May News

The factory in Irbit is reopening this month and will resume production with initial shipments to Europe and Japan, then US and Australia, however ramping up will take time from initial opening so if you’re considering purchasing, the sooner you let your dealer know what you are looking for, the more precise production can be planned.

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More Tech Tips

We continue our technical video tutorials provided to us by David at Ural HQ. Subscribe to their YouTube Channel!

No 3 - Battery Basics (by popular demand)

No 4 - Air Filter Replacement.

How to change the air filter on EFI URAL motorcycles including discussion on carburetted models prior to 2014.

No 5 - Ural Centre Stand

FIND LEVERAGE. THINK CREATIVELY. THERE’S ALWAYS A SHOVEL.

What happens when you need to use the URAL centre stand but have a flat tyre? Follow along as we use various found objects as well as some stock Ural accessories

90 Days Warranty Extension

All Ural motorcycles currently under warranty will automatically have three months (90 days) factory warranty extension. All new motorcycle sales registered during the period between March 25 and June 30, 2020 will also have automatic 90-day warranty extension on top of standard 2 year manufacturer warranty.

Stay Healthy! Stay Safe!

Latest Updates and Tech Tips

Dear Friends

We hope you, your family and close ones are staying healthy and weathering these challenging times with patience and stamina. We here at Ural are well, careful and cautious while continuing to supply parts, motorcycles sales and enquiries as well as technical support. 

Our dealer network across the country are also continuing to operate with all care taken and best practices in place to keep their environment, employees, and customers safe, so please make contact with them for more information, phone ahead to check if there are any special arrangements in place to visit:
https://www.imz-ural.com.au/dealer-locator

We’ll be continuing to communicate with you via our Newsletters, regular Blog updates, along with some Tech Tips.

Thanks for keeping up with us

Stay safe and stay well! 

Clare and Mat at Ural Australia HQ

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Tech Tips

No 1 - Basic (yet essential) tips on how to check fluid levels on your Ural. This video tutorial was put together by David at Ural HQ in response to questions that pop up here and there. Watch and learn.

No 2 - Lubrication Basics. New Tech Tips video tutorial from David at Ural HQ. Educate yourself.

NEW 2020 Models in stock now!

Whether it’s commuting to work,  loading up with the essential grocery shopping, planning for weekend getaways or exploring this great land of ours (once current restrictions are lifted), Ural sidecars are becoming increasingly popular as an adventure lifestyle motorcycle, feeling right at home on the dirt and just as comfortable on the tarmac.

If it’s Adventure you’re looking for, this could be you! 

The all-new 2020 Ural Adventure is available now!

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2020 RANGER SAHARA SE

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2020 LIMITED EDITION FRWL “Arina”

90 Days Warranty Extension

Keep in mind, effective from 1st April, all Ural motorcycles currently under warranty will automatically have three months (90 days) factory warranty extension. All new motorcycle sales registered during the period between now and June 30, 2020 will also have automatic 90-day warranty extension on top of standard 2 year manufacturer warranty.

Latest Update from Ural Australia

Dear Friends,

We'd like to extend our wishes to all of you and your loved ones to be healthy and remain strong during these trying times.  Ural Australia, the staff at Ural HQ in the US, the factory in Irbit, and all other distributors world-wide are healthy and well!  A lot of effort has been put in place to keep employees and their environment as safe as possible and continue to do so. We have also put processes in place to continue business activities that keep the support for our dealers and customers uninterrupted.

Our office and showroom here in Uralla currently remains open and we're still operating for enquiries and sales including parts and accessories to our dealers and Ural owners.

Our dealers are adjusting to the new reality on a daily and hourly basis.  They're currently remaining open and have the best practices in place to keep their environment, employees, and customers safe, so please contact them for more information, phone ahead to check if there are any special arrangements are in place to visit or to check out one of the new models:
https://www.imz-ural.com.au/dealer-locator

Production Update

Ural Motorcycles are experiencing interruptions with suppliers of components from Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain.  The situation is being monitored very closely and we are adjusting our planning accordingly.  In anticipation of further supply interruption and a slowing retail demand, it has been decided to halt production at the factory in Irbit, Russia as of March 30th until further notice. Factory workers have been sent on paid leave. 

