Yahoo Autos A Four-Seat Ural Motorcycle Is Cooler Than Your Minivan
There are millions upon millions of cliches in the world of motorized vehicles. But possibly the greatest one of all, other than, is the adage trotted out on every third Craigslist posting: "now that I've got a family, I need to sell my motorcycle."
Yes, some ball-and-chain significant other forces your hand! The rugrats have finally neutered your masculinity! It's time to begin the long, slow oblivion into death and Dockers Relaxed-Fit khakis-say goodbye to all that two-wheeled adventure! It's time to succumb to a Raymond Carver short story!
Stuff the cliche. One motorcycle enthusiast in England did exactly that.
This man, an investment consultant named Andrew, wanted a vehicle to take his family while exploring the adventurously-named Jurassic Coast, in the south of England, which just happens to be near his summer home.
A car would have worked just fine. But no. He had a Ural Tourist 750 motorcycle with a sidecar, a 2007 model, not that a model year matters on a Ural. He took it to nearby Kevil's Speed Shop, where Kevin Hill has been churning out gorgeous old BMWs for years.
What is a Ural except a classic BMW design, acquired from the Nazis?
So, Kevin Hill got to work. The entire bike was transformed into a handsome dark grey, complete with faux racing number plate, a vintage automobile windscreen, and trick asymmetrical headlight in selective yellow. The red stripe and brown seats mimic another motorcycle that Kevin built before, a tidy little Honda dirt bike, and a departure from the usual boxer-engined fare. The tank is from a Jawa, another Eastern European runabout, and knobby tires complete the all-terrain look.
The real trick area, however, is in the seats. Yes, there's one, two people riding on the motorcycle, with another person in the sidecar. That much is obvious. But wait! There's more: open up the sidecar's rear hatch and there's a rumble seat, trimmed in the same fabulous brown leather-thereby making this a four-seat machine, and therefore the perfect ride with which to bring your kids.
Check out the rest of the photos at The Bike Shed.
