Ural Wolf: Characteristics and photos of the motorcycle

The Ural Wolf IMZ-8.1238/7 motorcycle was received rather coolly by the public, who were dissatisfied with some of its shortcomings. But, hand on heart, we note that it is not always easy to be the first in anything, and this model was a real pioneer. Forget your grandfather’s “opposite” from the 80s, turned into a kind of chopper with the help of a sledgehammer and an angle grinder! Ural Wolf – real Russian chopper straight from the assembly line, with all its pros and cons. It was developed on the basis of the small-scale Ural Cobra chopper, which was distinguished by a dry suspension without rear shock absorbers and other radical solutions in the spirit of the old school. As a result, only a few copies of the Cobra were produced, but its successor went into full-fledged mass production.

Design

Classics are always in trend. The Wolf looks like a kind of hybrid of a Ural and a Harley-Davidson, but in a good way. This bike does not look like a garage handicraft made by collective farm craftsmen, and it really looks stylish. The impressions are spoiled only by the ugly wires hanging on the steering wheel and the shamelessly exposed cardan, but these moments can be eliminated on your own.

The new Russian motorcycle “Wolf” has a prototype

The concept of the first Russian motorcycle “Wolf” was first shown to the public at a bike show in Moscow. The Night Wolves presented the first images of the prototype of their motorcycle about a year ago - then the inventors promised to bring the working model to the bike show in Sevastopol, which took place in August. But in the end the premiere was postponed for a year.

A full presentation of the “Wolf” will take place at the bike show in Sevastopol on August 21 this year.

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According to Zaldostanov, the idea of creating a Russian motorcycle arose many years ago. “Every time I get on a Harley, Yamaha or Honda, I feel unfinished business,” he said.

The surgeon in an interview with the publication “Sevastopol Stories”. “Why is it that such a great power as Russia, which launches rockets into space, which makes the world’s best military aircraft, submarines, ships and the world’s best tanks, which builds the most reliable nuclear power plants, suddenly cannot create a motorcycle or a car that can could you be just as proud?

The Russian motorcycle “Wolf” will be the first contribution to the new era of the Russian automobile industry. This, of course, is not a Harley yet, but it is no longer a Ural or a Dnepr, although these motorcycles also have their fans.”

While the “Wolf” is undergoing a comprehensive testing program, mere mortals will not be able to test it in action before the presentation in Sevastopol. But it is known that the design of the bike is completely approved and finished. The Surgeon himself, however, was able to test a prototype of the future production model.

“Expectations were more than met; this is our Russian motorcycle, modern, powerful and quite advanced in many respects,” said the Surgeon. “I am sure that he will adequately represent Russia and will be able to compete with his imported classmates. His spirit is Russian, but his character is wolfish.”

The first development of the motorcycle began in (Volzhsky). At the same time, according to the company’s website, it specializes in the production of technological equipment for tank farms in the chemical, oil and gas industries. In the summer of 2014, the first design and production results and the first photographs of the Wolf prototype were published.

The factory promised that the maximum speed of the chopper would be 170 km/h, and acceleration to “hundreds” would take 7 seconds.

Paired with a 100 hp motor. They promised to install a five-speed gearbox. It was assumed that the bike would be offered in six trim levels.

The motorcycle was supposed to cost about 250 thousand rubles.

As Mikhail Daev, one of the authors of the idea of creating a “Russian motorcycle”, said during the presentation, whose words were quoted by the press service of the Night Wolves, only 10 months passed from the appearance of the idea to its implementation.

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“Alexander the Surgeon and I were sitting in my motorcycle laboratory and thinking that it would be nice to create our own “Russian Motorcycle” for “Russian Motorcyclists,” said Daev. “He should look like a wolf,” we decided. And if you look at our motorcycle, it really does resemble a wolf. Yes, by the way, there is something in him from Alexander the Surgeon.

An international team from Russia and Italy worked on the project.

We wanted to show the whole world that despite the difficult geopolitical situation in the world, talented people from different countries, united by a common idea, can create masterpieces together. Our motorcycle, in its technical characteristics, fully complies with the best world models, and in design surpasses many of them. The maximum engine power will be about 132 hp.”