And the Good News Is!

The good news is our first shipment of 2020 bikes has just arrived in the country and we currently have good stocks of the different models and colours!  Check out our website for details on the 2020 models:
https://www.imz-ural.com.au/

We'll be assembling a couple of these for display so stay tuned on our social media pages Facebook and Instagram for regular updates - @uralaustralia

90 Days Warranty Extension

We're pleased to announce effective immediately, all Ural motorcycles currently under warranty will automatically have three months (90 days) factory warranty extension. All new motorcycle sales registered during the period between now and June 30, 2020 will also have automatic 90-day warranty extension on top of standard 2 year manufacturer warranty.

Last but not least...

We have plans for some new virtual experiences through Skype, Facetime, etc.  We are still working on this and hope to soon be offering ways to learn about the new Urals using video streaming tools. Stay tuned for that!

Please keep up with the latest updates via our social media channels – find us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d also love to see some good vibes photos and/or videos of how Ural is keeping your spirits up, please share this on social @uralaustralia and/or email us a line at info@imz-ural.com.au.

Stay safe and stay well! 
 
Clare and Mat at Ural Australia HQ

2019 Ural Adventure Ride

For 2019 word had got around that the Urals from Uralla had found a way to scale the mountain at Narrabri to the west. Riders and their Urals had gathered from afar to see what the fuss was all about. There was Chris from Ippy with his offset Ural “motorhome” and Lee from Mt Eliza with his flash new Ural filly. Norm of Ural fame had come up from Adelaide and Ken the Yankee Uralist had brought his Yellow Terror. Bob and Sue came in from Queensland with a special delivery of biscuits to help raise morale and Maggie May breezed in with less than a minute to spare.

Jon read them the riot act about dust and corner marking and Clare wanted a head count to order RSL dinners to feed the survivors at the end of a dusty trip.

At 9am sharp, the motors fired and a line of Urals rode away with the warm sun on their backs and Kingstown the first stop. The scenery was colourless after many months of drought, but the mood was buoyant and all Urals were running well. There were no mechanical dramas down the back so Mat the Ural mechanic had an easy run and no wrong turn Charlies, a feat which continued all weekend.

There was some attractive landscape through the volcanic hills before Woods Reef and the closed asbestos mine there. Great sidecar riding, complete with some kangaroo dodging, but missed the green grass that really sets it off in better seasons. Once in Barraba, the friendly locals welcomed our lunchtime visit and admired our hardware while we sought refreshment.

There was a nice run west on sealed road after lunch as we headed to the Horton Valley, a nice bit of twisty as we descended into the valley and then we were back on gravel road. Again the wind cleared our dust and several road junctions were negotiated without losing anyone thanks to volunteer corner markers. Roads generally were free of potholes as there has been so little rainfall over many months and riders could afford a quick admire of the scenery as we rolled along.

A short stop was taken to assemble all the Urals and their crews for a group photo. Side by side, twenty nine Urals make a longish line for a panoramic picture. Another ridge of the Warrumbungles was crossed at Sawn Rocks area and then we rolled down the plains to Narrabri. Day one, no punctures, no breakdowns and the Centre of Town B & B had plenty of rooms ready for us.

A dinner together gave us the opportunity for Chris to relate his unfortunate collision with a roo last year while riding his Ural. His pictures and description were a little confronting but it’s a reality we all accept and donations to the Westpac chopper were raised as he stood before us on his new leg and is back riding a Ural again.

Next morning we headed for the hills as the muster started in earnest. It was 50 kms to the ridge top at 1500 metres and as we scanned the distant horizon, decisions were made. Even with some hard riding to do, less than half the field wheeled their mounts and rode back to cover the southern flank, the easy route.

The remaining Urals and their riders assembled on the summit of the Barraba Track and after a last few words from the fearless leader, plunged over the top on that fearful descent. With rocks and gravel flying they skidded down, sliding among the trees and rocks with little hint of fear. 

