“How can you be comfortable riding like that?” the Harley guy asks, feet in
the wind, birthing style. And I wonder the same thing about him. “How can you
ride without a windshield,” I’m asked. “I do , my cars have them,” I reply.
“Your ride doesn’t have cruise or a radio, can’t pull a trailer, how do you tour
on it?” Again refer to my F150, a truck. “And it even has a chain, aren’t you
up to speed on the latest touring bike?” I guess not, but it’s a good thing I
don’t alarm easily. Or ride the same way, for over the years in my touring, I
have ridden coast to coast on five different bikes, and none had more than a
bikini fairing. Only two had a shaft drive, none had radios, two were sport
bikes, a third had low bars, and the one with the most trips is an adventure
bikes. Five bikes, nine crossings, but never on a Gold Wing. And I have had
offers from well meaning friends, but have always passed. From my R90S, to my
FJ1100, to my Honda CB650 NIghthawk, to two Triumphs, an ST and my Tiger, I have
ridden in 48 states, and three countries. With no windshield, or other carlike
feature to hinder me. I have done it in 124 degree heat, flash floods,
hurricanes, and freezing cold...but never on a Gold Wing. I have done it in
under 70 hours, arriving rested and well, and ridden over 100 miles in one
hour. I have done it with Theresa, alone, and with a group on Torches Across
America, but never on a Gold Wing. Now before you think I am prejudiced against
Wings, or big touring bikes, I’m not. But too many they think that anything
without a fairing, shaft drive, a radio, and weighing less than half a ton is
not a touring bike. But to me touring is a state of mind, an attitude, not a
type of bike. It is a relationship between ride and ride, and the road. Now at
one time I thought BMW’s were the way to go, I’ve had five of them, but living
in Ft. Lauderdale 40 years ago, while owning an R60/5, my eyes were opened. A
dishwasher at the A&W rode a 185 Honda with a Windjammer fairing, most often
seen on larger bikes. And took off from Florida each year for a month’s ride,
his latest ride was Alaska and back-on his 185 Honda! This man got it, he loved
to ride, to tour, he just liked small bikes. And my thought processes were
changed forever.
It was a big step for my friend Geno in 1976 to forego his BMW 750 for the
first Gold Wing. But he never looked back. Stu adds to his collection when
getting hit and totaling them. Woody and Sandy have over 200,000 miles on their
current one-pulling a trailer and camping. Even Ray, with his 264 hp B King has
a Wing, and just traded for another. Same color, newer year. I have even
dragged the front lower fairing on a friend’s when switching rides one
afternoon. So I am not anti-Gold Wing, but pro riding. I think that no matter
what you ride you shouldn’t be limited by boundaries, either recognized at state
lines or states of mind. I believe that as much as the bike you ride matters,
the fact you ride matters more. And I encourage all to get out and ride as much
as you can, while we still can. This is a beautiful country, with so many roads
yet left to ride, so any to return to, yet too many are hindered by what they
ride. They are trapped in a mind set, and although talk of freedom of the road,
enjoy no freedom on it. So whether you ride an Ultra Glide, a KTM, a Gold Wing,
or an adventure bike, or a 185 Honda-get out and ride it. See America from
behind a fairing or face in the wind. Get the shaft, or be bound by chains,
turn up your tunes, or keep them private in your head-but just do it! A lesson
learned from a nameless bus boy at an A&W 40 years ago. It was true then,
it is even truer today.
Proverbs says to instruct the wise and they will grow wiser. Teach the
righteous and they will learn more. Good advice from Proverbs 9:9. But maybe
it is what you see over the handlebars that influences you more, or less. Maybe
the thought of anything less than a crowd ride scares you. Maybe anything more
than alone does riders like me. But in all cases, we get out and ride, only
restricted by what we see ahead. Although the disciples didn’t ride, you can
bet they would and do today, they all had a different view of what was ahead.
And being with Jesus, hearing the same words, the same love, and same advice,
still had different visions. Jesus knew what laid ahead for him-the cross. He
knew he would have to go it alone, even his Father would abandon him for a short
time. He knew the future, what lied ahead, and went willingly to the cross.
James and John each saw something different. In their future they saw thrones
waiting for them. The other ten saw the same things, but were upset that James
and John had beat them to it. But Jesus then lovingly reminds them, and us we
are not in competition with each other. He explains how the Gentiles exercise
power of anybody and everybody, how power trips lead to more power, that can
corrupt. Using anything within their means to stay powerful...but never knowing
real power of the gospel that we all have available to us. “Not so you...” he
tells them, for you are different. And being saved we are, but not above the
lust of power and control. I see it in churches, ministries, among families,
and between brothers and sisters in Christ...and it should never be! There is
no chain of command in the church-only Jesus. No hierarchy to be set up to
rule, we are to follow the spirit. Yet I have been told by others in the church
my weaknesses in ministering, how I don’t do enough, how coming under the church
board will enhance my ministry. And to them I kindly, but more often unkindly
tell them no. None is to command us even from the pulpit-we are to only do as
the Lord commands. And even then we have a free will to say yes or no, to be
blessed or not. It is up to God, not to man to guide us. We are to be led in
the spirit, guided by Jesus. So what you see ahead of you from behind the
handlebars effects you as much as what you see in Jesus.
God has given us suspensions for rough roads, rain suits for bad weather,
and power to pass by others. All under control of the right hand, which gives
us the power, regulates the power, or shuts off the power to the rear wheel. It
is fired by a command coming from the brain, which starts in the heart, and can
take us places we never imagined. Or leave us stranded because of fear and
tradition. All wisdom comes from above, and will add years to your life. Miles
to your ride, so don’t let anyone tell you different. Don’t be led astray by
those who don’t or can’t, be led by the spirit and see where the road God has
you on leads. Some hide behind windshields, some in cars, some never leave the
sofa. Like my friend reminds me” unless you are the lead dog the vies never
changes.” Only in Jesus will your view change, as you see more of him and less
of you, as you follow him instead of church tradition or rules, as you get out
and enjoy more of life. Some wonder, some wander, some just never get it. To
which I ask, “how can you be comfortable living like that?” And they probably
wonder the same thing about me.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com