After riding for 45+ years, I have sat on more than one motorcycle seat.
Some welcome your tushy, with an ahhh, but after 20 minutes, you start to curse
it. Some have buttons on them for style, which after a while are like sitting
on a nail-pointy side up. And some are hard, like my Corbin, but are
comfortable after all day. But the common theme is, why can’t a company who can
build a bike that goes 150 mph, build a seat that you can sit on comfortably?
And while the motor is arguably the heart of the motorcycle, I think there is a
relationship between heart and seat that grandmothers know about, but bike
builders don’t. I have watched so many grandmas pat their grandchildren on the
bottom, declaring “bless your little heart,” telling maybe there is more of a
relationship between your heart and where you sit than we give credit to. My old
friend Brett used to comment that on my Z-1 the only reason they covered the
seat was so it wouldn’t rust. If only the manufacturers knew this. Pass this
along if you know one, no matter how fast, if I can’t sit on it for very long,
that ain’t cool!
Another thing missing from today’s ultra modern bikes is a place to hang
your helmet. NO matter how long you ride, you will stop, and only nerds carry
their helmets everywhere to show they ride. If you can’t tell by the leather
jacket, bugs on my shirt, and my helmet head I ride, you aren’t worth
impressing. And some of us don’t wish to carry our $900 Arai everywhere, and
would like a place to hang it on the bike. On the Thruxton I rode last week, it
had no provisions, I finally had to tie it to the rear foot peg stanchion,
leaning it against the muffler. Hope I didn’t hurt the muffler. But outside of
baggers claiming they can hold a full face helmet, places to hang your helmet
are few and far between. Is anybody listening?
No matter how much or where you ride, you need to stop, and maybe lube your
chain, or change a tire, or even just turn it around. Remember center stands?
You are over 35 if you do, they suddenly disappeared when weight became the
object, saving 4 pounds, and removing them made one less thing to drag in
corners. Old /5 BMW’s used to balance perfectly on them, both wheels off the
ground, and how easy to check the air in the tires when you can spin the wheel.
They also make it easy to spin your bike around on, when you want to ride
off-much like I used to use the hand brake for u-turns in my old MG. Sadly they
also made the self retracting side stand, allowing you to come back and find
your prized ride on its side. Swing it around, sit on the comfy seat, helmet
on-ride off. The perfect motorcycle. But sadly today we are face with great
technology, performance far beyond what we have dreamed of, yet we are left with
a less than perfect motorcycle, missing the three things above. When I look at
my old 1978 GS1000, which has a comfy seat, helmet hooks, a center stand, and
can go 120 before I shift into 5th, I wonder, how far have we really come? Why
could they do this 35 years ago, but can’t now? Or is it maybe a don’t, since
you can buy center stands, even for the Thruxton, and most bikes do have places
to hang helmets, if you are creative enough. Thank God for Corbin and other
custom seat makers-bless their little hearts.
Maybe if we took the attitude of Nehemiah, instead of complaining to each
other, we may make an impact. Too much complaining among each other, and to
those who cannot make a difference. Why go to others, when you need money who
are just as broke as you? Especially when you can go right to God, who has the
means to provide, He doesn’t have a committee to report to, or a budget to
keep. He understands comfort, a place to hang cares, and the need of ease like
a center stand for your life. So after seeing the problem he as faced with,
Nehemiah mourned. We complain. To each other. Pity parties, no one ever comes
to mine. But he turned God. His problem was only a country to rebuild. But
his prayer shows us a simple way to go to God with our problems. First he faced
the facts, no matter how unpleasant. We tend to lie a little when asked “how
are you?” like God can’t see. Your friends aren’t so blind either. After
recognizing his condition, he turned from his sin, acknowledging it, knowing God
would forgive him. Get all of the junk out of the way. That’s confidence, try
that one with a tight service manager who tells you they all do that when you
complain. He then reminded God of His promises, that He would rebuild Israel,
just like Jesus promises to meet all our needs according to HIS riches and
glory. A factory warranty for life. How soon we forget after being turned down
for a loan, I must have that new motorcycle! Even if it is uncomfortable, it is
fast, so I won’t have to sit so long on the seat. Of course, we would never
rationalize anything like that. But we argue and whine, just in case God was
busy and didn’t hear. Maybe we are too busy and didn’t listen. He then gave
Him a specific request. Know this-if God gives you the desire, He will fulfill
it. Maybe you need a new ride, but God knows you don’t need the payments. And
if you are patient, will provide, the right bike for you, comfy seat, a place to
hang your helmet, and a center stand. If God can design a create us, don’t you
think He just might be able to design and create a motorcycle just for you? 35
years ago my old Suzuki hit on all 4, something God has been doing since the
beginning. Maybe there is a certain relationship between heart and bottom that
only a grandmother can express, maybe have her write to Honda and tell them.
But for things that demand attention, call on God. Jesus rides, and for 2000
years I haven’t heard Him complain. Maybe the perfect seat is that close, and
we just have missed it. Three little things that make the less than perfect
motorcycle the perfect ride. Now if we can only work on the rider...leave that
one to God. He created us, who better to improve upon us. Just think, Adam was
perfect in the beginning before sin. I wonder if his motorcycle had any
problems? When sin entered the world it didn’t stop with him. It continues on
today. Maybe Nehemiah’s prayers are worth listening to. If I remember, his
results were just like God promised. And all I ask for is the three things for
my new bikes, found on my old one. Evolution of the species-is it? Or do you
see how creationism is true. Maybe we are faster, but are we better? In the
beginning starts right now with Jesus...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com