It was a team effort and the riders helped each other conquer the stages with yelled encouragement, physical effort and some sidecar fender riding to offset the adverse camber. There was not a coward among them and elderly riders, female and all made it to the bottom unscathed. The fearless leader rode the last bit on his back after his feet raced ahead on the rolling flint!

Another short ridge had to be traversed and this required some spirited uphill riding and a little pushing before the open plains lay ahead. Some spirited climbs were made and much noted about technique, tyre pressures and the extra torque the new Urals have.

Once off the steep stuff, we had a fast and very smooth road right into Barraba. We grabbed a quick lunch and headed for Manilla where the rest of the riders had already arrived from the easier route. Once rejoined with the other happy travellers, we took a fresh route back to Uralla. This included the Bungendore Spur, along an interesting track that climbs the side of a gorge with no safety fence and some quite narrow road, a switchback that does not reveal itself until you have reached a dead end in the road and turned around to look back! Good fun, and once again the riders enjoyed the experiences encountered.

All and sundry made it comfortably and we were back in Uralla before nightfall. One punctured rear tyre was the only casualty during the ride.

On the Sunday, a relaxing morning on Taylor’s farm at Kentucky included a blind folded ride along with a challenge to ride reverse through an obstacle course.  This made time to tell stories, laugh a little and eat together before the group dispersed. 

Once again, we saw new riders learning much about their bikes and riding them, new friendships established and the group effort and camaraderie of a Ural Adventure challenge.

Words: adapted from Jon Taylor

Photos: Tom Foster - sidecar monkey for the weekend, Graeme Hardwick - fellow Ural owner and regular Ural adventure rider

A Review of 2018

In this post, we’ll take a look back at a fun and busy year, highlighting some of the stories, news, reviews and photos from 2018. Thanks to all of our customers and attendees we met during the shows and adventures throughout the year!

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Australian Family Adventure

One of the most memorable adventures we watched in 2018 featured this Perth Australia family of three. They bought a Ural and rode across Australia from East to West. The Velge family (Gwenael, Cielito, and their son Anatole) prepared their Ural cT then set out to log miles and memories. (Photos provided by the Velge family). Click here to read the full article.

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Fun Day of Ural Test Rides

We attended Adventure Rider Magazine’s Congregation 2018 held at Green Valley Farm, Tingha, where over 300 keen adventure riders gathered for their annual event. Jon Taylor from Ural of Oz, gave a brief theory lesson on the ins and outs of sidecar riding, followed by a quick run through of their course before letting them take control themselves. Click here to read the full article.

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More Ural Test Rides!

In late September, we held our second Test Ride Day in Uralla with a number of keen participants. Riders of all ages, some who traveled many miles, attended the event which began with a BBQ breakfast, followed by a theory presentation on sidecar riding by Jon Taylor, experienced sidecar rider and trainer, of uralofoz.com.au. Click here to read the full article.

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2018 Ural Adventure Ride

The 2018 Ural Adventure Ride was held on the 13-14th October. Every year since 2009 the annual ride has been organised to gather interested Ural owners together and celebrate the fun of back roads touring on a Ural outfit. It has proved to be a great learning experience for new owners and an enjoyable challenge for many repeat participants.  Click here to read the full article.

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Belanglo Forest Adventure

A beautiful set of photos and a wonderfully produced film were created last year! Ural sidecars and their pilots explored dirt trails, forests, and the water’s edge, all captured by this collaborative team: Hamilton Media, Frame Collective and Gasoline Motor Co. with motorcycles provided by Ural Australia. Click here to read the full article.

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In the News and Great Reviews

Our sidecars have graced the pages of magazines and blogs and even showed up in some video reviews. If you missed them, here are a few to check out below.

The guys at BikeSales.com.au have put together a thorough video review of our Ural Ranger model. Click on the image above to see the full video!

“The Ural Ranger sidecar delivers a quirky and entertaining experience - for both rider and passenger.”

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Here are a couple more articles about the Ural Ranger and about the whole Ural experience in general. See what keeps people smiling and talking about our sidecars!

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Thank you!

Thanks, again, for following along and joining the adventure. We look forward to the many stories we’ll gather in 2019. Hope to see you out there!

