When I decided to take another route when walking with the hound yesterday,
while she was sniffing out for a place to go, my ears were filled with the sound
of a V-twin approaching from behind. And as it got closer, it was of the
non-Milwaukee brand, but an Indian Scout, of the vintage of 4 or 5 Indian
Motorcycle Company owners ago, painted Indian Motorcycle Blue, one of the three
colors available in the catalogue, the others being Indian Motorcycle Red, and
Indian Motorcycle Black. A dark blue, but with no shine, it didn’t reflect the
sunlight hitting the tank. Boring would best describe it. But the sound, a
symphony from its exhaust, was definitely not stock. It was just loud enough to
be heard by the Yuppie mom pushing her kid in one of those weird three wheeled
strollers, while on her i-pod, sending her into a discourse of how “you’ll never
ride one of those,” not heard over the exhaust sound while he was thinking “some
day I’m gonna have one like that.” Loud, but yet not loud enough to set off the
alarm in any soccer mom’s SUV. Just the right sound. And this guy riding it
played it perfectly, upshifting at the right point so as to keep the music
going, but then reminding me as he entered a 25mph posted curve that I usually
take at 45-50 mph, that his second gear entry was all the lean angle his bike
could handle, and why people don’t buy bikes that are slow, heavy, and with a
maximum lean angle not to exceed the side stand, while painted a dull color. A
bike so slow it made a Sportster seem fast. Right before your extremities fell
asleep from the vibration. But oh that sound...cheap horsepower.
You may not know that our concession via technology for dry and warm
clothes has made cold and damp clothes a thing of the past. When the dryer
became popular, many clotheslines died a silent death, but few know that they
did away with cheap horsepower for kids. Not the clothesline per se, but the
one thing that made the clothesline work, the clothespin. And if you remember,
clothespin plus baseball cards were cheap horsepower for our bikes. Using the
clothespin to attach the card to the front fork or fender brace, added a sound
missing from today’s culture. For 5 cents you could buy a pack of cards, chew
the gum that came with it, and have backup power available when the card went
limp. You learned that the front wheel provided the best sound, although some
would try the rear also, and at certain speeds the sound was intoxicating, just
like the sound I heard yesterday. And many Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and
Sandy Koufax cards are available today due to careful choosing of the cards.
Guys like Lou Klimchock and Al Moran gave up their collectability for cheap
horsepower. And some entire teams like the Indians or White Sox are noticeably
absent today due to cheap horsepower.
Proving that some get older but never grow up, when riding with a group,
really a crowd years ago, Theresa and I would ride our Bonnevilles, so we could
keep up with the slower Harleys. They were louder, and at a top speed of 45 mph
in 5th gear, the sound was deafening, proving the postulate that if you can’t be
fast, you can be loud. So Dick, seeking revenge and also not wanting to her
feel left out, after breakfast one morning showed us how he had attached a card
via a clothespin to Theresa’s front wheel. We had cheap horsepower, but the
illusion was short lived, as once the Harley’s started up, she still couldn’t be
heard above the rumble. But she was able to shift as high as third gear at
times...cheap horsepower via a thoughtful friend, so we looked for a 25 mph zone
with no traffic to appreciate it. Where have all the fun bikes and fun people
gone?
Now just about anyone can assure you that power is a good thing, but is
only effective when it reaches the ground. Burnouts are fun, but are from lack
of traction. And it is also hard to steer when your front wheel is off the
ground, so it takes power under control to make all the new found power work.
Meekness it is called in the Bible, and although it is written that the meek
shall inherit the earth, it doesn’t mean the nerds you pantsed in high school
who are making all the toys Yuppies can’t live without. The meek are those who
have their actions under control, because they have their attitudes under
control, and it is shown via the choices they make. Now meekness is one of the
fruits of the spirit, which are God’s characteristics. Imagine God not under
control-you’re toast. Imagine sin not being forgiven by Jesus? HELL-o!
Imagine no truth, and you have chaos. You may have power, but with no control.
So we find in God, meekness, which allows us to forgive someone who is
unforgivable. To love someone who is unlovable, and to endure those who turn
against us. We show love, because He loved us first, and we show it via
meekness. And we will inherit the earth, along with the new heaven that is
promised to all who have placed faith in Jesus Christ. As if salvation wasn’t
enough, we get meekness thrown in for free. Along with love, joy, peace, and
patience, goodness and kindness. Good things that at least as of today there are
no laws against. Unlike laws against loud pipes. So try a little meekness
today in your decisions. When in a position to seek revenge, show kindness.
Endure those who ride slow. Forgive those who don’t ride your brand or shop at
Nordy’s. Take the earplug out of your ear and converse with your kids. You
both might learn something. Tip the waitress extra, she works hard enough
having to deal with people like you. Exercise your power of love under control,
and watch as the smile crosses your face, so big it can be seen inside your
helmet. Take some time with your kids, and find some clothes pins and some of
your collectible cards and make noise. Show them how to wheelie-how to enjoy
being a kid. Find a parking lot or field and do burnouts-have some fun, all
under control. And watch as your attitude is infectious, smile when frowned
upon, that’ll really mess with their minds.
I think I am going to rewalk yesterday’s route, hoping that Indian comes by
again. Maybe flag him down, ask him to make some passes just for me. Better
yet, maybe I’ll just take a ride of my own. The header on my Tiger makes that
triple wail like none other. And if you tell me loud pipes save lives, I’ll
argue they may not or no one would ever die, but they sure do add life to riding
a motorcycle. Cheap horsepower, but only effective when it reaches the ground.
Don’t let technology steal the fun of being a kid from you....a choice you can
make, and yes, the meek will inherit the earth. Motorcycles are not boring,
your life doesn’t have to be either. No one ever called Jesus boring. Life
doesn’t have to be either, all for the lack of a clothespin. Wanna join the
revolution?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com