Let us note that earlier the media reported that if an investor is found for the project, work on serial production could begin as early as 2021.

Meanwhile, the project caused a mixed reaction among experts and motorcyclists. Thus, the head of the Lurkomorye project Dmitry Khomak on his page

on Facebook hastened to draw attention to the fact that the “Wolf” is very similar to the Italian motorcycle Moto Guzzi California, the cost of which in the United States is estimated at about $15-16 thousand.

“The first Russian” motorcycle “Wolf” from the “Night Wolves”, upon closer inspection, turns out to be a Moto Guzzi with a sawed-off frame and a fork mutilated for beauty’s sake,” Khomak wrote.

- Oh, and they dug up the wheels somewhere with a mesh. Moto Guzzi is treacherously written on the dashboard, and the original Russian driving mode is selected - PIOGGIA. Well, that is, “rain”. It’s an Italian motorcycle with a re-sawed frame and a bunch of parts from manufacturers of, you won’t believe it, custom motorcycle parts.”

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It is noteworthy that Homak figured out that this particular “Wolf” - Moto Guzzi - was demonstrated during the Oil and Gas 2015 exhibition, which was held in Moscow in June. The bike could be admired at the stand of Walter Tosto, a company specializing in the production of equipment for the oil, gas, petrochemical and other industries.

“That is, the Walter Tosto machine tool company assembles a custom Lupus Alpha based on Moto Guzzi, under the leadership of Luka Tosto and Mikhail Daev, takes it to the Oil and Gas 2015 exhibition in Moscow, after which the motorcycle somehow turns out to be the first Russian motorcycle.” "Wolf" (not counting "Ural-Wolf"), and they promise us almost mass production? — Khomak asks already in the motorcycle community moto_ru

in LiveJournal.

Gazeta.Ru expert Nikolay Svistun also recognized “Wolf” as Moto Guzzi.

“It’s strange that they chose it for their project, because Moto Guzzi has a very recognizable layout,” Svistun told Gazeta.Ru. - So - with the crankshaft along the axis of the motorcycle - no one else installs V2 engines.

— Well, the dashboard is absolutely recognizable. It could at least be replaced with any tuned version and print your own scales.”

"Night Wolves" set their sights on Lviv

A scandalous motorcycle rally organized by bikers from the Night Wolves club continues in Europe. Small…

05 May 18:22

The press service of the Night Wolves told Gazeta.Ru that they would not disclose any additional details until August 21, the date of the official presentation of the project.

Let us recall that quite recently the Night Wolves bike club found itself at the epicenter of an international scandal after they tried to make a motorcycle rally across Europe in order to visit the memorial complexes of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). According to the bikers' plan, they had to travel 6 thousand km along the route Moscow - Minsk - Brest - Wroclaw - Brno - Bratislava - Vienna - Munich - Prague - Targau - Karlshorst - Berlin. In their numerous comments, they emphasized in every possible way that the visit was exclusively peaceful in nature and was associated with the desire to honor the memory of Soviet soldiers who died in the Second World War. However, in the end, the motorcyclists were only able to get to Belarus, where they visited the Mound of Glory near Minsk, where they laid a wreath. Afterwards, the bikers went to the Belarusian village of Khatyn, which was burned by a Nazi punitive detachment in 1943. After which the convoy went to Brest, where it was stopped. The rally had to be interrupted despite numerous statements that the event would take place.

It also recently became known that the Canadian authorities, as part of expanding sanctions against Russia, blacklisted members of the scandalous bike club.

Specifications

Built using technologies that were outdated decades ago, the Ural Wolf lacks stars from the sky. But in Russia and the CIS countries there are enough connoisseurs of “opposite” motorcycles, for whom this motorcycle is primarily designed.

Engine

The 750 cc 2-cylinder engine can be called a real rarity. It is a file-modified version of an ancient engine from 60 years ago, and therefore produces only 45 hp. The dynamics of the bike are mediocre, but the engine is still capable of pleasing. Pleasant exhaust sound, light vibrations of a “real iron motorcycle” and impressive traction at low revs - lovers of cruisers will like all this .