Video Review: Ural Ranger

The guys at BikeSales.com.au have put together a thorough video review of our Ural Ranger model.
Click on the image above to see the full video!

“The Ural Ranger sidecar delivers a quirky and entertaining experience - for both rider and passenger.”

Mark Fattore and Rod Chapman didn’t hold back on testing the limits of our Ranger. As you can see in the video, the Ural carried these full-grown men with ease at a brisk pace over hills and through the dirt.

A big thanks to the BikeSales.com.au for sharing their thoughts and posting their video.
You can learn more about the Ural Ranger by clicking here.

Belanglo Forest Adventure

Sit back and enjoy this beautiful film of Ural sidecars and their pilots exploring dirt trails, forests, and the water’s edge. It was produced by this collaborative team: Hamilton Media, Frame Collective and Gasoline Motor Co. with motorcycles provided by Ural Australia.

Some of these photos were shot in the Belanglo State Forest of NSW. The Urals were right at home in the towering pines and dusty roads. Also fitting the part is the apparel featured throughout this adventure by Blackbird Motorcycle Wear.

“We got lost somewhere in the Belanglo Forest with nowhere to go…and it felt amazing.”

Blackbird Motorcycle Wear is an edgy evolving range of the retro, crafted for the urban rider’s love of the journey whatever the destination. They want riders to have a choice, both in terms of technical performance and individual style.

Gasoline Motor Co. is a renowned custom motorcycle workshop from Sydney, Australia. The Waterloo based headquarters contains a full service workshop and showroom which features new and second hand motorcycles as well as apparel and helmets.

Ural Australia is the importer and distributor of Ural sidecar motorcycles. They’re based in northern NSW with a showroom in Uralla as well as other dealer locations in the country.

You don’t need a destination, just pick a direction and go.

A Ural adventure can happen on a ride to nowhere. Sidecars provide non-stop fun whether you’re touring on the paved backroads or blasting forest trails. And, you can bring tons of supplies and gear with you!

Family Sidecar Adventure

Join Jamie Robinson and his family in this MotoGeo video as they embark on a road trip together. They test the Ural’s capabilities on and off road while camping, exploring and scrambling in the California hills.

MotoGeo creates inspirational motorcycle travel stories, spearheaded by ex-motorcycle racer, Jamie Robinson, and his wife Ely. He’s used to two-wheeled adventures, often solitary trips, so the Ural has really opened him up to the possibility of a motorcycle experience with both wife and son.

THIS VIDEO WAS SHOT IN AND AROUND THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS.

THREE UP ON THREE WHEELS

“The Ural is a fun and different way of getting around.”

As you can see in the vid, the sidecar motorcycle is quite utilitarian, a good errand-running machine. But, it’s always ready for a family sidecar adventure! If you want to learn more about our models, check out our cT page or visit the Ranger page for a bike similar to the one featured in this video.

In the pic above, Ely sits in the sidecar, Jamie is the pilot, and their son is sitting on the rear of the Ural’s bench seat. To follow more of the Robinson’s adventures, tune in to MotoGeo.com.

2018 Ural Adventure Ride

The 2018 Ural Adventure Ride was held on the 13-14th October. Every year since 2009 the annual ride has been organised to gather interested Ural owners together and celebrate the fun of back roads touring on a Ural outfit. It has proved to be a great learning experience for new owners and an enjoyable challenge for many repeat participants. 

Ural Australia is located in Uralla and the surrounding New England region has an endless supply of mountain roads to tempt many participants who came from as far as Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. They came for two days of sidecar travel on the lesser frequented, and often challenging mountain roads, following a different route every year.

There were more than twenty sidecars entered and a number of female drivers again showed their prowess in the sometimes challenging conditions. Two of the ladies were accompanied by their non-riding fellas in the chair.

There were two junior passengers in sidecars and a family of three on one of the outfits.

A wet, “dust free” weekend was forecast with only occasional “light” showers experienced. The forest roads were in excellent condition and a wide variety of terrain was covered. Highlights occurred on the wet clay and rock ascents along the Racecourse Trail, followed by the steep descent to the Forbes River crossing with its rocky entry, deep water and a loose gravel exit point. The crowd on the far bank grew as each outfit crossed over, as did the number of cameras.

