A few days ago the Ural Yamal was introduced and the usual press release was circulated to bring it to everyone’s attention. As Urals go, it has everything you need, and would expect, if you’re the type to go out in the uncharted territories, but it includes an accessory most of us don’t usually look for, … an oar.
As Ural explains:
An impasse may come in other shapes and sizes beyond weather and topography, so Ural throws in an oar with tongue-in-cheek emergency instruction to double as a defensive tool or your last hope of survival on thin ice… you never know.
Of course, The Kneeslider’s library spans many years and I seemed to remember something in amongst those dusty shelves about a sidecar floating across a river and after a quick search, sure enough, there it was. The enthusiastic description from the old 1934 Popular Mechanics piece, says:
…the use of a sidecar as a boat has been found practical in Germany. Pontoons are fitted on each side of the car which is propelled by double ended paddles. Changing the sidecar into a boat may be accomplished quickly. German manufacturers are considering a plan for building sidecars equipped with rudders.
Well, I suppose, though I don’t recall any that actually made it to production, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone, somewhere has one. The reference to Germany means there’s probably a BMW somewhere in a museum with a quick detach sidecar and a set of optional pontoons. The photo in the old article shows it actually did work and back those many years this sort of multi-use inventiveness filled the pages of those old mags. It always makes me smile.
Now, I like Urals, they have that quirky off road style that makes you want to go off exploring, though in these days of satellite photos and GPS, is there any uncharted territory left? I can imagine those old explorers’ clubs where meetings were held in wood paneled rooms with massive bookshelves and a large world globe, marked with little flags indicating the previous destinations of the various gentlemen members of the group. Sitting by the fire sipping brandy, you can almost hear one of them planning his next expedition, … on a Ural Yamal, perhaps?
Yes, it could happen, but then, as his wife walks in, throws open the blinds and his daydreams are shattered, she might say, “Hey, why don’t we hop in the Ural and head off for breakfast somewhere.” As our intrepid suburban explorer grabs his keys, he smiles and says, “Sure, I know just the place.”
Ural press release follows:
REDMOND, WA – IMZ-Ural, the Siberian manufacturer of motorcycles with sidecars introduces icebreaker-inspired limited edition Ural Yamal – the only motorcycle equipped with an oar.
Yamal, which translates as “the end of the Earth,†is a peninsula in Russia, known for being nothing short of inhospitable, barren, and perpetually frozen. It is also the well-known icebreaker that spends its time conquering the frozen Arctic Ocean, just north of Siberia – and a perfect namesake of this year’s limited edition from Ural.
Russian icebreakers are heavy, rugged, and focused entirely on their mission. Though their purpose may not always make sense, these vessels are unique in every way, and when speaking to the right people—absolutely necessary. Ural motorcycles are much like this strange genre of sea-going vessel: durable, dependable, and able to conquer what typical motorcycles cannot.
The limited edition Yamal is spec’d with its own double hull—of sorts—much like the boat: 3M coating is used to weather proof the lower portion of the sidecar body and the fenders for additional protection. The Ural Yamal is painted flat orange—to be easily spotted anywhere. Its sidecar is fitted with dual fog lights to defeat the long nights as you travel from waypoint to waypoint. Both rider and passenger comfort is enhanced with the addition of accessory fairing and windscreen. On demand two-wheel drive, knobby spare tire, and hand guards round out the mission capability of the Yamal.
An impasse may come in other shapes and sizes beyond weather and topography, so Ural throws in an oar with tongue-in-cheek emergency instruction to double as a defensive tool or your last hope of survival on thin ice… you never know. Add the unforgettable menacing teeth and you get yet another one-of-a-kind limited edition from Ural – a motorcycle that sure beats the norm.
The 2012 Ural Yamal Limited Edition —the only motorcycle equipped with an oar.
Total built for U.S.: 50
Availability: Now
MSRP: $14,250
Link: Ural
UPDATE: Kim Scholer, our intrepid Nimbus rider, left a comment below that linked to this image of a Rudge equipped with a real canoe sidecar. The paddle would be a necessary accessory, not just a decorative option like the oar on the Yamal, though if Ural takes another whack at it, they might come up with a more boat-like side hack. Oh, the possibilities!
On the other hand, this type of situation seems to be more of what Ural had in mind when they envisioned the oar. This photo of a river crossing, also courtesy of Kim, shows what seems to be one of his beloved Nimbus motorcycles, with a sidecar, sitting midstream far off the beaten path somewhere in Mongolia.
sfan says
Great article Paul. The truth is that 99% of the people who buy pickup trucks rarely pick up more than groceries and that SUVs provide neither more sport or utility than a conventional wagon. And of course there is a fair share of posers in the two-wheeled world. At least Ural is very differentiated and its customer base is comfortable beating a different drum.
The world is a better place with eccentrics and creative types. Even better when they can make things that make you smile and imagine. I am sure Ural’s limited production run will sell well and the owners will have personalities to match.
