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Ural motorcycles: everlasting classics

The Irbit Motorcycle Plant, the producer of Ural motorbikes, universally regarded as legendary in the both the Soviet and Post-Soviet worlds, has announced its latest developments for 2008.

A whole catalogue of refinements and innovations has been made to the latest line of the Ural. Now Ural bikes have a new valve mechanism with European manufactured valves (7mm stem), valve seals and guides, as well as reinforced valve saddles and stronger springs.

According to the company, Ural’s factory testing exhibited the great potential of this new valve mechanism. It is now working more smoothly at higher engine rotation speed and reinforced valve springs keep the valve from idling. The precision of the guides and valves along with the oil caps make it possible to reduce oil consumption and engine wear.

Additionally, from 2008 Ural bikes are to be equipped with new Italian-manufactured clutch springs, which are much stronger than before, even when tested by height and load. They make the clutch more reliable and durable. And one other thing: it can now be used off-road and avoid the wheels from slipping.

Ural bikes are now fitted with a more comfortable and solid seat, some of them even have a new Italian tool bag, which is of better design and higher quality.

The Irbit Motorcycle Plant is located in the city of Irbit in the Sverdlovsk region of Russia. It was registered as a joint-stock company in May 2000. Its authorized capital is equal to RUR 280m (about USD11.9m). The plant itself has been in operation since 1941 the year when it was re-located from Moscow to Irbit amid the chaos of WWII. In 1950, it produced its 30,000th bike. In 1953, the plant began exporting its products, which were manufactured mostly for emerging markets and Eastern Europe, and with military and police purposes in mind. In 1967, Irbit celebrated the production of its 500,000th bike, and by 1975 it produced its 1 millionth. By October 1993, the plant had produced over 3 million bikes.

At present, the plant’s production line includes six civilian models and one adapted for traffic police. Regarding the civilian motorbikes, four of them (Tourist, Turist 2WD, Gear-Up and Retro) are sidecar motorcycles, and another two (Solo and Wolf) are regular solo cruisers.

The Tourist is a classical family recreation sidecar motorcycle. It can be used both on- and off-road. Its dimensions are 2580x1700x1100mm. Road clearance – 125mm. Dry weight – 335kg. Max load – 620kg. Tank capacity – 19 liters. Max speed – 120 km/h. Highway fuel consumption – 4-5 liters per 100 km and city fuel consumption 6-7 liters per 100 km. Engine displacement – 750cc, rated HP – 45, four-stroke, flat twin cylinder. Gearbox - 4 forward, 1 reverse, shaft drive. Wheels - 19" chrome steel spokes and cast aluminum hubs. Front brakes – disc and rear brakes – drum. Split seats with double adjustment. Color - Red, Black or Maroon. Tourist’s retail price in Moscow is RUR 266,000 (about USD11,400).

The Tourist 2WD is a two-wheel drive modification of the above mentioned Tourist. Its retail price in Moscow is RUR 274,000 (about USD11,700). It also comes in the Dull Black color.

The Gear-Up is different to the previous two bikes due to its additional equipment and camo paint schemes, which can either be standard green (camo forest) or orange and yellow (camo desert). Its retail price is RUR 280,000 (about USD12,000).

The Retro has the look of the 1950s. Its dimensions are 2224x1630x1020mm. Road clearance – 140mm. Dry weight – 343kg. Max load – 610kg. Tank capacity – 22 liters. Max speed – 120 km/h. Highway fuel consumption – 4-5 liters per 100 km and city fuel consumption 6-7 liters per 100 km. Engine displacement – 750cc, rated HP – 45, four-stroke, flat twin cylinder. Gearbox - 4 forward, 1 reverse, shaft drive. Wheels - 110/90 R18. Front brakes – disc and rear brakes – drum. Split seats with double adjustment. Color - Black with white pinstripe. Retro’s retail price in Moscow is RUR 277,000 (about USD11,800).

The Solo is a relatively powerful and heavy bike. Its dimensions are 2300x850x1100mm. Road clearance – 125mm. Dry weight – 234kg. Max load – 384kg. Its engine and transmission are the same as other bikes. Wheels – R18. Brembo disc front brakes. Color – the same as Tourist’s. Retail price in Moscow is RUR 225,000 (about USD9,600).

The Wolf is actually Russian Chopper. Its dimensions are 2530x850x1300mm. Road clearance – 115mm. Dry weight – 260kg. Max load – 430kg. Tank capacity – 22 liters. Max speed – 150 km/h. Highway fuel consumption – 4-5 liters per 100 km and city fuel consumption 5-6 liters per 100 km. Engine displacement – 750cc, rated HP – 45, four-stroke, flat twin cylinder. Gearbox - 4 forward, 1 reverse, shaft drive. Front wheels - 90/90 R18, and rear wheels - 130/90 R16. Both front and rear brakes are discs. Color - Black and Dull Black. The Wolf can come with both high and low handlebars. Its retail price in Moscow is RUR 234,000 (about USD9,990).

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