Our lunch stop was at a quaint shelter with open fire and tables and chairs.  Out of these sidecars came refrigerated eskys full of food and warm drinks.  Delicious home baked cookies were handed round, wet weather gear was taken off.  After an hour, wet weather gear was dragged back on, we departed and it stopped raining! 

The ride back to the Oxley was just as good as the morning’s ride, up and down hills through beautiful rain forests and over creeks. 

All this on lovely wet slippery roads, the kind of roads that strike fear into the hearts of many adventure riders who wish they were anywhere but there!  The last 5 kilometres flashed past in a feast of fast, sweeping, cambered roads and we joined the Oxley again for a sedate ride into Port Macquarie.

Saturday evening found us in comfortable waterside cabins at Port Macquarie, eating pizza and reliving the day’s adventures. 

Following a hearty breakfast at the Rivermark Café, Day Two of our Adventure Ride began with a ferry ride across the river.

Soon we were on some excellent roads, racing through beautiful countryside following the Macleay River.

Lunch was enjoyed at George’s Junction where we gathered for a group photo shortly before hitting the road on our slippery ride up the mountain.

Recent road grading and rain had prepared a smooth road surface, but it soon became increasingly slippery toward the top of the climb out of the river valley.

The Ural outfits were able to maintain traction on the slippery climb. A vehicle ahead of us failed to summit the slippery climb and had to turn around and head back down, while the Urals all motored steadily on and over the top to the amazement and delight of some less experienced Ural owners. For the old hands, we were never in doubt about getting there!!

One flat tyre and a muffler that had come loose were the only minor mechanical holdups all weekend and no one failed to ride their outfit through the many and varied challenges along the way.

Once again, the Ural Adventure Ride had given the participants a shared experience to talk about well into the future as well as a demonstration of the fun to be had piloting a Ural along some challenging roads.  Bring on 2019!

Words adapted from Jon Taylor and Greg Jansen.

More on the ride can be read at Rocky Creek Designs where Greg Jansen gives his account of the adventure filled weekend!

Greg with wife Janice

More Ural Test Rides!

29th September saw Ural Australia hold our second Test Ride Day in Uralla with a number of keen participants.

Riders of all ages, some who traveled many miles, attended the event which began with a BBQ breakfast, followed by a theory presentation on sidecar riding by Jon Taylor, experienced sidecar rider and trainer, of uralofoz.com.au

It was a great opportunity for inexperienced sidecar riders who possibly had never ridden a sidecar outfit to learn some basic skills in a safe environment.

Included in the day were:

• Explanation of the handling dynamics to understand its behaviour relative to driving it

• Steering practice around marker cones to familiarise with direct steering as opposed to indirect steering used on all two wheeled bikes

• Braking (there is more to it than you think)

Our resident photographer and Ural owner, Chris, gave many onlookers the opportunity to experience sidecar riding as a passenger.

Even the kids were keen to have a go!

Thumbs up all round!

Fun Day of Ural Test Rides

Photo: AdventureRiderMagazine

Last Saturday we attended Adventure Rider Magazine’s Congregation 2018 held at Green Valley Farm, Tingha, where over 300 keen adventure riders gathered for their annual event.

Photo: AdventureRiderMagazine

We offered test rides on our Ural Sidecars to those interested and had plenty of keen riders lining up to have a go!

Jon Taylor, experienced Ural Sidecar rider and trainer from Ural of Oz, gave a brief theory lesson on the ins and outs of sidecar riding, followed by a quick run through of their course before letting them take control themselves.

Photos: Greg Jansen - rocky creek designs

Many riders, who have never ridden a sidecar outfit, took the opportunity to learn some basic skills in a safe environment.

Photo: AdventureRiderMagazine

It was a fantastic bunch of enthusiastic people having some fun in exceptionally great weather. 

Thanks to Adventure Rider Magazine for inviting us along to be part of a top weekend.

Thanks too to our Ural owners who attended and helped on the day which made for a great day out!

