Ural revised its lineup ahead of MY2019 with a host of improvements to the drivetrain, and the CT is one of the units buffed to carry the marque into the 21st century. As with all of Ural's products, the CT mounts an old-fashioned sidecar that, in turn, acts as a platform for a number of stock accessories. This is a more urban-centric of Ural's products and not the terrain-tackling Gear Up model meant for use off the beaten path, so its best for folks who plan on staying on relatively civilized roads. It's also the cleanest base model that Ural has to offer, so let's check out this “entry-level” sidecar and see how it stacks up against some of the others in the three-wheeled field.
2019 Ural CT
- Make: Array
- Model: 2019 Ural CT
- Engine/Motor: Flat twin
2019 Ural CT Design
Since most of the updates are under the hood as it were, the CT shows its deep roots going all the way back to the 1940s when the Red Army captured a German sidecar that would become the great grand-daddy of this very model. The overall look of the thing has scarcely changed in the intervening decades. I mean, it still looks like late '30s early '40s German architecture, doesn't it? Even if we ignore the sidecar that hangs off the right side, the oddities start up right out of the gate with a leading-link front suspension utilizing plain steel tubing and a pair of coil-over shocks to articulate the front wheel. You could be forgiven if you thought the boxer engine was one of Beemer's lumps, but it's the descendant of that long-lost ancestor that was doubtlessly captured somewhere between Stalingrad and Berlin when the Eastern Front collapsed.
The fact that the induction has been modernized is hardly apparent at a glance, and the sidecar is similarly dated with a boat/plane-like nose section and windshield to protect your passenger. A lockable trunk provides 2.9 cubic-feet of dry, secure storage, but the Tonneau Cover arguably turns the whole of the sidecar into cargo space, and if you need room for a tandem passenger you'll have to spring for an accessory two-up seat since the stock CT rocks a solo saddle. Personally, I've leave the solo seat and throw a luggage rack over the rear fender instead, and over the sidecar trunk would be one of the universal spare tires that, as its devilishly clever name suggests, will bolt right up in any of the three possible positions.
A single round halogen headlight rocks a nacelle that doubles as a housing for the round analog speedometer. There's a host of idiot lights set in the blackout face with an LED screen for the odometer/trip-meter to round out the instrumentation. The flange-type, five-gallon fuel tank compliments the retro look, and it's impossible to miss the genuine nature of the design; more about function than form, and decidedly dated from the IMZ front end to the unpretentious rear fender strut.
2019 Ural CT Chassis
Tubular-steel members make up the frame, and all the sheet metal -- including the sidecar body -- is steel, as well. Yeah, it's heavy with a 700-pound dry weight that will add up to over half-a-ton once fluids and cargo/passengers are added on, so it's definitely not an exercise in subtlety.
Though the front shock has fixed values all around, the two, coil-over Sachs shocks on the swingarm and single strut on the swingarm all come with a five-position preload feature to give you some flexibility for changing loads. A trio of 18-inch wheels run with aluminum rims and steel spokes in an effort to keep unsprung weight low with Heidenau hoops that are almost automotive in style for their squared-off profile. Clearly not your typical motorcycle tires, that's for sure.
A single, 295 mm brake and four-pot Brembo caliper slows the front wheel with a 256 mm disc and HB big-bore anchor on the rear wheel, plus a twin-piston Brembo anchor and 245 mm disc on the sidecar.
Front suspension: |
IMZ leading link fork |
Rear suspension: |
Double sided swing-arm with two Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorbers, 5x adjustable |
Sidecar suspension: |
Single sided swing-arm with Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorber, 5x adjustable |
Wheels: |
2.15 x 18 Aluminum rims with steel spokes |
Tires: |
Heidenau HF-308, 4.0×18″ |
Front brake: |
4-piston fixed Brembo caliper with 295 mm floating NG rotor |
Rear brake: |
HB big bore single piston integrated floating caliper with 256 mm fixed NG rotor |
Sidecar brake: |
2-piston fixed Brembo caliper with 245 mm floating NG rotor |
2019 Ural CT Drivetrain
A flat-twin “boxer” engine delivers the power with a 78 mm bore and stroke for a square layout and moderate, 8.6-to-1 compression ratio. That puts the displacement right at 749 cc with a pushrod-actuated valvetrain to keep things simple with only two large poppets per jug. One of the few visible upgrades from the original engine lies in the intake tract. This new version replaces the old carburetor with a throttle-body induction-control unit to help it meet emission standards.
