oVc’s Webmaster – Ural Neophyte No More!
Our webmaster talks about his experience piloting a Ural on our
recent trip to Port Dover for Friday the 13th
I’ve been riding motorcycles in one form or another for more than forty years. I had my first dirt bike – a lovely red Kawasaki KE-100 – when I was 12, and got my full motorcycle license the day after I turned 16 way back in 1979.
Getting your motorcycle license back then, at least in rural Nova Scotia, was a much different affair than it is today. I simply had to score at least 16 out of 20 on the written portion of the exam, and upon successfully answering the questions, could proceed immediately to the driving test.
Under the watchful eye of my good friend’s father who worked at the MTO (did I mention I grew up in a very small town?), I had to successfully navigate through a figure eight in the parking lot. Then, with the “examiner” watching from the shade of a large elm tree, I had to ride down the street for about half a kilometer and turn around at the veterinarian’s office. I managed to complete this challenge without crashing and was immediately pronounced sufficiently competent to operate a motorcycle of any displacement.
During my riding career, I’ve had the opportunity to ride a long list of different machines but despite my association with oVc for the past ten years, I’ve had only limited seat time on a Ural, and never for more than just a short jaunt on the street. I can now say that I am no longer a Ural neophyte.
My opportunity to get in a serious ride on a Ural came earlier this month when Ken invited me to pilot one of his demo units down to the big Friday the 13th event in Port Dover last month. I have to admit I felt a little trepidation as managing a rig through the crowds at Dover could be daunting for even an experienced sidecar pilot, but for someone whose total experience amounted to less than half an hour of sidecar riding time, it was downright intimidating!
Nevertheless, I eagerly accepted the offer and it was only after I had signed on did Ken tell me to meet at the oVc shop at 6:00 am on the day of the ride. That was probably a smart move on his part, but I was too far committed to the venture at this point to back out.
The big day finally arrived and with time booked off from work, I was looking forward to the Friday the 13th extravaganza. Several other riders including oVc team members and customers were also on hand to participate in the ride and by the time we set off, we had quite a collection of riders in the group. We had a very scenic route planned that would take us about two hours to complete.
Now, for those who have not spent time behind the handlebars of a sidecar, my concerns with piloting a Ural, especially given my riding experience, may seem a bit overblown. My response to this would be that my years of riding experience is actually a detriment as the skills developed riding two-wheeled machines do not translate directly to the sidecar world.
A Sidecar Requires a Different Skill Set
As with any motorcycle, complacency when piloting a sidecar is a recipe for disaster. You need to be thinking far down the road in order to prepare for a sharp turn or other obstacle.
You also need to set aside most of what you may have learned riding a two-wheeler.
For starters, there's no such thing as counter-steering on a sidecar. You have to physically turn the handlebars in the direction you wish to turn and the technique is different depending on which way you are turning.
When turning left, the rider's weight and the weight of the rig itself are forced on to the sidecar wheel. The extra traction that comes with this weight transfer, actually slings the rig around the corner which, as you can imagine, makes for a great deal of fun.
Right-hand turns, on the other hand, require a whole different approach. When turning right, the weight transfers to the left side of the rig and if you over-do it, you can actually lift the sidecar wheel in the air. For new sidecar pilots, this unexpected action can lead to all kinds of bad things and this is why Ken strongly urges new riders to carry extra weight in the sidecar to help avoid lifting the sidecar wheel.
You also need to keep in mind at all times that you have a sidecar hanging off your starboard side. Attempting a tight squeeze that you my be able to slip through on your two-wheeler will end in a nasty surprise if you try the same thing on a sidecar.
Speaking of surprises, I was greatly impressed with the engine. Urals are not renowned for their blazing speed, but I have to say that I found the Ural to be quite peppy. Acceleration was impressive and I was able to easily launch the machine from a stop and keep up with traffic and even when merging, I had no concerns. We cruised along easily at 90 kmh-plus on the secondary roads despite having well over 450 pounds of passengers and gear on board.
The rig was also very capable when it came to stopping and the three disc brakes did an admirable job of hauling the big rig down in short order. Ken and his team had this demo unit set up beautifully and despite some aggressive braking on my part, the rig remained straight and true.
And to top it off, the Ural was absolutely gorgeous. I loved the Terra Cotta colour and the rig got a lot of attention when we were parked along Port Dover's main street.
If you’ve been considering a new Ural, oVc has several new models in the showroom. oVc can also add a sidecar to most rides so there are plenty of options if you're thinking of joining the side car club. Come in and talk to Ken and he can provide you with excellent advice. Ken knows about all there is to know about sidecars and is one of Canada’s longest-serving Ural dealers.