Photos: Greg Jansen - rocky creek designs

Australian Family Adventure

When this Perth Australia family of three decided to take a road trip, they bought a Ural and planned an epic journey across Australia from East to West. The Velge family (Gwenael, Cielito, and their son Anatole) prepared their Ural cT then set out to log miles and memories. (Photos provided by the Velge family)

"I liked the rig, its ability to go off-road, its look, its history. I like that it is a little off-beat."

–Gwenael, on why he chose a Ural cT sidecar

"Here was a machine that, instead of taking me away, would allow us to go on adventures as a family, together."

Cielito was a little reluctant about Gwenael having a motorcycle, but with time and some basic ground rules of the sidecar, she eventually saw the benefits. Gwenael had originally considered riding across the country with a friend, but "if Cielito was up for it, I’d much rather do it as a family. In fact, I think it is the adventurous trip that made Cielito see the whole sidecar thing in another light."

Their trip will cover over 6000kms including 2500kms of dirt roads.

From mountaintops to botanical gardens, they're making the most of this trip. Anatole, the son, often falls asleep, "the sidecar is that comfortable." Part of their route includes the parts of the outback, "where there are no more towns, just blue skies."

THE FAMILY STOPPED TO HELP THIS BMW RIDER WHO SUFFERED A FLAT TYRE FROM A BENT RIM

The Velges credit Jon Taylor from Ural of Oz as an invaluable advisor and mentor. "I had no idea about sidecars and had never done any long trip on à motorcycle...Jon helped us make decisions about the necessary accessories and put them on for us." 

They are carrying two 10L Jerry cans of fuel on the inner side of the sidecar and an extra 20L on the main rack for the most remote leg of the trip. They've also added the spare wheel and rack. Gwenael had Ural Australia add the fairing and hand guards to combat the cold temperatures.

The family relies on their duffel bags to carry the essentials and have mailed home several items to pare down the load. On the long stretches, Anatole draws pictures in the dust on the windshield or plays hand puppet games. For the rough roads, Gwenael tries to get the third wheel in the smoothest spot to make it comfortable for his passengers. 

"The third wheel is a bonus in the bulldust, we have been flying on it!" 

It is a genuine adventure!

"We meet many people on the road and our mode of transport certainly seems to inspire people to want to do the same. We would certainly encourage families to pack their stuff on a rig and get out there! It is amazing."

Follow along on their journey via their Instagram feed at @the.life.motonomadic. You can also read about other Ural riders and the adventures their sidecars take them on by clicking the link below:

See how other Ural owners explore worldwide.

Kids Love Sidecars

We hear it all the time: “My kids love it!” After taking a scroll through Instagram and seeing pics that people send us, it’s clear that youngsters approve of the sidecar life. Here are just a few posts that put a smile on our face.

Above: Instagrammer @timberwolftony and his daughter are logging many happy memories with their Ural. The beautiful photo with the dog was taken by photographer @rubensmodelli.

Li'l Anatole will be the coolest kid at daycare when his dad, Gwen, drops him off. This is the family, @the.life.motonomadic, who ventured across Australia in a recent blog post (click to see the article).

Some families know how to get the most out of their Ural.

Mihail Kichaykin is raising his kids with adventurous spirit. Getting outside, playing, exploring...a lifestyle that's a perfect match for sidecar riding. 

Urals rock!

5-year old Kristian approves and, being quite the skateboarder, he knows a thing or too about rolling in style.

"Getting lost is our favorite place to be."

One of our favorite Ural families, the Coldicotts, make their Ural a big part of enjoying life. Dustin (@dustincoldicott) chauffeurs his kids around on gravel roads and out into nature; teaching them the importance of stopping to smell the roses.

"Can we take the Ural?"

Ural motorcycles are a part of everyday life for the Wilkinson kids seen here and at the apple orchard above. The Wilkinson bros have raised their kids around these vehicles making the question, "can we take the Ural?" a very frequent request in both households!

Are you someone who wants to enter the realm of sidecar life with your family? Feel free to ask us any questions or peruse our website to learn more about the many accessories and equipment that would match your family's sense of adventure. 

Remember to be safe, wear a helmet and enjoy the ride! Watch our video on best practices when riding with passengers. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our “How to Ride a Sidecar Motorcycle” video here