THE MAGAZINE

Ural-France Magazine

Tests, portraits, road trips and technical advice — all about Ural sidecar culture.

How to Sell a Used Ural: Preparation, Pricing, and Paperwork
BUYING ·

How to Sell a Used Ural: Preparation, Pricing, and Paperwork

Selling a niche vehicle like the Ural isn't the same as selling a mainstream used motorcycle. This guide covers what act…

The Craft of Sidecar Upholstery: Rebuilding a Ural's Seats
CUSTOMIZATION ·

The Craft of Sidecar Upholstery: Rebuilding a Ural's Seats

Original Ural seats age predictably — cracked vinyl, collapsed foam, uneven stitching. This documentary guide walks thro…

Rebuilding a Ural Flat-Twin Engine: A Technical Restoration Guide
TECHNICAL ·

Rebuilding a Ural Flat-Twin Engine: A Technical Restoration Guide

Excessive oil consumption, blue smoke, and dropping compression signal that a Ural's flat-twin needs more than an oil ch…

How the Ural Sidecar Went from Soviet Military Roads to Western Garages
HISTORY ·

How the Ural Sidecar Went from Soviet Military Roads to Western Garages

Before it became a niche collector's machine in Western Europe, the Ural sidecar was built for a Soviet military and War…

How to Finance a Ural Sidecar Purchase in France
BUYING ·

How to Finance a Ural Sidecar Purchase in France

Financing a Ural raises questions a mainstream motorcycle loan doesn't: limited resale data, niche insurer requirements,…

Winter Storage for a Ural Sidecar: A Complete Preparation Guide
TECHNICAL ·

Winter Storage for a Ural Sidecar: A Complete Preparation Guide

If you're not riding through winter, correct storage prevents corrosion, flat-spotted tyres, a dead battery, and gummed-…

Electric Ural and Alternative Powertrains: Where Things Actually Stand in 2026
ACTUALITE ·

Electric Ural and Alternative Powertrains: Where Things Actually Stand in 2026

Electric powertrains keep surfacing in Ural owner forums, but separating documented prototypes from wishful speculation …

Interview: Importing Ural Parts After the Sanctions — the Logistics
Technique ·

Interview: Importing Ural Parts After the Sanctions — the Logistics

Vincent Delorme has imported Russian motorcycle parts into France for nine years. He walks through how logistics have ch…

Interview: Hunting Down Authentic Vintage Ural Parts
COMMUNAUTE ·

Interview: Hunting Down Authentic Vintage Ural Parts

Meeting with Élise Vasseur, who has traded in original Ural, Dnepr and MZ parts for over a decade. She talks about disti…

Transporting an Ural Long Distance: Trailer, Professional Carrier or Import
Technique ·

Transporting an Ural Long Distance: Trailer, Professional Carrier or Import

Whether you're bringing home a newly bought Ural from across the country or trying to import one from Russia or Eastern …

Travelling with Children in an Ural Sidecar: Safety, Setup and Minimum Age
VOYAGES ·

Travelling with Children in an Ural Sidecar: Safety, Setup and Minimum Age

The Ural sidecar tub can comfortably carry a child on family outings, but doing this safely means specific setup, honest…

How Much Does an Ural Really Cost Over 5 Years?
ACHAT ·

How Much Does an Ural Really Cost Over 5 Years?

A concrete breakdown of what owning an Ural actually costs over five years — purchase, servicing, insurance, tyres and w…

Ural Gear Up 2026 Review: Everything You Need to Know After 800 km
Reviews & Tests ·

Ural Gear Up 2026 Review: Everything You Need to Know After 800 km

We rode 800 km with the Ural Gear Up 2026 between Paris and the Vosges Mountains. This complete review assesses road beh…

Sidecar Licence in France: 2026 Regulations Explained
Practical ·

Sidecar Licence in France: 2026 Regulations Explained

In France, riding a sidecar doesn't necessarily require a motorcycle licence. The standard car driving licence (category…

Interview Club Ural France: Sidecar Passion from the Inside
Community ·

Interview Club Ural France: Sidecar Passion from the Inside

Marie Fontaine has ridden her Ural for six years. Bertrand Couzin is an amateur mechanic and club treasurer. Together th…

Used Ural Buying Guide: Essential Checks Before You Buy
Practical ·

Used Ural Buying Guide: Essential Checks Before You Buy

A well-chosen used Ural can provide years of pleasure. A poorly bought one becomes a money pit. This guide gives you all…

Ural vs BMW Sidecar: Complete Comparison for 2026
Reviews & Tests ·

Ural vs BMW Sidecar: Complete Comparison for 2026

Two radically opposed sidecar philosophies: the artisanal Ural from Irbit and premium BMW sidecar configurations. This c…

Interview Ural Dealer: The French Market Seen from the Workshop
Community ·

Interview Ural Dealer: The French Market Seen from the Workshop

Meeting with Éric Marchetti, manager of the Ural Lyon Sidecar workshop since 2014. Between confidences on buyers, mechan…

5 Exceptional Sidecar Road Trips Through France on an Ural
Road Trips ·

5 Exceptional Sidecar Road Trips Through France on an Ural

From Alsace to the Pyrenees, through the Massif Central and Brittany: five itineraries designed for Ural sidecar travel,…

Ural Spare Parts France: Complete Supplier Guide 2026
Technique ·

Ural Spare Parts France: Complete Supplier Guide 2026

Finding parts for your Ural motorcycle in France is easier than it appears. This guide lists all sourcing channels: auth…

Riding an Ural Sidecar in Winter: Technique, Preparation and Safety
Technique ·

Riding an Ural Sidecar in Winter: Technique, Preparation and Safety

The Ural is one of the rare motorcycles that remains usable in winter thanks to its three-wheel stability. This guide co…

Ural Gear Up Off-Road: Guide to Sidecar Adventure Riding
Technique ·

Ural Gear Up Off-Road: Guide to Sidecar Adventure Riding

The Ural Gear Up and its 2WD system make the sidecar one of the rare two and three-wheeled vehicles genuinely capable of…