Enter 2010, and Ural is once again trying their hand at the traditional two-wheeled paradigm. This time, they've stuck to their roots by divorcing their T model of its sidecar and sticking to the brand's basic, utilitarian character. Does the sT— which is short for "solo T"— deliver? We spent a day riding the motorcycle in Seattle to find out.
The Goods: Retro Look, Ancient Tech
>>Click here for a 2010 Ural sT Photo Gallery<<
Priced at $6,999, the 2010 Ural sT retains the same basic architecture as the back-to-basics T model, but ditches the sidecar. Power comes from an air-cooled, boxer-style 745cc twin which can either be kick or electrically started, and it's great to see this virtually extinct feature on a contemporary bike. The twin-carbureted mill produces 40 horsepower and 38 ft-lbs of torque— not quite barnstorming figures, but nonetheless oomphy enough to make burnouts possible. A double-disc dry clutch mitigates power between the engine and four forward gears, while exhaust is routed through stainless pipes. Front brakes are single disc, 4-piston Brembos, and a single-disc, 2-piston Brembo at the rear. Though Ural experimented with Paoli front shocks, they chose telescopic 40mm Marzocchis and outsourced a custom made, CNC-milled fork brace for added stoutness. Dual Sachs coilovers with preload adjustability comprise the rear suspension.
A right view of the Ural sT.
Photo © Basem WasefThe Ural sT's $6,999 starting price is exactly that; options can quickly boost the price closer to competitors like the Triumph Bonneville ($7,699) and the Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic ($8,990), though it's undercut by the $6,395 Royal Enfield Bullet Classic C5 EFI. There's no charge for Flat Black paint, but Flat Green and Sahara cost an extra $195. Gloss Black, White, Woodland Green, Maroon, or Red add $255. Upswept stainless pipes (as seen on our test bike) come in at $215, and various chrome trim adds $105. Want two-up seating, not just a single tractor-style saddle? It'll cost you $200. A center stand adds $105, stainless engine guards up the ante by $125, a set of passenger handles cost $60, and a mini windshield runs $115. Our sT tester came in at $7,979, almost a thousand bucks above the base price.
Swing a Leg Over and Ride: Real Simple, Real Honest
But all those familiar components doesn't make the Ural sT feels generic; on the contrary, swinging a leg over this 441 lb (dry) bike takes you back to a bygone era. The tractor seat is sprung but firm, and your boots fit snugly on the pegs in order to accommodate those previously mentioned Keihin carbs. Ergonomics are otherwise comfortable, with an upright seating position and a slightly forward tilted upper body posture. The view from the saddle is spartan: apart from an analog speedometer flanked by warning lights, there's virtually no gadgetry on display.
The twin-cylinder engine exhibits the usual torque reaction effect when it's revved at a standstill-- that is, when you twist the throttle, the bike shifts slightly to the right because the engine's reciprocating mass is horizontally opposed. It's a perfectly normal phenomenon also exhibited by BMW's and Moto Guzzi's twin-cylinder powerplants. If anything, the trait adds character to the bike's already richly textured personality, which includes clanking engine valves and a silhouette that evokes Steve McQueen's 1963 classic film, The Great Escape (which in actuality was a Triumph disguised as a BMW.)
A cockpit view of the sT.
Photo © Basem WasefNot long after splashing through puddles and abusing the rear tire, I parked my Ural and enjoyed the full Russian experience by chowing on delicious pelmeni dumplings and borscht soup at downtown Seattle's Café Yarmarka. 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; 900 rpm never sounded so good. A return throttle wire setup might have eliminated the malfunction.