It may sound silly to younger riders, but I have long since become wise to the benefits of a kickstarter, and I find it especially important on a sidecar since you probably won't be able to pop-start one in an emergency, at least, not by yourself. You won't want to have to push it around in any form or fashion in fact, but the factory took pity and chucked in a mechanical reverse gear that'll preclude any kind of Fred Flintstone action. That's one in reverse and four forward with a shaft drive to carry power to the rear wheel, but what the CT doesn't have is drive-on-demand at the sidecar wheel; it's just not set up that way, and this makes it less suitable for off-road and winter/urban work. If you want power on the sidecar, you'll have to spring for a Gear Up.
Normally, I'd complain about how exposed the air-cooled jugs are where they protrude from the sides, but since a sidecar is infinitely more stable than a two-wheeler, it doesn't present quite the same level of risk. Max power comes on at 5,500 rpm, and max torque tops out at 4,300 rpm with a max recommended cruising speed of 70 mph and a 31-to-37 mpg fuel efficiency rating.
The heads were reworked with a shorter exhaust port and larger cooling fins to minimize heat transfer from the exhaust stream and radiate that heat more effectively. Teflon treatment on the piston skirts reduce friction and wear along with manganese phosphate-coated compression rings that also get a plasma-sprayed molybdenum treatment on the face for increased durability.
Engine: |
OHV air cooled 2 cylinder 4 stroke “boxer” (flat twin), 2 valves per cylinder |
Displacement: |
749 cc |
Bore and stroke: |
78 mm x 78 mm |
Max output: |
41 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
Max torque: |
42 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm |
Compression: |
8.6:1 |
Fuel system: |
Throttle body EFI |
Starting: |
Electric & Kickstart |
Clutch: |
Double-disc dry |
Transmission: |
Manual, 4 forward/1 reverse |
Primary drive (rear wheel): |
Driveshaft |
Final drive ratio: |
4.62 |
Engageable sidecar wheel drive: |
No |
2019 Ural CT Pricing
This is the least expensive model for Ural, and it rolls for $14,499 in Burgundy Satin, Slate Grey or OD Green. For another grand you can get one of the nine premium colors, and for another $1,500 you can score one of the camo packages in Urban or Woodland colorways.
Standard Accessories: |
Sidecar Power Outlet, Sidecar Tonneau Cover, Sidecar Windshield |
Warranty: |
2-years parts and labor unlimited mileage |
Colors: |
Burgundy Satin, Slate Grey, OD Green, Urban Camo, Woodland Camo, Burgundy Metallic, Cascade Green, Grey Metallic, Bronze, Rainier White, Sahara, Taiga, Terracotta Metallic, Baikal Blue |
Price: |
$14,499, Camo: $15,999, Premium Colors: $15,499 |
2019 Ural CT Competitors
Ural has the only game in town as far as sidecars are concerned without a kit or custom work. However, if I just think of it as a trike, suddenly we have a few more options, so I want to take a quick look at some of the alternatives. First up is the Harley-Davidson Freewheeler that carries itself in the classic, two-in-back trike configuration. I picked it over its tour Ultra, for its Spartan nature and similar short-range bent. Harley brings the tech to the party with ABS and traction control, both of which work through the linked-brake system. The MoCo packs in the inches with a total displacement of 1,868 cc and whopping, 122 pound-feet of torque for performance that will leave the Ural in the dust. You'll pay for it at the checkout though, 'cause MSRP clocks in at $28,099, roughly double the price of a CT.
At the opposite end of the tech spectrum from Ural's '40s-looking machine is the Can-Am Spyder F3. It rocks a Delta configuration with two wheels in front opposite a single out back to make it the most inherently stable of the three competitors. Spyders corner like they're on rails, and they carry an electronics suite that includes traction control, ABS and a vehicle stability feature that increases safety further yet. The powerplant is likewise a vast upgrade over the Ural. It's a water-cooled triple, and it churns out 105-ponies and 96-pounds o' grunt that puts the CT's a distant third in the engine category. At $15,999, the Spyder F3 is in the same ballpark pricewise which makes it a lot more bang for your buck (but that still doesn't make it a sidecar).