Transmission

The Ural Volk gearbox is almost no different from the one that was installed on Soviet “opposite” cars half a century ago. It only has 4 steps , and the fifth is noticeably missing. But you can engage fourth at 60 km/h, and then drive like an automatic transmission. In addition, the gearbox is one of the few components of a bike with which problems almost never arise.

Chassis and brakes

The entire structure described above is embedded in a steel frame made of welded pipes, which is quite short by cruiser standards. Thanks to this, the bike handles well, but it weighs a lot. The suspension, however, let us down, especially the front fork, which is too weak for the tenacious Brembo front disc brake . At the rear there are two standard shock absorbers “a la” a candle, hard and generally practically useless. On uneven asphalt, the biker is guaranteed to feel every bump with his butt. Let’s tactfully keep silent about the rear brakes - you shouldn’t expect much from the archaic “drum”. Let us just note that most Japanese cruisers of those years also had weak drum brakes at the rear.

Electronics

Everything is simple, like in some Soviet “opposite”. True, the Ural Wolf received many imported components, from the battery to the modern microprocessor ignition (here all experienced boxers should breathe a sigh of relief - meticulous adjustment of the ignition angle is a thing of the past). The wires, however, are laid out somehow, but in general there are no complaints about the quality of the electronic filling.

Weight and dimensions

The dry weight of the Ural Wolf reaches 249 kg . This is not much by cruiser standards, but noticeably more than that of foreign analogues comparable to it in terms of technical characteristics. And this weight is almost not felt due to the fact that the lion's share of it falls on the low-mounted motor. In the parking lot, handling the bike will not be difficult even for a puny motorcyclist.

Controllability

The Ural Wolf handles just like any other chopper, that is, mediocre. Although, thanks to the short wheelbase, its maneuverability is still quite good. At the same time, the base is not so short as to prevent it from confidently holding course on the highway. This model is designed for highways , not narrow streets, and once released, the Wolf feels like a duck to water.

Fuel consumption

The motorcycle consumes AI-92, and consumption starts from 5-5.5 liters . It is not too demanding on the quality of gasoline, and will probably run smoothly even on AI-80. But when driving on the highway at a speed close to the maximum, the consumption almost doubles.

Features and Design

The characteristic features of Russian units are almost completely removed from this model. The bike has a “spread out” shape due to the long base.

The distance between the front and rear axle is 1690 mm.

Given its weight, the motorcycle is set low, which increases its maneuverability parameters.

You can also mention the high-quality steering system, which uses Italian bearings with tapered angular contact rollers.

Thanks to its design, the “Wolf” is suitable not only for highways, but also for comfortable movement around the city.

External parameters of the bike: length – 2.53 m; width – 0.85 m, height – 1.3 m.

The weight of the “naked” motorcycle is 249 kg. In comparison with other motorcycles in the post-Soviet space, the Ural Wolf does not differ much in external characteristics from Western choppers.

There is an abundance of chrome, leather, and a very solid, brutal appearance .

A motorcycle worthy of your attention is the Honda Hornet 600, which has excellent characteristics.
Dedicate a weekend to riding through the forest, doing housework or even participating in races - with this motorcycle from Honda, it is more than possible.

Repair and tuning

95% of Volk owners, former and current, bought it having already had experience driving Soviet boxer cars. And such a public cannot be frightened by technical problems! These people are able to assemble a vertical take-off submarine from the ancient Izh if you give them a penknife, pliers and a hammer.

Repair

Maintainability is the strong point of this motorcycle. It can be disassembled, reassembled, disassembled again, and so on until you get tired of it, or until the problem is fixed. But purely technically, it is not capable of breaking so much that it cannot be repaired on its own.

Spare parts

This is the main headache for the owners of the Ural Wolf. Many spare parts for it are unique, and analogues from other models are not suitable. At the same time, original parts for the Wolf have not been produced for a long time, and it is very difficult to find them on sale. And due to the low popularity of the model, non-original ones are almost absent.

Tuning

Each owner customizes the bike in his own way. Someone hangs panniers and installs glass, someone alters the seats and decorates the steering wheel with leather pads, someone tries to squeeze more power out of the engine... But all this tuning costs money, and the best way to use it would be to sell the Urals and then buy some kind of either a Honda or a Yamaha.

