November 2009 Newsletter

UK EXCLUSIVE!!

New Ural Solo Under Development

Prototype Named Ural ST 

The wraps are off! A new solo—the Ural ST— is under development and one prototype at least is being tested in the USA. The name "ST" stands for Solo T, with the Ural T being the company's new no-frills, one-wheel drive sidecar. Like that bike, the ST makes use of traditional Ural values -- flat-twin engine with roller bearings, low center-of-gravity, shaft drive and solid frame – but reworks the rest to better suit the specific needs of a two-wheeler.

Gone are the leading-link front forks, which are too rigid and steep, replaced with 41mm Marzocchi telescopics with a hefty brace over the chopped front fender. New triple clamps rake the front out to 26° with a trail of 70mm, allowing a lower stance. The front brake disc, four-pot Brembo calipers and braided steel line are taken directly off the T, which weighs in at 460lbs. Without the sidecar making things lively, there's no need for a steering damper on the ST. 

At the rear, there's new, softer Sachs shocks now mounted at an angle as opposed to the near-vertical items on the sidecars. The 3.89 final drive and rear disc come straight off the now defunct Ural Wolf cruiser. Visual upgrades come in the form of a chopped rear fender and a deleted grab handle, which is no longer required to get the lighter bike on its center stand.

The EPA-compliant 750cc horizontal-twin delivers 40bhp at 5,600rpm, 38lb/ft of torque at 4,600rpm and is now located centrally in the frame (sidecars mount their engines a little to the right for better weight distribution). Without the weight of the sidecar to haul around, the electronic ignition-equipped ST is able to run leaner jetting resulting in improved fuel economy. 

The engine is now protected by crash guards on both sides. The gearbox is the same four-speed unit with Herzog gears that's found in the T, but here drops the now unnecessary reverse gear. Ural estimates that the ST should be capable of around 100mph and, thanks to a relatively short wheelbase of 1470mm and an extremely low center-of-gravity is described as "nimble" and quick to turn.

The ST is the first bike from Ural designed specifically to work well as a two-wheeler. At 460lbs (dry) the Ural ST is a little heavier than the competition from Triumph (440lbs) and Moto Guzzi (401lbs). At 40bhp it's also less powerful than the 67bhp Bonneville or the 48bhp V7 Classic. It does, however, have one important thing going for it that those bikes do not. Ural has been producing fundamentally the same bike, a reverse engineered BMW R71, since 1941 and continues to produce motorcycles by hand at its second factory (dating from a positively recent 1942) in Irbit, Russia. (Text and picture by very kind permission of the Hell-for-Leather magazine. Original article plus developing forum on www.hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/09/ural)

Alan Mottram Award

The Alan Mottram award has been updated this year to this design. Its a very attractive piece to place an a shelve and enhance any award cabinet. If you know anybody that you think deserves this award for services to the club above and beyond the call of duty, start placing the names now for next year's award.

Well I claim that front page is a scoop anyway. I certainly haven’t read about the new solo anywhere else. But if you Google Ural ST there is a fair bit on the net. Remember—you heard it first on Radio Horizontal. Now. If all goes according to plan (and postal strike permitting) this issue of Horizontal News should plop onto your doormat in the third week of November. Then the bumper Christmas edition should arrive in the second week of December. The idea is that eventually each issue will arrive in the first week of the month.

Why is he telling us this, I can hear you whispering to one another. It’s just to let you know about copy dates. It takes about two weeks from the moment an issue leaves the news desk here at Horizontal HQ until it arrives via the printers in your expectant fingers. So those paying attention will realise that the copy date for any given issue will be around the middle of the previous month. Just thought you might like to know. In this issue: a rally report from the indefatigable Dave R. in a very sunny Dentdale; no less than two letters—on insurance rates and club history; a big hello to some recent new members; Trailer of the Month—first of an occasional series. And next month—our marriage guidance issue.

Cheers, Peter.

Letters

Dear Peter ,

During a recent stay in hospital, I was lent some old Motorcycle Sport magazines. in the April 1974 volume was the following letter

" I would be grateful if you would publish the fact that I am forming a Ural Owners Club (GB) It is anticipated that the club would be able to offer a discount on spares, availability of special equipment, technical advice service, a regular news letter and contact with continental Ural owners.

M.J. McNair

139 Bradshaw Way

Irchester

Wellingborough

Northants. "

I wonder if this was the forerunner of the Cossack Owners Club?

