“Ural” is a brand of Russian motorbikes, which has recently become a sort of cult in the USA for some reason. Basically, this is probably the only consumer automotive technology being imported into the States, and they say that even Brad Pitt has one. Why are they so popular its hard to say, but what is obvious is that this make and model has not been changed since the 50s or 60s, at least visually, and maybe that’s what attracts the customers.
In Russia, they cost a fraction of how much they are being marketed for in USA, and this is why: a lot of top notch Western components are being used in those “Soviet” machines: Marzochi, Sanchs, Denso, Ducati, Yuasa, Brembo, etc – all those brands are used to assemble the bikes that now only visually remind us of their Soviet fathers. And here is someone has visited the URAL factory in the town of Irbit, which is in Ural mountains. Here we have it:
“What Soviet technology is left in them – it is just those frames made of metal tubes, then the cast iron engine parts, and parts of the sidecar”. Yes, those bikes have sidecars.
They say those URAL bikes have hit a few “only one in the world” marks. Here are a few:
1. It’s the only “all-season” bike in the world that is not afraid of extreme hot or cold temperatures.
2. The only serially produced bike in the world with a sidecar.
3. The only “all wheel drive” bike. Yes it has got three wheels, one on the sidecar and if you get stuck somewhere you can turn on the drive to that wheel too – this way it can go only straight but it can help get it out of the mud.
The workers from the factory have told the blogger that they regularly go camping high in the mountains on dirt roads and it behaves nicely, also on a highway it can go 110 km/h.
The machine tools in the factory are mainly Soviet but some are modern, like a laser cutter.
One man can work with a few machines at once.
In the painting workshop, there are mainly women working. They say they don’t rush as their plan is producing around five bikes a day. In Soviet times they had to produce 10,000 bikes a year.
They say that in Russia they can buy URAL bikes only in two or three dealerships, however in USA there are one or two dealerships in almost every state!
The bikes pass safety tests each year to comply with EU and US road standards.
There are only two models but over sixty choices of paint work.
A lot of things are being assembled manually.
Here is a clutch being assembled.
And this is going to become a motor.
The bike model is over forty years old and they say basically it is a 1940’s BMW bike but deeply reengineered. 
Here is the bike already starting to form its future look.
Here are the Brembo brakes.
Even on those bikes that go to USA, the URAL logo is in Russian.
Every bike is being tested before shipped.
They say people buy them not just because of some trend but also because it really has nice off road characteristics and can carry over 150 kg (330lbs) of payload. 
This is the assembled bikes ready to be shipped overseas.
The final cost of one bike might be over $16,000 in US.
Those bikes are underestimated at my opinion, they are popular even here where i live, in a modern western country long way from russia. (As well as American and Japanese bikes, American bikes are a bit more popular here but much more expensive sinse everyone wants one. But for people like me who only want a good functional bike that one can trust in every season the Ural is clearly as good as any western made standard bike at my opinion and spare parts are less expensive and they are easy to maintain. It´s just that the factory sign says “Ural” instead of “HD”… come on guys, in´t it? 😀 😀
Nice! How much does one cost for you in Russia?
From 450000-520000 Rubles ~8000-10000 USD
New Ural Patrol 2015 in Moscow for 485.000 roubles = $9320.
It’s because of a film, ” Eastern Promises ” that featured one of these motorcycles.
“deeply reeingineered” – let me translate – STOLLEN like most of soviet “technology”. Copy and paste industry.
Keep dreaming. Statements like “we might go back to the moon but can only do so in 2020”, tell the whole story. All of a sudden the “technology” from 1969 was forgotten!
what is cost for one in russia?
Just because one moron in Hollywood has one doesnt mean they are a trend. I have never seen one here.
And doing a quick google, there are actually very few dealers in the states, and even less that deal with only the ural brand. Most are paired with jap and european bike makers.
I would buy one, they are nice.
How much do they cost in Russia?
Great posting
Ural is copy of BMW R71 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMZ-Ural
The modern-era Ural is not a copy of a BMW R71. Just for starters, the BMW R71 had a flathead, side-valve engine. The Urals have overhead valves operated by pushrods and rocker arms.
I owned a Ural Solo sT (before it was totaled when a car turned in front of me).
Great !
Source:
http://kak-eto-sdelano.livejournal.com/208847.html
Look impressive.
(meant) Those look impressive.
I have a 2013 ural Patrol 2 wheel drive. The most fun bike I have owned..i’ve had Harleys, Hondas, Suzuki’s. Going in the snow/offroad is a blast. If you can get one, I say do it, not because it’s a trend, but its a great/fun bike to own and wrench on.
I loved these bikes! Had two of them over a 20 year period. Tough, good handling and easy to maintain. Had excellent dealings with the company as well! Much better customer support than I ever got from Moto Guzzi. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another.