He Said
“At the end of the day, I think the people who will want a Ural sidecar, will want it regardless of (or maybe in spite of) power, looks and price. You can pencil me in as a fan as well, though if I'm honest, I do prefer the two wheel-drive models, and now that Ural is making an electric sidecar, I'd have to throw that into the mix as well.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “Yeah, it's a difficult task to find an apples-to-apples competitor for an off-the-showroom-floor sidecar. The CT rocks, that's a given. Even if you do carry a passenger, the trunk has massive storage. If you're looking at a sidecar because you don't want to hold the bike up and the big trikes are too expensive, Can-Am introduced the Ryker this year with an MSRP well under $10k.”
2019 Ural CT Specifications
Engine & Drivetrain: |
|
Engine: |
OHV air cooled 2 cylinder 4 stroke “boxer” (flat twin), 2 valves per cylinder |
Displacement: |
749 cc |
Bore and stroke: |
78 mm x 78 mm |
Max output: |
41 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
Max torque: |
42 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm |
Compression: |
8.6:1 |
Fuel system: |
Throttle body EFI |
Starting: |
Electric & Kickstart |
Clutch: |
Double-disc dry |
Transmission: |
Manual, 4 forward/1 reverse |
Primary drive (rear wheel): |
Driveshaft |
Final drive ratio: |
4.62 |
Engageable sidecar wheel drive: |
No |
Chassis: |
|
Front suspension: |
IMZ leading link fork |
Rear suspension: |
Double sided swing-arm with two Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorbers, 5x adjustable |
Sidecar suspension: |
Single sided swing-arm with Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorber, 5x adjustable |
Wheels: |
2.15 x 18 Aluminum rims with steel spokes |
Tires: |
Heidenau HF-308, 4.0×18″ |
Front brake: |
4-piston fixed Brembo caliper with 295 mm floating NG rotor |
Rear brake: |
HB big bore single piston integrated floating caliper with 256 mm fixed NG rotor |
Sidecar brake: |
2-piston fixed Brembo caliper with 245 mm floating NG rotor |
Dimensions & Capacities: |
|
Overall length: |
91.6 inches |
Overall height: |
53.8 inches |
Overall width: |
63.6 inches |
Seat height, (unladen): |
31.0 inches |
Ground clearance (unladen): |
6.5 inches |
Dry weight: |
700 lbs |
Fuel grade: |
91 Octane, unleaded |
Fuel tank capacity: |
5.0 gals |
Reserve: |
app. 1 gal |
Estimated fuel economy: |
31-37 mpg |
Estimated range: |
155-185 miles |
Recommended max cruising speed: |
70 mph |
Max permissible weight: |
1,325 lbs |
Trunk volume: |
2.9 cu ft |
Electrical: |
|
Alternator: |
Denso, Peak Output 40 Amp @ 14vdc, 560 Wt |
Battery: |
FAYTX20HL (12V, 20A) |
Headlight: |
H4 |
Spark plugs: |
NGK BPR6HS |
Details: |
|
Standard Accessories: |
Sidecar Power Outlet, Sidecar Tonneau Cover, Sidecar Windshield |
Warranty: |
2-years parts and labor unlimited mileage |
Colors: |
Burgundy Satin, Slate Grey, OD Green, Urban Camo, Woodland Camo, Burgundy Metallic, Cascade Green, Grey Metallic, Bronze, Rainier White, Sahara, Taiga, Terracotta Metallic, Baikal Blue |
Price: |
$14,499, Camo: $15,999, Premium Colors: $15,499 |
Further Reading
Harley-Davidson Freewheeler
See our review of the Harley-Davidson Freewheeler.
Harley Davidson TriGlide
See our review of the Harley-Davidson TriGlide.
Can-Am Spyder F3 / F3-S1}
See our review of the Can-Am Spyder F3 / F3-S.
Ural Gear Up
See our review of the Ural Gear Up.
Can-Am Ryker
See our review of the Can-Am Ryker.
Ural Motorcycles
Read more Ural news.