Regards,

George Broadhead

(Or indeed the COC itself George. The club did in fact start in 1973. Does anyone out there know what happened next? Ed. )

Dear Editor

In the September issue of Horizontal News mention was made of cheap bike insurance, £105 from Footman James for a 1976 Ural outfit. My insurance for my 1972 Ural / Dnepr outfit for 2008/9 was £72.45 on a limited mileage of 1500 for that period. 

Having finished the rebuild of my 1958 M72 it was time to insure it. This coincided with the renewal of the Ural so I asked for a quote.

"Was I happy with 1500 miles total on the two bikes?"

"Yes. no problem"

"Are you still in the Cossack Owners Club?"

"Yes"

"Then we will include the second bike with your existing one for the same premium, £72.45"

I would think that could not be beaten anywhere! Who is the insurer? Peter D James Ltd. 0845 0999500. As it says on the letter head "Insurance- the way it should be"

Peter James is the James from Footman James who set up his own company about 2 / 3 years ago.

Regards, Phil Hardcastle

(Can any members beat these rates? I think we should be told! Ed)

The Second European Ural Meeting

You may know that for the last two years Ural Motorcycles GMBH, the Austrian-based Ural West Europe importer has held a major Treffen in Eastern Austria. Details of the third meet for 2010 will be featured in Horizontal News in spring but for the moment you can see what you missed in 2009 in a 90 minute DVD which will be available from the beginning of December from office@ural.at for a mere 15 Euros — or for the sterling equivalent from your local dealer. For a taster go to: www,ural.cc/downloads/movies/trailer-ural.wmv. Ed.

Doing Dent

From our man with the Trangia: Dave Ramsden

Myself and Dave Harwood, not himself a Russian bike owner, though kind enough to ride behind me on his big Yamaha all the way, took the scenic route to Dent on a fine Friday in mid October. We rode through Bronte country with Kate Bush ringing in our ears and visions of spooky nocturnal tappings at windows as the wind whistled off’t wild moors.

Only crossing the main road at Blacko in Lancashire we headed via Slaidburn and a tea and toasted teacake stop through the Trough of Bowland on the mostly single track road, watching for wayward sheep and selfish 4x4 drivers. After refuelling at Ingleton it was more single track along the gated road to Dent and Conder Farm.

As last year the COC rally coincided with that of the Thumper Club, somewhat swelling the attendance and making flat pitches hard to find, but the single riders also had with them a fine marquee with tables and chairs in case of precipitation, though it did not arrive till Sunday morning, and then only in the form of that fine stuff that wets you. Saturday was fine and sunny also and two out of three ain’t bad as Meatloaf, real name Marvin Lee Aday, correctly asserts. 

It turned chilly as the sun set and regrouping in the Sun became necessary. Much merriment was made and we were educated by the wise words of old hands on various subjects. The predicted frost did not arrive and the general consensus seemed to be that a comfortable repose had been enjoyed.

Saturday came. Our new editor Peter, being of a perambulatory bent, had requested that I bring with me the Ordnance Survey map of the area and the three of us set off for a three hour walk o’er hill and dale speculating about things as we went. Exercise taken and with the sun setting it was again time for liquid refreshment. Some stood at the bar, some took to the back room for sustenance, others huddled in deep conversation like disciples round an old sage.

All too soon it was over, though a last pint was obtained across the road, where last orders appear to be half an hour later. But no – welcomed by the Thumper Club some of us engaged in high-brow banter until the early hours in their hospitality tent.

Morning came with drizzle and a stunning rainbow in the valley. Riders departed to the four corners with happy memories in the full knowledge that in no time at all they will have similar and many fine weekends. Significant vehicles tended this time to be drawn rather than drawing. Howard Jolly has made a fine trailer from two sidecar chassis, one left-handed and one right-handed. Trevor Colledge was pulling one not quite so appealing to the eye made from a supermarket trolley. Thanks are due to Trevor for his efforts and to Mickat Conder Farm for being a most amiable and welcoming

host.

Howard’s is of course a Mark 2. See right for the better known Crimean War Mark 1 version.

A Very BIG Hello to: 

Welcome to all of these new members who have joined over the past few months. It’s great to have you on board. If you feel the urge to write to Horizontal News please don’t resist; what about 100 words on: ‘Why I ride a Ural/Dnepr/Izh/Voskhod, eh?

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