Off to Alaska

After founding Ural Australia in 2008, Jon Taylor has decided it’s time to retire.

So what do you do in your retirement when you’ve spent your time importing iconic sidecar motorcycles?

Spend more time riding them, of course, but Jon has taken it a step further and is doing his riding in Alaska!

The first shipment of Urals arrived in June 2008 with the initial launch at Armidale in NSW. Since then, the iconic Russian outfits have been continuously imported, reaching customers across the country with dealers in each state.

After handing over the reigns at Ural Australia, Jon and Vicki Taylor together with another couple, flew to North America to embark on a 6,000km road trip through Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

Jon, Vicki and friends flew to Anchorage Alaska to pick up two 2016 Ural cT sidecar motorcycles from Alaska Power Sports. After loading up the bikes with their gear, they hit the road to explore the landscapes of North America.

Jon and Vicki’s Urals are proving to be very successful in grabbing attention from admirers and interested fellow travellers. The immediate bonus being a constant source of local knowledge and stories from fellow travellers they’re meeting on the road.

Each Ural is equipped with a 10 litre fuel can, enabling a 340km range and a spare tyre to handle the rough Alaskan roads.

They’ve equipped both bikes with “g’day mate” stickers on the nose cone and an “Aus” sticker with flag on the rear. Jon has been utilizing the sidecar trunk to carry his go-to tools and has fitted Barkbuster Blizzard hand guards and a plastic top box bought in Bunnings.

One of many highlights was meeting the occupants of a cabin next door in Dawson City. A group of retirees who at 20 years of age built a wooden raft and floated down the mighty Yukon river for 12 months to the Bering Sea. Their trip was a major article in National Geographic in December 1975!

They have another month in Canada and their 2016 model cT’s are purring.

The first shipment of Urals arrived in Australian in June 2008 with the initial launch at Armidale in NSW. Since then, the iconic Russian outfits have been continuously imported, reaching customers across the country with dealers in each state.

During the past eight years Urals have undergone a transformation becoming more modern while maintaining their classic appearance. The advent of fuel injection, disc brakes and a sophisticated quality control program has resulted in a new generation of Urals.

Jon’s retirement starts a new chapter for Ural Australia. Irbit MotorWorks of America (IMWA), Ural’s North American distributor, has agreed to take over the Australian distribution and support its continued growth and success.

Ural Australia will remain the front line for the local market with Clare Mailler as General Manager.  Clare comes highly regarded, having helped Jon build Ural Australia for the past 7 years.  Her expertise and knowledge of the market will allow for a seamless transition for IMWA.

Demand for Urals continues to grow with riders looking for a capable motorcycle at home both on-road and off.  With room for camping gear, multiple passengers, and unparalleled stability, both the Ranger model and cT have shown increased demand since their introduction.

IMWA looks forward to working with Ural Australia in bringing the newest generation of Urals to this exciting market.

For more information of Ural in Australia check out www.imz-ural.com.au or ring them on (02) 6778 7436.