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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

The Progressive International Motorcycle Show came to New York's Jacob Javits Center this weekend and provided a great opportunity to check out the latest from Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Harley, Victory and much more.

Check the link to see if the show is coming to a city near you:

 http://www.motorcycleshows.com/

We, of course, were drawn to the URAL booth. According to Ural, "We are Irbit MotorWorks of America, Inc. The official affiliate of the Irbit MotorWorks Factory in Irbit, Russia. As such, we are the direct importer and distributor for the Ural sidecar motorcycle in the United States. We are a small, but dedicated team, made up of both American and Russian men and women who each contribute to our story in his and her own capacity."

The Gear-Up Want to stand out in a crowd and be able to  disappear in the woods or desert?  Try the Ural Gear-Up. Just like its cousin, the Patrol, with its on-demand  sidecar drive, Gear-Up's origins trace back to the military past of the Ural motorcycle family. According to the

company, "The Gear-Up combination is as tough as a Russian AK-47!" Despite its clearly military upbringing,  the Gear-Up is equally fit for more peaceful missions,  ability to blaze through mud, sand and snow. Available in camo paint scheme.

MSRP:
Forest Camo Gear Up: $13,799
Gobi Desert Camo Gear Up: $13,949

The Patrol    Despite the fun popsicle shade of orange, The  Patrol can travel snow-covered  roads like no other tough guy. In a class by itself, the Patrol is the only motorcycle  in the  world manufactured with an  on-demand sidecar drive.   This street legal ATV gives you the ability to  switch between single-wheel drive and the  unbelievable traction of dual-wheel drive with the flip of a lever! MSRP: $13, 199 (excludes taxes, registration, etc.)
The Taiga Named after the world's largest northern  most forest frontier, The Taiga,  is in Larch Green and the MSRP is $13,999.

SIDECARS AS AMBULANCES AROUND THE WORLD

From World World I, 1918, this photo (above) originally appeared in Popular Mechanics magazine.

This motorcycle ambulance sidecar was used by lifeguards, Redondo Beach, CA. 1915.

This French Police motorcycle ambulance sidecar dates to early 1900s.

 Motorcycles and sidecars have a reputation for being tough fighters in wars around the world. During both World Wars I and II, the motorcycle-sidecar units were familiar features on the battlefield bringing medicine directly to the troops and transporting patients back to the base.

Today, sidecar ambulances are used in areas of the world with narrow roads, dense population and impenetrable terrain. Japan, Brazil, the Sudan, Malawi and Southeast Asia employ the units.

eRanger's Ambulance has been developed to provide transport to and from local health centres, providing communities with the means to take advantage of distant and widespread health-care resources. Able to safely and comfortably carry one patient and an outreach medical worker, plus emergency supplies for on-site treatment, it can greatly reduce the time taken to get essential and urgent medical assistance to remote communities. In Malawi, the eRanger motorbike has transported women in labour from health centres to hospitals faster than traditional ambulances. A private company, eRanger, manufactures motorbike ambulances, designed to cope with the toughest terrains.

The company believes its motorbikes could help cut maternal mortality rates in remote, rural areas and increase access to health facilities.

The Ambulance has recently undergone a range of technical and equipment improvements. Every Ambulance now has a specialist leading link front suspension system fitted as standard, improving the Ambulance’s already impressive off-road and on-road capability. In addition complete patient protection has been improved with additional “roof” bars and a newly designed all weather cover. Finally patient transfer has been improved with a novel hinged section allowing easy access to the stretchers flat platform.

Standard equipment has also been improved with the addition of a large capacity motorcycle rear carrier box and a fire extinguisher. In addition to these modifications to the Ambulance sidecar the JH 200 L has been uprated and improved with Electric start and an easy to maintain pushrod engine that delivers an improvement in engine Torque over the older overhead cam engine. All these developments underline our commitment to produce the most complete, effective and versatile vehicle solution for rural healthcare delivery throughout the world.

The main feature of the Ambulance is the side-mounted stretcher, attached via metal-elastic mounts that, when combined with the sidecar's suspension, considerably smooths the ride over rough ground.

The stretcher itself has multiple functions. When flat, a prone patient can be carried, protected by an all weather cover. It then also converts into a suspended chair. In both positions there is storage space at the rear of the sidecar. The chair position is suitable for the walking wounded, sick and expectant mothers.

