I love to watch as they sit on the shiny new bikes sitting on the showroom
floor, leaning, sitting, and pretending they are riding. Finding a comfortable
position, maybe even putting their feet up on the pegs, some crouching down as
if in the wind, others sitting straight up, proud-who’s watching as I pick out
my new ride? Do they wish they were me? But the one thing that is missing, the
one thing that is different about your seat time versus real life is you won’t
be sitting still when riding, you will be moving. You will have wind in your
face, your legs will be bent at a different angle, and you will find a different
part of the seat to occupy. Yet very few if any demo rides are offered, and I
wonder how many bikes are sold based on how comfortable it is in the showroom.
Only to be found out how different it is on the road. For instance, I find a
Daytona R easy to sit on at the shop, but murder on my wrists and neck in slow
traffic. Get out above 80, and it is a different ride, now it is comfortable.
Tucked in, legs up, just like it was designed for-speed, and lots of it. A few
years ago I rode a Ducati Diavel on a Cycle World ride, again comfortable in the
lot, but at speed, somehow the seat and feet were at odds-all that power and
your feet are ahead of you-just the opposite of a Daytona. It took a while, but
I got used to it, after riding it like it wasn’t a Daytona. But still seat vs.
street situations told a different story. Fortunately this was only a test
ride, and not an after purchase wake up call, as I would have been unhappy, not
what it felt like on the showroom floor.
After riding over 2000 miles last week, but never getting farther than 500
miles from home, I again am reassured that the Tiger is the best bike for long
distances. Over 89,000 miles in 48 states are a good testimony to that. You
cannot beat the sitting position, dirt bike style, and long travel, soft
suspension help it handle like a sport bike. But last night riding my Street
Triple I am reminded of how well it really handles compared to the Tiger.
Compared to my Bonneville, compared to my old Suzuki. And I like to use how
much tire I wear, the remaining unused portion are referred to as “chicken
strips,” and on each bike I have no chicken strips to speak of. I use all the
tire, and can be comfortable on each one. When ridden as they are designed.
Something you cannot tell from sitting on one on the showroom floor-you must
ride then decide. Which brings me to my latest test ride, a 2014 Indian Chief
Vintage. Their most expensive and heaviest motorcycle, I chose it because I
would have Theresa on the back, and it had a back rest. It is big, weighs over
800 pounds before the $3200 of extra options were on it, the list price then
being over $26,000! It felt good, the detailing was great on the leather, and
my feet touched the ground-so far so good. We were to ride in a group of 10,
staying in the group, not exceeding the speed limits, for almost 6 miles. An
around the block road test essentially. So off we went. And suddenly what felt
so comfortable sitting was like pushing a wheelbarrow through gravel once I went
to turn. This sucker is big, and you cannot finesse it-you follow where it
wants you to go. But once rolling, no matter the speed, it was comfortable. I
always lag behind on these rides, letting the group get ahead, then opening up
the throttle, and it was quite powerful, impressive. I hit the rev limiter in
first and second, and got up to almost 80 before catching up to the group, it is
deceptively quick, wide power band. Brakes were adequate, but every time I had
to to turn, I had to prepare myself physically, this bike didn’t want to turn,
or lean either. I rode it like I stole it, and this bike I wouldn’t consider
stealing...it ain’t me. But if I had never ridden it, just based on showroom
seat time I would have never known. And getting back on the Tiger afterwards,
if I had tried to muscle it like I did the Indian, I would have steered right
into a ditch! Give me a bike that is light, comfortable, and handles any day.
That loves to lean, has great brakes, and power...the Indian will do well with
its target audience, I am not within target range, fortunately. But it makes me
wonder, why does the Indian weigh almost 350 pounds more than the Tiger? What
did they forget to take out? Or what did Triumph forget to add? Maybe if I
bought them by the pound, $32/pound for the Indian, $24/pound for the Tiger,
less weight takes less power, and when more power is there, you can go faster,
and handle better. And that $8/pound can buy lots of miles of riding! But it
comes down to the road test, ride it before you buy it. See for yourself, you
are entering into a relationship that will last for a while, or at least until
the payments are complete.
So a test ride is more important than we may have thought, but how many
have taken a test ride with God? When first saved the popular story taught was
of a young, poor kid who was told God could do anything, just ask in Jesus
name. So this kid figured if God could answer his request, he would become a
Christian. So he went home, sat on his sofa, and asked God for a Cadillac,
right down to the colors and options he wanted. And he sat for a few days, with
no word from God, and no Cadillac. At church the next week, he talked with the
pastor, and told him he wasn’t returning, and wasn’t interested in being a
Christian. He had done like he was told, but no Cadillac. God must not care,
or even listen, as he did just as he was told. And left frustrated, and
defeated, he had been lied to. He was told God was like the Genie in the lamp,
and he still had other wishes. He missed the element of love God has for us,
and how He is in control. His whole experience based on a lie, or a distorted
story about God, he never took the test ride, he just believed the hype. Sadly,
too many do.
Ten years ago at a Hollister Rally, I wanted to get a new book out about
the Boozefighters history. We went to their booth, and met Bill Hayes who wrote
it, and JQ, the club historian. While Theresa and Bill talked, JQ put me I a
headlock-he was much taller than me. He had a question about God, some others
had asked him. With my theological juices flowing, my dream test to witness to
a biker was about to come true. I was ready...or so I thought. His question
was simple, “can God make a rock so big that He cannot pick it up?” And my
answer surprised me, and delighted him, not the words I had prepared, but the
ones God gave me that day. “You don’t ask God stupid questions like that!” And
JQ loved it, and was excited to tell others. And we kept in contact for a
while, answering other questions for him. I had answered the question in truth,
simply like the gospel, which is simple so that I can get it.
Because none of us is righteous, Romans 3:11, we cannot see God because of
anything we have done or haven’t done. It takes grace, and when we see Him face
to face, it changes us-not Him. We are not changed by programs, practices,
procedures, or short test rides, but by a person, Jesus Christ. And the more
time we spend with Him, reading, praying, and worshipping Him we are changed,
and we see Him personally. We are changed, not Him. He never fails.
A short ride on a new Indian told me I was more Tiger material. But my 39
year ride with Jesus has told me I am grace material. Only available through
the grace of God in Christ Jesus. We all ride differently, and that is good.
But Jesus is the only way...get some seat time with Him today. More than just a
Sunday morning ride, and find that He is all He promises to be. And more. How
you enter the curve sets you up for how you exit it. Follow Jesus, lean on
Him. And enjoy the ride. Jesus-everything you need, and nothing you
don’t.
love with compassion,
Mike
mathew25biker.blogspot.com