Photo gallery

Ural “Wolf” harmoniously combines a silhouette directed towards the horizon, varnished or matte black color and the soul-caressing roar of the engine. Let's look at the appearance of this brutal model, the design of which did not deviate from the already recognized and beloved American motifs.

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Motorcycle modifications

There is only one version of the Ural Wolf motorcycle. Over the course of ten years of production, it underwent several small upgrades that eliminated a number of “childhood sores,” but overall the bike remained the same. The designers took into account their own experience, and less old copies have fewer problems, so when buying it is better to choose a more recent option.

Estimated cost

Before we move on to the price categories, it should be recalled that the model has not been produced since 2011 .

But the secondary market is replete with offers for this model of motorcycle from a domestic manufacturer.

You can buy a used Ural Wolf in perfect condition, for example, with a mileage of 9,000 km, for between $3,000 and $3,800.

The modern motorcycle Ural Solo ST continues the classic traditions of the Ural, which has been produced since the times of the Soviet Union.
An equally popular domestic motorcycle, which until recently was found everywhere:

Advantages and disadvantages

Many of us started with Soviet motorcycles, which helped us develop skills not only in riding, but also in repair. The Ural Wolf is not far behind its predecessors in this regard, and you have to tinker with it quite a lot. Unless, of course, you actually ride a motorcycle and don't just store it in the garage. But can such difficulties scare an experienced oppositionist?

Advantages

Powerful low-end traction. In urban conditions, the bike has enough power, and it feels quite confident in traffic.
Stylish appearance . Looking at it, it’s hard to believe that this is a domestically produced motorcycle.
Spacious 21 liter gas tank. The power reserve when driving slowly at 100-110 km/h reaches 400 kilometers.
Reliability of some important components. Ducati ignition, Brembo front brakes, Denso generator – the Wolf has plenty of imported components.
The center of mass is shifted downwards , making the motorcycle subjectively seem light.

Flaws

Weak acceleration dynamics . From 0 to 100 km/h the motorcycle accelerates in about 10 seconds, lagging even behind Japanese 400 cc cruisers. If you are patient and turn the throttle towards yourself, after some time you can see 150 km/h on the speedometer.
Low reliability . Reviews from owners of the Ural Wolf motorcycle are full of descriptions of all sorts of problems that they had to face.
Mediocre ergonomics . Long-legged motorcyclists will find this model uncomfortable and cramped.
Difficulty finding spare parts , especially those purchased by the Irbit plant abroad.
Weak front fork , not designed for hard braking, and therefore poorly combined with Brembo brakes.

Russian chopper: Ural Wolf

Ural Wolf is a motorcycle with a unique style for the Russian market. The production of this “iron horse of the predator” began in 1999 at the Irbit motorcycle plant, and representatives of the popular biker movement “Night Wolves” took part in its creation. The result of this cooperation was a bright motorcycle made in the best traditions of American choppers: an elongated front fork, an elongated frame and, as a result, a large wheelbase... Production of the “Russian chopper” was discontinued in 2011.

In Russia, the Ural Wolf was highly popular, but in narrow circles - mainly representatives of various motorcycle movements were interested in it. However, a large number of copies were exported to Europe and America, where some bikers highly appreciated the exclusivity and technical equipment of this model.

History of appearance

In fact, the Ural Wolf is not the first chopper produced by IMZ. The rapid development of the biker movement in the early 90s pushed the plant (which was not in the best financial position at that time) to several bold experiments. The result was the Ural Cobra, released in 1997 in limited edition. It had no rear suspension and had a lot of technical problems... and was soon discontinued.

However, already in 1998, the Night Wolves motorcycle club approached the IMZ management with a proposal to build a new motorcycle model that would have improved characteristics and high quality. As a result, engineers of the Irbit plant, together with representatives of the Wolf Engineering motorcycle studio, developed the Ural Wolf motorcycle, which was put into production in 1999.

The already mentioned Ural Cobra was taken as a basis, which was equipped with a full rear suspension, an engine of larger volume and power, adjustments were made to the design and ergonomics... known technical problems, for the most part, were also eliminated.

Specifications

Ural Wolf IMZ-8.1238 has the largest wheelbase among domestic motorcycles - it is 1690 mm. And on a global scale (among mass-produced models), it is second only to the Honda GL1500 Gold Wing and Harley-Davidson Softail Custom.

