Tuesday, May 22, 2012

who do you pity more, the fool or the one who follows him?




I was stopping up at Mickey's to pick up my latest press bike to put on break-in miles, when I saw a A Storm I had ridden recently with a huge dent in the tank. Chris when on to explain that it was used in a GEICO commercial, along with some other bikes I had ridden, and had come back damaged, and Flo, the GEICO girl had signed the tank. Whoopee. But then I saw the commercial, and was glad I have never chosen GEICO. A row of bikes is knocked over by a nerdy competitor, with some biker quote about how we love our bikes more than our women. And a biker growls when he sees the row of bikes down. And I agree with him-lousy commercial.
But I have learned over the years that this is normal. You see Triumph wasn't told we are going to damage your bike, and you think an autograph will bail you out? At least it wasn't that stupid lizard! But I have seen bikes come back in bad shape from magazines. More than once. And also from other media outlets who just had to have one for whatever purpose. Triumphs are cool-but if you can't ride, stay off one!
I was there when a producer for an MTV ad brought back a Speed Triple, with only .4 of a mile on it. It was to be driven slowly in the background, but Mr. MTV Stud tried to show off, and dumped it. He had positioned it so you could only see the left side, and when we saw the other side, it had been laid down. Not at 5mph, by an experienced rider like they claimed, they bike was totaled. And no amount of lame excuses could unbury this yuck's lies. I believe Triumph sent them a bill-which they should have. But months later this same bike, mildly customized by Mickey, was on the cover of the Robb Report. I hope I haven't told any tales out of school. From MTV loser/liar to cover bike, another reason to not watch MTV.
I had gotten a call from Mick, he needed a quick 1000 miles on a new Daytona. A week I had for 1000 miles, but in just over 24 hours I brought it back with over 1000 miles. So off it went to R magazine, who had to have one, and this newly styled, updated bike was promptly dumped. I had ridden over 1000 miles safer in less time than it took them to dump it! And they wanted another! Learn to ride guys, after all it is a sport bike. To their credit they did mention the fact they had crashed it in the comparison article, and said nice things about it, but the damage was done. But it was fixed, and put back in the fleet, and lives on today, its owner not knowing its glorious past. I guess that is why we call them accidents, not on purposes.
I had just come back to swap bikes, and took a new Street Triple to lunch. The speedos will record the highest speed the bike has been ridden, and we would compare how fast we had gone. I had hit 131, and felt fast, until I saw the 148 on the Street Triple. You will never know how slow 131 mph can feel. No need to mention the magazine, these guys know how to ride. And are respected by others. The others should take notice.
But in an always unfair world, Honda a few years back sent a bill to a magazine for totaling one of their test fleet. When the magazine refused to pay, hey no one else bills them for crashing, Honda promptly withdrew all their ads, and still won't advertise with them. Almost crippling the magazine at the time, while sending a notice-learn to ride or buy the bike. And I hear that other manufacturers are following suit. I agree.
Don't approach life like a borrowed motorcycle. Treat it with some respect. There is always a price to pay, and you cannot always afford the price. That is why God sent Jesus in the form of a man to pay for our sins-no other method would do. We couldn't obey the laws He had set, and couldn't follow the schedule. So He sent love, something that is above laws, and above any regulations. Someone who could pay the price once and for always. Better than a new bike, and better than an entrance pass to ride however you want. He takes us as we are, something not all denominations will do, and then changes us, with our permission and for our benefit. And it doesn't end at death, for those who are born again will live forever. We will never see death, for true death is separation from God. Forever. Remember that. This life is really a press fleet of events, giving us every opportunity to come to Christ. What do you say?
Riding new bikes is fun, but there is a reason I own the ones I do. Same with Jesus. It's that personal. Find out today, and give Him your life. Fallen away, He never left you, you left Him. Time to start riding and living again with Jesus. Don't wait for an accident to find out how bad GEICO really is on claims, or how they didn't tell up front the damage they had intended to do to borrowed motorcycles. Would you really trust someone who would trash someone else's new ride just to make a buck? Trust in God, and never ride alone again. No discounts, no small print, and no lies. Only truth. Flo's autograph on the tank won't fix you bike, or your life. Only Jesus will. An assurance that no insurance can provide.
love with compassion,
Mike