On the finish of 2022, as manufacturing shifted to Kazakhstan, Ural quietly retired the cT. For years, the lower-spec Ural had labored alongside in obscurity within the shadow of its bigger, extra succesful, extra fashionable sibling, the Gear Up. I at all times appreciated the cT, and most popular it over the 2WD-equipped Gear Up as a result of I figured the type of using I did—metropolis errands, commuting, and paved-road touring—did not require the Gear Up’s off-road bonafides. Sadly, although, once I went to purchase my Ural there have been no cTs available and I ended up with a Gear Up anyway.

The swap to a single manufacturing bike—as a substitute of 1 wildly fashionable one and one gradual vendor that was simply totally different sufficient from its extra fashionable cousin to complicate manufacturing—made sense for quite a few causes. It did, nevertheless, go away an entry-level-shaped gap in Ural’s lineup that the cT had so properly stuffed. Ural has now refilled that gap, because it have been, with the brand new Gear Up Base.

The Base is a Gear Up in its purest kind. It is a stripped-down, no-nonsense bike that retains all of the Gear Up’s needed options, together with the rugged two-wheel-drive system, however removes all of the equipment included with the usual mannequin. Gone are the additional lights, bumpers, spare tire, heavy-duty baggage rack, and stepped seat. You get a bench seat, the essential, normal gear, and that is it. In essence, it is a mix of the outdated cT and the brand new Kazakh gear up and, truthfully, I dig it.

Along with being a easy base mannequin, Ural envisions the Base as a type of clean slate upon which Ural house owners can categorical themselves utilizing the corporate’s broad assortment of aftermarket equipment. Within the video above, David takes his new Base into the store for somewhat mild customizing to point out off what a brand new proprietor can do with their new Base and entry to the elements catalog.

Now, clearly, bike customization is not new and it isn’t even new to Ural. Having a devoted customization platform simply to meet your personal, private Ural desires is kinda new, although, and I will take it.