Tin Man says
sfan, It sounds to me like you have never owned a Pick Up truck, If you had you will find yourself drafted into all sorts of unwanted hauling duties. Helping friends move furniture, hauling brokedown Urals and many many other tasks. I’m pretty sure 99% of trucks get used for hauling more than their owners ever bargained for!!
kim says
A measly oar, for crying out loud. How pathetic, especially considering how the British went all the way a long time ago:
“In 1925 through 1927, the Rudge-Whitworth company introduced a line of touring accessories which have never been equaled by any other motorcycle manufacturer…
Specifically, Rudge introduced a full touring caravan, complete with dining table and beds, which could be towed behind one of their ‘4-valve, 4-speed’ models. Added to this, one could order a sidecar chassis carrying a quick-detachable canoe! This was no ‘miniature’ boat, as some manufacturers produced in the 1950’s for sidecar haulage; the Rudge canoe was fully 14 feet long. Yet, the company advertised that the “Canoe sidecar can be turned round in a circle of 20 feet diameter, which very few motor cars are capable of doing. To river lovers it gives great mobility and makes it possible to become acquainted with half the rivers in the country.”
Pics from the same website here: http://paddlemaking.blogspot.dk/2011/09/motorcyle-canoe-sidecar.html
Paul Crowe says
Well, there you have it, an actual canoe for a sidecar, but does it have 2WD?
lostinoz says
ok, so take a ural, REMOVE the sidecar, put a lightweight plastic 12 foot canoe on the chassis, build a super light camping trailer and have one HELL of a great time!
remind me again, why dont MORE people do this?
kim says
Just found another one:
http://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/cross-search/search/_1354811892/?search%5Bview%5D=detail&search%5Bfocus%5D=20
B50 Jim says
Judging by the things Ural owner do with their machines, the oar makes sense. I wouldn’t doubt that the hack can be detached in a dire emergency and floated across a lake or river. Ask any German who dealt with the Russians during the “Great Patriotic War”, and he’ll attest to their endless ingenuity and perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Paddling a sidecar across a lake is a walk in the park for a Russian.
Looking at the BMW hack/kayak, I wonder if they had plans to put a small engine in it? There would be no reason to fit a rudder if it were only under paddle power; the pontoons would stabilize the craft and keep it going straight. Gotta love those old Popular Mechanics magazines — I have a copy from 1912, and it describes “waterproof” cars, with snorkels for the intake and exhaust so the driver can happily ford rivers as long as he can keep his head above water. The article mentioned something about “waterproofing” the ignition system but didn’t get into specifics, and there was no information about keeping water from wrecking the transmission and rear end…
Carolynne says
I love this idea, when you get back in the woods having a machine that goes over wet and dry is ideal. My Dad had a trapline and there were many times the road would be replaced by stream unexpectatedly. When I was a kid my Dad had an Argo so we used to drive along and then float across the rivers. But it seemed we were forever repairing the thing, I seem to remember it being in the shop a lot more than on the road, and when it was in the water it was really slow. A canoe you just detach and go would be great, if they flattened the back maybe you could stick on a small outboard motor
B50 Jim says
Carolynne —
You must have had some great times with your dad!
I would have given my right arm for something like an Argo when I was a kid! But that sort of thing didn’t exist then; the closest was a war-surplus Jeep, and they didn’t float; or an Amphicar, and they didn’t go off-road (or much of anyplace else). Dad had a green 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook 4-door that we took fishing. In the Illinois back-country, “wilds” meant “not currently plowed”, and the Plymouth could easily ford the small streams we encountered — and there were narrow plank bridges where the stream bed was too steep. But what a great car; it was more like a living room on wheels — underpowered and slow, it was built like a battleship and rode like a cloud. Dad traded it on a new ’63 Oldsmobile wagon that gave him no end of trouble.
Tom says
Hey, at least Ural understands; and will never leave you up the creek without a paddle.
Christopher says
A vespa with a sea kayak hack:
http://www.oceankayak.com/fishing/blog/the_side_kayak_car/
A cool thread with various kayak hacks:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=617849
Thure says
I don’t think it is about the oar. It is prolly cause having a rifle holster is politically incorrect, they chose to stick an oar in it. It really is for carrying a rifle.
B50 Jim says
In Russia, if they wanted to put a rifle on it, they would have put a rifle on it. The oar is a gag. More likely there’s an AK-47 tucked inside the hack within easy reach.
Ian Wright says
Having owned a Dniepr (the Russian Nightmare)..now the Ukranian Nightmare I have an inbuilt reluctance to experience any more Russian engineering, especially at the prices of the new ones. I really liked the handling of the outfit and the concept of the ‘basic’ engineering…Unfortunately there didn’t seem to be any quality control and the materials, bearings etc. were very poor…The big question is how reliable are they now?…Have they reached the reliability levels of my 1951 BSA yet?…which was far better than my new Dniepr……