Monday, November 7, 2011

just a generation ago...




I was talking with some guys from my age group the other day about how I rode without a clutch cable when it broke on my old 1978 Suzuki. The general consensus was no big deal, we all had done it at one time or another. But since Teflon lined cables now are the standard, we can't remember when was the last time we broke a cable. Which shifted-no pun intended, to the different bikes we have ridden, and the different way they shifted. Thanks to the Federal government, since 1975 all bike shave shifted on the left, down for first, then up for the rest, with neutral between first and second. You can now get on any bike since then and ride. If you know how. Six speeds being the norm now, a far cry from Harleys in the sixties with only three speeds. And riding used to be more challenging-more manly if you would.
Triumphs and Nortons would shift on the right. Triumph one down, the rest up. But Norton was one up, and the rest down, which could make for exciting moments-one was enough for me. When Bill installed Dunstall rearsets on his CB750, it reversed the shift pattern, GRAB THE FRONT BRAKE! Came close, but never hit anyone. My friend Lello had an old Kawasaki 100, with a rotary transmission-N-1-2-3, then would repeat, N-1-2-3! Many times went looking for 4th, only to hit neutral-then slide sideways as bike locked up going into first. But most other bikes would shift on the left, so the government made the rest of you shift our way. Perhaps the final battle lost in the English motorcycle wars. And at old bike meets it is funny watching some young kid figure out why the shifter is on the wrong side. He must be post 1975 himself. But somehow we all made it through those years where whatever we wanted to do was right, and you actually learned to ride-or get off quickly.
Honda and some others actually made an automatic, drove one once, but you still had to shift, on the left, just no clutch. S-L-O-W.....And no need going into landing on a trunk when the early Trident I was riding needed to stop, and I hit the shifter instead of the brake pedal, exiting the bike over the bars, damaging my ego, and not the bike. Poor guy I hit probably lost all interest in riding that day,too. Bottom line-learn to ride!
Now I don't actually think that standardization is wrong in the placement of shifters, but it is in other areas. The Bible warns us that in the last days, there will be a universal church-one religion for all. Which sounds good until you realize it won't include God. And the government will regulate it. Even the Vatican has come out recently telling us we need one religion. Not a new idea, but one for the end times, and anti-Christ will declare it. God has always given us the ability to choose, starting with Adam and Eve-although there are consequences for bad choices. True love demands a choice, that is why God doesn't force us to follow Him. It is our choice not to go to hell. He just gives us the choice. But sadly some wish to burden us with laws and legalism, for our own good. But really just to show themselves as superior to us-at least in their own eyes. But never God's. For living under the law and legalism is contrary to Jesus-you cannot earn your salvation, you cannot make God love you more, and last time I checked, He doesn't want our help. It is finished means it is finished. All done. By Him! We just get the benefits when we accept Him.
Don't fall into the trap that the US fell into years ago. They were going to build a safe motorcycle-another legacy of the Carter Administration. And they almost succeeded except for two main points-someone would have to ride it, and it only went backwards! Sadly Congress is still going backwards, yet never learned to ride. So learn to ride, and enjoy the ride before some do-gooder who can't tells us how to. And get close to God-NOW! Before some not-so-gooder tells us how too. You cannot legislate bikers on how to ride, and you cannot legislate morality. Both come from the heart! You can't make following Jesus standard, but you can make the choice standard! Choose Him today before it is taken away. Look out for Sharia law, it is coming, with the anti-Christ. My best advice, and backed up by God-choose Jesus now so you won't be here when it happens. Just like the Beach Boys sang about their little Hondas-"first gear, it's all right-second gear, hang on tight-third gear, outta sight! FASTER-it's all right" 45mph never felt so fast or so good!
Jesus and riding-no matter which side you shift on, make sure you ride with Him. Enjoy the ride. For where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Before the next generation wonders what freedom was really like! And there is no one left to remind them.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com