Me and Motorbikes

Me and Motorbikes

I have owned motorbikes since my school years, from a 250cc BSA side valve to a huge 1100cc V-twin cruiser.


We rode our cruiser from Darwin to Hobart and back for the Ulysses Rally at Ulverston on 2006.


Since then a Kawasaki KLR650 (a red one) from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA in 2010.


In a moment of madness, and because I have never driven a sidecar, I purchased a Russian Ural.   When people admire the "Outfit", I tell them, "Its' an updated 1942 model, built last year".   That gets them thinking!!!


In February this year, we drove "Yuri" to Tasmania and toured the island.   I thought that the Ural handled better on the dirt road, than on the bitumen.   Another interesting point I found on the internet:  "You ride a motorbike, but you drive a sidecar".  

At the Bundaleera Vineyard near Launceston we paraded 11 Urals, with drivers and passengers coming from Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.   The trip was organised by Jon and Vicki, the Ural importers for Australia. http://www.imz-ural.com.au/  

Tasmania is the Mecca for motorcyclists with its great roads, countryside and locals welcoming motorcyclists. 

As you can see, the Ural company in Irbit in the Ural Mountains, Russia, is very creative with their colours.  I think I'll plan to ride my Ural to Russia to visit the factory.   That should be a good adventure, especially if it is still snowing a little.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMZ-Ural

I wonder.   !!!
Did you see the slideshow of the Polish adventurers brave the snow from Poland to Murmansk?
https://picasaweb.google.com/110961596656050043971/ZimowaWycieczka#slideshow/5719092193127918178