We ride “motor” cycles, emphasizing the motor part. Even Harley refers to
itself as The Motor Company, so maybe there is something in a name. And size of
engine. For years a 250cc was the buy in size for beginners, I started on a
Honda 50. At the time 250cc power was unheard of. And when riding, the larger
the motor, the bigger the presence. My CB350 was cool, but sitting next to
Frank’s CB450 he had the power over me. 650cc-wait a minute, that was for race
bikes, or hooligans. No one needed more power than that, even Edward Turner who
was the father of the Triumph twin said so. But then alone came Honda with a
750cc, and with 4 cylinders. And disc brakes, electric start, and it somehow
contained all the oil it had put into it. Just pulling up next to one was a
humbling experience. Just blipping the throttle told you he was king, the four
pipes singing a song previously reserved for the race track. Then Kawasaki came
out with the Z-1, 903cc! This thing was bigger than a Sportster, which was at
the time described as being so fast it will put hair on your chest, and if you
already have hair there part it. This was seriously fast, and could go 134
mph. How could anyone hang onto something that fast? And soon BMW had 900cc in
their R90S, Honda was to follow with 900, then 1100cc versions, and the race was
on....where would it all end? But the power race was just beginning, the
engines at the heart of the matter.
Technology is a great thing, and soon 500cc bikes were running with the big
guys, and whereas more engine size gave you more power, now more engine came in
smaller packages. That would handle better, be easier to ride, and soon
handling, brakes, and a highly tuned engine all were the things we were told we
needed. And of course we did, when they all added up to performance, more of
it. But soon, just as they had in the muscle car era, insurance companies in
the early 1980’s singled out high performance bikes, referred to as “Ninja
bikes,” based on the Kawasaki by that name. Aimed at the Jap bikes at the time,
whose performance was so far ahead of any one else, some were made to be
uninsurable, to keep them off the streets. Honda had a CB1100, Suzuki the
GS1100, Kawasaki had the Ninja at 1000cc, and Yamaha had the FJ1100. But my
wallet and insurance budget would only cover the 650-750cc range, until one
afternoon in July. We all hear about the deal that cannot be refused, and that
day I was offered it. It was a left over 1985 FJ100, which had been sold two
previous times, but never left the showroom. No one could get insurance
coverage on it, so it sat, until that afternoon. Now at the time it was the
fastest street bike, top speed 155 mph, with a small fairing, new at the time.
It sold for $4995, big bucks to me, but the deal was offered, and it had me...if
only I could get it insured. The store offered me the bike for $3995, no one
discounted bikes that much, and gave me retail for what my old bike, a 1983
CB650 Nighthawk, which I had gotten from Gary at Handlebar, getting a bigger
discount by winning the flip of the coin. So here I was, a deal no one would
believe, and that I may never see again, I had to say yes-I mean what would you
have done?
And because of my older age, over 30, I was insured with no problem. And
suddenly I realized what I had done, and what I had, so I had to take a trip to
break in the bike. Putting 7000 mile son it the first 3 weeks, speed not
important, but I did do one stretch of 100 miles in one hour in Eastern
Colorado...I finally was living the high performance dream, and the size of the
motor part of motorcycle gave me bragging rights, and a new respect from other
riders. For 11 years, longer than I have ever owned a motorcycle, the FJ went
everywhere I did, ego driven by 1100 cc’s is tough to beat. Then the king,
today the 675 Street Triple in the garage will whoop on it. Still the engine is
the heart of the matter.
We are always looking for more power, to gain control over things. To feed
our egos, to give us the advantage over the other guy. But we look to
alternative ways when we should be looking to Christ. Who gives us a new
definition of power, calling it meekness, power under control. For 150
horsepower still takes the discipline of the wrist to deliver it to the
pavement, too much you wheelie, and can lose all control. Not enough throttle,
you stall. Some will push to redline, some past it, seeking more power. But it
is when riding the bike as designed, we get the most performance from it. And
like my rides, I want all the performance I can get from my God. When He tells
me He is healer, I want to see people healed. When He tells me He provides, I
want to see people’s needs met. And when He tells me He saves, I want to see
others saved. I want all that God has to offer, I want all the blessings. I
want all I paid for when I gave my life to Christ-I want Jesus. For only in
Jesus will you get to the heart of the matter. Only in Jesus will you get the
right power at the right time-His power. Power in the hands of evil that could
change the world, but in the hands of a loving God will still save it. Power
that is dependent on Him, not on me. For when Jesus is the heart of the matter,
we see things from God’s perspective, not through our own selfish eyes. We see
small people do great things, and powerful people losing their power. We see
evil plans go astray, and God’s plans before our very eyes, when we see them
through His eyes. We see a higher performance than we knew existed, and our
50cc life can sometimes produce more than a 200 hp race bike. When we have the
focus of Jesus, we no longer become narrowly focused, but ready to take on
whatever He sends our way. He adjusts our suspension to take the bumps, He
adjusts our throttle so we get power to the pavement. When He is in control, we
have true high performance, no matter how it is measured.
Today we have electronic suspensions, traction control, and adjustable
throttle settings-on motorcycles. We have given over the power to think and
adjust ourselves to a black box. And when it fails, we don’t ride. We sit and
cuss, and watch, and wish for another ride. Only in Jesus will we never be
stranded. Only in Him will all the power we ever need be there. Only in Him
will we have the power to decide when to use it, and only in Him, when used
correctly, will we see blessings that we never could imagine. A deal much
better than the one for my FJ, one that will last through many bikes, as mine
with Christ has. Over the years, bikes have gotten more powerful, and more
performance oriented. I cannot count how many I have had, but I still count on
the only God I have, and will ever need. For when Jesus is the heart of the
matter, everything you need is there with Him. And nothing you don’t need. Now
that’s performance, that’s the kind of God I wish to worship. Jesus Christ, a
deal that may seem unbelievable, but with a little faith will be the best deal
you ever made. And by the way, His insurance comes with the deal. One stop
shopping for all your performance needs...why walk when you can be riding?
Offered to all riders of all engine sizes...performance you can count on. No
matter what you ride, nothing beats Jesus. Nothing.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com