When I got my Patrol on Saturday, one of our friends stopped by to have a look. This evening, three more stopped by. One came over earlier in the afternoon, after I’d come home from work, so we ogled the bike and tipped back a Patrol Porter together. Then later on, after nightfall, (and with plenty of time for the beer to work its way out of my lightweight, cheap-date system), two more friends dropped by, and I moved the rig around in his Land Cruiser’s headlights so he could snap photos of the Patrol with his iPhone.

The Ural is the first motorized vehicle I’ve owned in nearly 10 years. And while I know the gawkiness and newness don’t last, it’s fun as hell to enjoy them while they do. It’s great having my friends around to check out the bike, to walk around and look underneath and talk about all the places it can go. Kind of like we’re not just gawking at the bike, but at all the potential. It’s a good feeling, and I can’t wait to get to where I feel confident enough on my Patrol to start going around town in it.