Providing a fast, economical and efficient way to transport pregnant women to hospitals, the new E-Ranger motorbike ambulance - fitted with an attached sidecar bed in which a pregnant woman can sit comfortably - has become a veritable lifeline for Southern Sudan.

UNICEF and the Western Equatoria State government recently contributed seven of these new motorbike ambulances to the general public.

http://www.eranger.com/

The Kambia Appeal is improving access to healthcare for two communities in Kambia by running a small network of motorbike ambulances that provides low-cost transportation for people to travel from their homes in remote rural areas to their nearest health centres.

Currently six ambulances run between 47 villages, two health centres and the main district hospital, and serve a total population of 22,152 people. This population was identified by the Kambia District Medical Officer as being one of the most vulnerable due to severe levels of poverty and lack of organized public transport.

The motorbike ambulances are based at two health centres, Barmoi Munu and Maselleh, and although the ambulances are available for all emergency cases, the main aim of the project is to help pregnant women gain access to maternal healthcare. Typically, women in the project catchment area have to walk between five and twelve miles to reach their nearest health centre. Public transport is limited, and if private taxis are available the cost of an emergency journey is often highly inflated beyond the means of most families. Understandably, women suffering obstructed labour, pre-eclampsia and hemorrhage are not able to make the arduous journey on foot and so are forced to stay at home without medical attention. Without adequate transportation to reach the health centre, such women and their babies are likely to die or suffer permanent injury or ill health, and their deaths very often go unrecorded.

THE GARRARD SIDECAR

This vintage British bike features a unique engine for two wheels.  Edward Turner’s idea for a four-cylinder ‘Monobloc’ was picked up by Ariel and debuted in the first aptly named Square Four in 1930. Here, in its fourth generation, and only a few years before its production ceased entirely, the motorcycle is fixed to a matching Garrard sidecar that is transporting champagne. The duo is seen featured among many other rare finds at the Pebble Beach Councours d’Elegance. 

For more info on this annual event held in August, visit:

http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/pages/3022

HENRIK TOTH'S FIGHTER PLANE

This World War II German Fighter Plane Sidecar is one-of-a-kind. It is a World War II  Messerschmitt ME109 fighter plane, attached to a Yamaha Wild Star cruiser. Built by Henrik Toth.

 We will be featuring an interview with the awesome Mr. Toth in early 2011. Meanwhile, visit his website at:  http://www.t-motor-sidecar.com/

JAY LENO'S SIDECAR

Sent a tweet to Jay Leno asking him if he
had a sidecar..."Of course," he tweeted back and sent this photo of his magnificent vintage bike and sidecar.

Check out Jay Leno's Garage at: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/

WATSONIAN SIDECAR STARS IN NEW HARRY POTTER FLICK

A MAIN STAR of the latest, much-anticipated Harry Potter blockbuster due to be released nationwide later this week hails from the north Cotswolds.

The stunningly savvy pale blue Royal Enfield motorcyle and Watsonian sidecar which features in the seventh Harry Potter movie- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 -have been supplied by Blockley-based company Watsonian Squire.

The uber cool motorcycle/sidecar combo skips and flies across London, piloted by Hagrid, played by Robbie Coltrane, while Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, rolls with the punches.

Ben Matthews, director and co-owner of Watsonian Squire, which is based at Northwick Park Business Centre, said the firm’s 20 workers were excited about the new movie opening November 19.

Ben said: “We were contacted by the company that sources vehicles for films.”

Originally the film makers only wanted sidecars but when they saw the Royal Enfields they ended up buying seven complete motorbike and sidecar 'outfits'.

“One ended up in a lake, one was made lighter for a flying scene and one was modified for a stunt,” said Ben, whose team has had to keep quiet about the movie tie-in for the past 18 months.

“It all very exciting, ” said Ben, whose sidecars are expected to be used at the London premiere today. “We have been helping get them roadworthy,” he added.

Ben, who lives in Evesham, said he has never read the Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies, though his son, Troy, aged 12, is an avid fan.

“I will have to take the kids to see it,” said Ben, whose firm has also supplied sidecars for The Two Fat Ladies TV cookery show and Charlie Boorman’s travel documentaries.

Film star Ewan McGregor recently bought one of the Cotswold firm’s sidecars which was shipped to his home in California. A version of the “Harry Potter” motorbike and sidecar will feature on Watsonian Squire’s stand at the upcoming Motorcycle Live exhibition at Birmingham NEC.