The bike is equipped with a 45 hp boxer engine. and a working volume of 750 cm³, which is equipped with an electric starter and kickstarter. This engine consumes an average of 5 l/100 km, with a fuel tank volume of 22 liters.

This motorcycle uses a standard 4-speed gearbox for the Urals. Torque is transmitted to the driving rear wheel via a cardan shaft.

The total weight of the motorcycle is 430 kg, and the maximum declared speed is 150 km/h... more on the dynamics below.

Ural Wolf is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes on the front and rear wheels. Tires 90/90-18” and 130/90-16” are also installed here, respectively. The front suspension is telescopic, and the rear suspension is pendulum with spring-hydraulic shock absorbers.

Modifications

The Ural Wolf was produced for 12 years and managed to receive many minor changes and improvements.

This model had two main modifications - IMZ-8.1238 and IMZ-8.1237. The second is rarer and different:

wheelbase size (which is 1625 mm),
fuel tank volume (23 l.),
a less powerful engine modification (40 hp) and the maximum speed of such a motorcycle is 130 km/h.

Features of the "Ural Wolf"

Firstly, for a Russian production bike, it had a unique design with lots of chrome and an unusually long front fork.

In addition, this motorcycle had outstanding characteristics and high build quality (compared to previous models of the plant) - it was on the Volk that the 750 cc IMZ engine was first used.

The advantages of the model include an advanced (for that time) suspension, which is very well adapted for difficult road conditions.

Today, the main problem when operating the Wolf is finding the necessary spare parts. This motorcycle has many unique parts that are not used on other IMZ equipment. Considering that the model was discontinued more than 10 years ago, owners have to spend a lot of effort in repairs.

However, it is worth noting that the design is characterized by relatively high reliability and simplicity.

Other disadvantages include:

heavy weight - the dry weight of the motorcycle is 249 kg, which is significantly more than the weight of its closest competitors;
Even the modernized engine does not cope with such weight in the best way - because of which the dynamics suffer greatly: the motorcycle accelerates to 100 km/h in more than 12 seconds;
many owners also pointed out a very specific (even taking into account the class) fit.

If we talk about prices, at the end of 2021 the average cost of a Ural Wolf motorcycle on the secondary market is ≈450±200 thousand rubles (much depends on the technical condition of a particular instance and the greed of the owner).

Tags
750 cc Motorcycles choppers

Owner reviews

Only hardened oppositionists and those who are not afraid to get their hands dirty should buy. It looks decent in the photo, but that's just the photo. This monster requires attention after every trip, and if you come to the garage in the morning and don’t find traces of oil drops under it, it means that the oil leaked out even before the bike drove into the garage. It makes sense to hang trunks to carry a set of tools and a lighter. The lighter will come in handy if the Urley-Dneperson breaks down completely at some point, and it will be easier to burn it than to drag it home. Artyom, Novosibirsk.

In direct and caring hands, the bike is very reliable! No match for the old oppositionists of the shaggy years. The mileage has already exceeded 40,000 km (I took it with a mileage of approximately 10,000), there were no serious problems, although you need to use your hands from time to time. A good option to learn how to both drive and repair your equipment. No matter how much I drive, I still have no desire to change, although there is a possibility. Sergey, Miass.

The bike is not perfect, but not bad. Yes, it requires attention from time to time, but this moped can be inherited by grandchildren. It is repaired with a screwdriver and pliers, and repaired in an open field on the knee. There are enough dynamics, whoever wants to race buys a sport, not a chopper. Evgeniy, Anapa.

Similar models

Yamaha XVS 400 Drag Star. In terms of technical characteristics and price on the secondary market, it approximately corresponds to the brainchild of the Irbit plant.
Honda Steed 400. Another extremely popular light cruiser, reliable and durable.
Suzuki VS 400 Intruder . A motorcycle proven over hundreds of thousands of kilometers and tens of thousands of owners.

