The Ural crossed the 900km mark the other day (about 560 miles). Here are some reflections as the bike nears the 1,000km mark:

• It’s funny how we assign so much significance to numbers. 560 miles wouldn’t cross my mind as a milestone, but coming up on 1,000km is a different story. It’s not a maintenance interval or anything special — except that it’s crossing into 4-digit territory. It feels like I’m earning my spurs (though still have a ways to go).
• At 1,000km, I will give the Patrol a healthy checkover. Tighten bolts, check oil, peek at the rats’ nest of wiring for loose connections, that sort of thing.
• I don’t think I will ever get tired of how this World War II-looking rig, with a big tub on the side, just mysteriously makes people smile. I love it. May have to explore via this site the strange alchemy where an asymmetrical hunk of dead weight transforms the average passerby’s opinion of a motorcycle from “something ominous,” into “something friendly.”
• Having a Ural helps to connect people. The emails and comments from people on this site have been awesome. Alan — I’m writing you back shortly (email often takes me a bit, but “Go Eugene Foilheads!”). Seth — great to chat with you at Beanery the other night. Andy, Dena, and so many others, thanks for the great conversations. I’m looking forward to more, and to future rides.
• Getting my Ural Patrol is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Here’s to coming up on 1,000km.