woudn’t be a 1938 BMW knock off.
You could most likely get one of those vintage bikes for a lot less then $8k too Pete. I would most likely get a mid 1970’s cb 500 or 750 Honda. Always loved those bikes (had a cb500 yrs ago). Probably out perform the Urals even know it’s 30+yr older.
You can certianly build a different bike for less. Variety is the spice of life and this bike even though a challenge will appeal to someone. Not my choice however.
Well, drop me into the catagory of people who “get” the sT. I love old machines and vehicles, so a 1930s/40s design that I can buy new from the factory is guaranteed to get me interested. Sure, I might rather have an original BMW or Zundapp KS600 or 750, but this is *way* cheaper than either of those, assuming I could find one at all.
Plus, can’t be any more work to keep running than my ‘73 240Z…
Scott…I don’t get the Ural – however…your 240Z –
THAT I GET!
Cheers!
say what you want about the Ural. When I want serious riding I take one of my two Harleys. 2009 Ultra and a 2010 softball deluxe. But when I want to have fun and make new friends I will take the Ural. All of my grandkids would disown me if I sold the Ural but they could care less about the Harley’s. In an all serious note the Ural’s are way over priced for what you get and $7500 would be a much better price. If you want to travel and travel long distance the Harleys and Japanese bikes would be much better but if you want to play around town and just have a little fun the Ural with side car is the way to go. You really appreciate good American quality control when you see and drive the Ural. The whole idea is that the Russian bikes were good for them and there really isn’t much to compare because they are two different motorcycles. I didn’t buy mine for serious biking etc, I bought mine for fun with the grandkids. The little ones love to ride but I don’t feel comfortable with them on the tank or on the back hoping they will hold on but I can take two in the sidecar and don’t have to worry about them falling out.
Joe & Lawdog ,you guys are funny ! you use misinformation rather than just say ” I don’t like it because it’s not a ‘ Macho ‘ Bike like Harleys are “.
No one has to ‘ fiddle with the carb ‘ to ride a Ural . he didn’t in the video , I don’t on any Ural I’ve ridden .
” American Quality Control ” – that’s a joke ! there is none . I see more broken Harley on the side of the road than any other three bands combined .
I rode Harley for many years and had less problems with them than any of my contemporaries , they’re fun if heavy , ponderous and slow Motos .(the ability to go 125 (MPH in a straight line isn’t important) one day maybe you’ll discover relaxed high speed comfortable Touring that Harley simply cannot provide . many different great bikes out there are better than Harley’s ever can be for Long Distance Touring , the idea is not be dead tired from wrestling a 900 pound gorilla down the road for 400 miles , instead , pick a good middle weight mount and have some energy left for dining & dancing , exploring wherever it is you rode to all day .
Don’t dismiss what you cannot understand .
I travel far and wide on my Ural Solo , passing Harleys and many Japanese Sport Touring bikes in the twisty bits as I go , it has never left me afoot and parts are always easily available and cheaper than any other Moto brand to boot .
When your Harley/Honda/Kamaha thing breaks down , you’re stuck , call the trailer . so far my battered old Ural Tourist has never done so but back when I rode a BMW twin everywhere , I could repair it’s occasional minor issues easily on the side of the road with the factory toolkit .
I , personally do not ride any of my various Motos to impress or be seen by , anyone else , this is the # 1 difference when selecting a Harley if you want to be honest . I still wear my H-D ink proudly as I earned it unlike 99 % of the Harley poseures out there .
Let the flames begin =8-) .
Nate, this post is about the Ural not HD, what’s the deal with the HD hate when the post isn’t even about HD??? I commented about the carb problem because BASEM MENTIONED IT IN HIS REVIEW STUPID!! Did you even read it???? NO!!!!!! That’s why your stupid! This is the quote from Basem’s review which you DIDN’T READ “But when I returned to my Soviet steed, it fired up with an ear-achingly high idle that just wouldn’t settle. Fiddling with the ride-by-wire throttle (metal wire, that is) revealed a jammed spring in the carb, and un-jamming it finally eased idle down to normal” This is what I was referring to when I said carb problem on a BRAND NEW URAL BIKE!!!! So I guess I’m pretty well informed Nate and I guess it’s YOU that has the misinformation. Please do HD and the rest of the good people that ride HD a favor and cover up your HD ink, ok. You are really making the rest of us HD riders look bad. Thanks!!!
Chill guys, any vehicle can have problems with the original design, or just QC from the factory. The major point for *me* though is that if there is a problem with the ural, I can fix it.
I think Ural is also poised to grab a large chunk of the younger motorcycle rider market. I know many people my age (22) don’t want to drop the cash on a crotch rocket, don’t like the image that HDs have, and generally just want something that they can use to get to school or work. The Ural fulfills that in spades. My generation grew up with hyper agressive marketing, so we appreciate something like the sT that makes no bones about what it is.
Hey Scott, I just can’t stand when someone says I’m misinformed when its them or when they think I don’t like something because it’s not an HD. I love ALL BIKES not just HD’s. Basem had right in his review about the carb problem he had. Nate says he owns a Ural, wouldn’t you read the review of a bike if you owned it??? I also never said I didn’t like the Ural just that it seemed over priced and that you could get a better bike for that price. I like old vintage bikes and this Ural reminds me of them but at almost $8k for a mildly option bike it’s seems overpriced to me. I can go and get a 60’s or 70’s used vintage machine for almost half that price.