FAQ

Are spare parts from old boxer cars suitable for it? Basically no, most of the components and parts from old IMZ motorcycles will not fit.
How common are breakdowns? Is it possible to take a risk and travel 3-5 thousand km? You can take a risk, but most owners would hardly advise doing so, based on their own experience. Breakdowns, alas, happen more often than we would like.
The heat from the cylinders actually fries your legs. What can be done about this? Nothing if you don't move the pegs. This bike has earned the nickname “Heel Eater” for a reason.

History of the development of the legendary Ural motorcycles

Ural motorcycles are manufactured in the Sverdlovsk region at the Irbit motorcycle plant. The story began in 1941, when it was decided to evacuate the Moscow Motorcycle Plant to Irbit. Production was located in the workshops of a former brewery, and already in 1942 the first batch of the famous M-72, which were developed in Moscow, was produced. This model was produced until 1961. Having begun during the war, production was focused exclusively on the army, and in the post-war years the M-72 began to be produced for the needs of the national economy.

In 1957, designers developed a new machine, the M-61. It was not produced for long, its production ended after 4 years. But for the developers, the modification was of great importance. The M-61 was a transitional model, and in 1961 a new bike, the M-62, appeared, which was called the Ural. It was already very different from its famous progenitor M-72. The new one received a more powerful engine, a completely new gearbox and a significantly redesigned chassis.

Subsequently, three-wheelers underwent more than one change. Being the only one in the country producing heavy motorcycles. The Irbit Motorcycle Plant successfully sold its models on the domestic market and for export. Designers constantly worked to improve the design and improve speed characteristics. The last motorcycle of the Soviet period was the IMZ model - 8.103-30.

The story didn't end there. The plant itself was repeatedly renamed and declared bankrupt. But production survived, and today Russian heavy motorcycles are in fairly high demand. True, sales markets are now mainly located abroad. In the USA, Europe and Canada, high-quality motorcycles from the Irbit Motor Plant are highly valued. In recent years, more and more bikes are being sold on the Chinese market and in the Middle Eastern countries. New supermodels are also popular in their homeland.

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Conclusion

This bike was a test of the strength of the Irbit Motor Plant, and this test should be considered successful. It’s only a pity that the designers decided to curtail production instead of carrying out extensive work on bugs and offering customers an updated model that could compete with foreign motorcycles, if not due to quality, then at least due to price.

Specifications

Maximum engine power:	45 HP
Working volume:	749 cm3
Motor type (cylinder arrangement, number of strokes):	Opposed twin cylinder
Number of cylinders:	2
Number of valves:
Intake type (Injector / Carburetor):
Bore and stroke:
Starting system (Electric starter, kick starter):
Maximum speed in km/h:	150 km/h
Cooling system:	Air
Transmission (gearbox):	4-speed
Clutch (Dry / Wet):
Drive unit:	Cardan
Frame:	Closed steel frame, duplex
Chassis
Suspension (front/rear travel):
Brakes (Front/Rear):
Wheels / Tires / Rubber:
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions (Length / Width):
Seat height:
Ground clearance:
Curb weight:
Wheelbase:	1690 mm
Weight:	249 kg
Fuel tank capacity:	21 l.
Battery capacity:
Year of release:
Country of Origin:

Motorcycle engine "Ural-Wolf"

Once again, it must be repeated that the “Wolf” is not chasing the right to become the fastest motorcycle on any road. No, this bike has a rather unpretentious engine that simply pushes forward at medium speeds. The motor, standard for the Ural, is of the opposed type. Belongs to a four-stroke system. The total volume of its cylinders is an impressive 745 cubic centimeters. With a maximum power of 45 horsepower, the engine is capable of delivering 4000 rpm. In addition, this motorcycle has two L 22 A carburetors.

The Ural-Wolf is powered by gasoline with an octane rating of at least 92. Like all its brothers, the Wolf is not the number one economical model. Fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is quite high. At a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, this figure stops at 5.5 liters. At a speed of 90 kilometers per hour, consumption increases to 6.5 liters per hundred kilometers. And within the city limits, a motorcycle consumes as much as 7 liters. Quite a lot even for a cruiser. The fuel tank holds 22 liters of fuel. From this it turns out that with a mixed type of driving, you can travel 400 kilometers without refueling.

The gearbox is four-speed. Has reverse gear. Therefore, every time you park, you don’t have to worry about how to get the bike out. Reverse gear and you're good to go.