2012 Ural Solo sT 750

Like most nations across Europe during the early 1940s, the Soviet Union was itself preparing for their inevitable clash with Adolf Hitler’s forces. That meant building up a hefty reserve of all the required military vehicles necessary to defend themselves against the invading German Panzers, ground troops, and Special Forces. Back then side-car motorbikes were one of the most feared weapons of war and the Soviets needed to counter Germany’s sidecar with one of their own.

Created by dismantling BMW R71 motorcycles that had been smuggled into Russia, Stalin’s engineers built the very first M-72 sidecar motor bike . . . ready for combat. From there, a factory site was chosen near the tiny town of Irbit, located on the fringe of the Siberian plains in the Ural Mountain Range. Initially built for military purposes only, by the 1950s - years after the wars end - the Ural factory had already produced its 30,000th peacetime motorcycle with the first exports leaving the U.S.S.R in early 1953. To date, Ural has sold over 3.2 million worldwide.

A unique marriage of classic 1930s styling, affordability, and unique sidecar functionality, the Ural line of motorbikes has risen to become not only the sole manufacturer of large capacity motorcycles in Russia, but one of the few manufacturers of sidecar motorcycles still in operation anywhere. Equipped with four-stroke air-cooled flat-twin engines, a four-speed gearbox with reverse gear, two-disc dry clutch, shaft drive, drum brakes, and spring shock absorbers, most models - such as the Sportman Patrol, the Ranger, Tourist and Retro - are all equipped to take-on Russia’s infamously ‘rough’ roads, but Ural’s got another hefty bike in their lineup minus the sidecar: the Solo sT.

As one of the finest bargains on the market, Ural’s Solo sT can be driven off the dealer lot for a fraction of what you’d pay for another bike in its class. Equipped with a Type Air cooled two-cylinder four-stroke Boxer engine with a 745 cc capacity, the all-black Ural Solo sT is the ideal motorbike for weekend getaways or merely a jaunt around town. Whether tackling an open highway or twisting mountainous forest road, the Russian-reared Ural can handle whichever territory you’re itching to explore.

• The 2012 Ural sT model comes in sleek, timeless-looking ‘flat black’ color for the first time.
• 749cc OHV air cooled two-cylinder four-stroke ""boxer"" (flat twin) engine that’s good for 40 horse power and 38 pounds of torque . . . which may not sound like much but it compares favorably to other models in its class.
• Modern four-piston Brembo brake caliper is bolted to a 41mm Marzocchi fork, and Sachs twin shocks designed to hold up the driveshaft-equipped rear end.
• Rear suspension fitted with double sided dual swinging arm with hydraulic spring shock absorbers.
• Bore and Stroke dimensions of 78mm each offer a balance of optimum power and low-to-mid range flexibility that allows the driver to accelerate out of a dead stop or increase speed while in higher gear.