Ural’s electric motorcycle with a sidecar is weird but fun

Electric motors are extremely compact compared to their combustion-engine counterparts. As long as you have room for batteries and a controller, you can pretty much put them anywhere. That's what sidecar-motorcycle maker Ural did for its electric con...

Star Wars Inspired Darth Vader Motorcycle, Lightsaber Included

Star Wars Themed Motorcycle

The Russian motorcycle manufacturers Ural came up with a limited-edition model inspired by the Star Wars saga which is quite the ideal means of transportation for a Sith Lord, or someone who really loves the popular science-fiction universe.

Since the seventh episode, – The Force Awakens, came out ten years after the last one, this event needed to be properly celebrated and Ural came up with a wonderful idea.  At the price of $15,000, these are quite a great deal, especially when you consider that there are only 25 models made, so it’s an amazing collector’s dream.

The motorcycle has a 2.9 cubic feet waterproof trunk for your belongings and a sidecar for your travelling companion, either a humanoid, wookie or a droid. The most impressive thing about it comes with a lightsaber ready at your disposal and a special place to hold it. The extendable 3’ Lightsaber is mounted to the sidecar and thus within your grasp in just a few seconds.

When it comes to the technical features, the Dark Force motorcycle has a 749cc two cylinder engine that is air-cooled and has an output of 41 horsepower. The gearbox provides four forward gears and a reverse and there are 42 pound-feet of torque. These specifications lead to a top speed of around 70 mph or 113 km/h, more than enough for any urban needs as well as for trips through the countryside.

The chassis has a front IMZ leading link fork suspension and a double sided swing-arm with Sachs hydraulic spring shock absorbers in the rear, while the sidecar features a similar swing arm and all of them are adjustable. The fuel tank has a capacity of 5.0 gallons with an estimated fuel economy of 31-37 mpg at the cruising speed of 70 mph.

IMZ-Ural was founded in 1941 and since 1998 they aren’t a state company anymore, so they adapted to the market with original ideas such as the 2013 Gaucho Rambler which was also a limited edition built for long roads and with a retro design that they described as a “wistful homage to a past age”. The Dark Force continues their legacy with a motorcycle that Darth Vader himself would take pride in.

They offer several upgrades included such as the high visibility LED headlight, the black ceramic coated exhaust and black engine as well as the enduro bench seat that allows a third passenger to have room on the motorcycle. The warranty you get is for two years with unlimited mileage but if you have some experience with Russian motorcycles you probably know that they are sturdy and last a long time.

The price excludes taxes, license, registration, delivery, set-up and other options which you might want. Since the edition is so limited you will have to reserve yours in advance to have a chance of actually owning one and you can do this here. Even if you aren’t the biggest Star Wars fan it is still a really great motorcycle, but with so few available everyone will admire you if you manage to join the dark side.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories at The Coolest Star Wars R2-D2 Gifts in the Galaxy and The Star Wars R2-D2 Self-propelled Fridge

Meteorite shower crashes into Russia (video)

Meteorite shower crashes in Russia video

A meteorite shower has crash landed across Russia's Ural region, injuring over 250 900 people and damaging buildings in six cities. Residents in Chelyabinsk reported shaking ground, windows shattering and car alarms going off as the rocks fell to Earth. Officials in the country say that the shower began after a larger meteor disintegrated in the lower atmosphere, causing the fragments to wreak the (currently) non-lethal havoc. If you'd like to compare how wrong (or right) Michael Bay got it in Armageddon, head on past the break for some footage.

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Via: BBC News

Source: Russia Today