Since my separation from riding Triumph’s press fleet, I find there is more
to riding than one brand. I knew this before, but my easy access to new
Triumphs definitely gave me an advantage over most when it comes to test rides.
But reading an ad this morning about the “perfect motorcycle for you” I took
some offense. I almost bought a new Duke 790 a few weeks ago on the inside
deal, my daughter in law is a VP at KTM. Maybe the hardest no ever issued by me
in my history of riding. My friend at Triumph still offers me bikes at his
cost, and a Street Triple RS is the latest carrot dangling in front of me. I
have two friends who are GM’s at Kawasaki dealers, a new z900rs at their cost is
nice, and way too tempting, so I haven’t visited in a couple of weeks. And that
is just the short list, even the GM at the local Harley/Indian store wants to
deal with me, to get me on a real bike, whatever that means. He will show me
invoice on any bike in stock, I don’t think an overweight, overpriced, under
powered motorcycle will ever be the perfect one for me, so I just laugh at the
others how they over pay, and under ride. I have even been scanning Craigslist
for an old R90S, the Harleys are cheaper. So I decided to keep the four bikes I
have, and after new tires, front brakes, chain and sprockets, and a battery, on
my Tiger 1050, I spent less than $800 for it all, and have the bike I really
want, with title in hand. And it was hard to admit, but my riding styles have
changed, not ready for a boring Gold Wing yet, but I don’t ride like the nut I
used to, but still find few who can keep up with me....and just for fun, when
Mr. Loud Pipes Save Lives challenged us, I blew him in the weeds after spotting
him 30 yards on an on ramp. Blowing by him like he was standing still, and soon
he was out of sight behind me. Oh, did I mention Theresa was on the back with
me? Could it be the antidote to speed kills is loud pipes on slow bikes save
lives?
But in the back of my mind I hope I will always be the young 20 year old
kid who loves to ride. Where going fast still thrills, and corners still
tempt. Where in the middle of winter just sitting on a new bike in the showroom
makes me “cannot wait until spring,” and every time I pass one when in a car
makes me wish I had left the car home. If you know what I mean there is no
explaining, if not God bless you and your Prius. Just not where we ride. But
riding is something personal, and while the ads portray you on their perfect
bike, each bike in my past was the perfect bike for that time and ride. From my
first Honda CB350, to the R90S I left home and rode cross country on, to my
FJ1100, and 7000 miles its first week of ownership, and to the almost 30 bikes
in between then and my Bonneville T120, each bike was the right bike at the
right time. The perfect ride for my age and attitude, only being honest and
humble makes me add my pocketbook. So when I read about the perfect motorcycle,
I find that if it was ever made, it would never fit me, for one size doesn’t fit
all, no matter how loud your pipes are. And the fact you ride will always be
more important than what you ride. But for you young riders, never stop
dreaming, and us older guys never stop. Maybe slow down, but never
stop.....
It took God 27 verses in Genesis before he made man. So unique and so
different that he gave us dominion over all the earth and all things in it.
Adam named all the animals, trees and shrubs, and he had a free hand in all
things with one rule, stay away from that certain tree. When God made us, he
instilled a will in us, unique to all creation, as being made in his image, like
him, we were given a choice to love or rebel. To obey or deny, for perfect love
demands a choice. He instilled perfect values in us, yet Adam was one man alone
with God, the perfect one on one relationship. But God seeing how Adam was
alone by himself, created Eve out of man, to share Adam with, taking a part of
Adam from his side, not necessarily a rib, but making him just like Adam but
uniquely different, just as Adam was like God but uniquely different. We know
their story of sinning, and ever since everything man has created has a certain
evil twist to it. Even at one point erecting a Tower of Babel to the Heavens to
prove how great they were, but God struck it down, and confused their language
scattering them away. Their choice might have mentioned God, but it never
honored him. And the likeness of God on earth in his creation endured the
flood, and 40 years in the desert, still not trusting while complaining. But
God is patient and Jesus was the way back. Man cannot legislate love, laws do
not make us moral, nor are they moral, it takes a changed heart, a being of
being reborn to Adam’s status before his fall, it takes God in the form of a man
to walk among us, it took Jesus. For everything made bears it maker’s mark, all
things of man will bear his mark, the things of God will bear God’s mark. And
the physical things will never satisfy the spiritual qualities that only Jesus
can fulfill, that can give us perfection and the love we desire. And need. The
church may try, but is only made up of men also, and without Jesus is a
miserable substitute for him. From religion to motorcycles we need a savior, we
need Jesus!
For just as we have retained the capacity to be Godlike, without Christ we
do not have the ability. The way Jesus is talking about. Although it seems
harsh at times, in all our tough times of trials and tribulations, God is at
work restoring himself to us. Revealing his perfection as we put on the new,
Jesus Christ, and put off the old man of sin. We are being refined and
purified, and just like it takes tons of pressure to make a diamond fro coal,
that same pressure in God’s hands is reforming us. Until as the silversmith
looks over into the pot and sees his reflection, knowing all the dross and
impurities are gone, leaving a refined perfect product. God is refining us so
he can see himself in us once again!
So at any moment and at the very moment God is working in the heart of the
believer installing in his his own greatness again. We too can be like the
first Adam, but it takes the final Adam, Jesus to do it. So next time tempted,
and you will be, when the loud pipes just make you want to go fast, when you got
to go and prove something, remember you are never alone. For just like Theresa
was my passenger that day, Jesus rides with you always, never leaving you nor
neglecting you. He left us his spirit, given to us upon salvation, so wherever
two or more are gathered in his name, he truly is with us. God never left us,
that was never his plan, and he misses us and wants us back. He is the
motorcycle I hope they never make, for I never want anything to come between
us. I’m still being refined and still riding, still tempted, and still reading
the ads, while still sitting on new bikes, and still visiting showrooms. But at
every visit all I have to do is see what I rode in on, to know what I should
ride out on. That perfect motorcycle for the perfect ride at the perfect time,
with no money changing hands and no payments. Still the temptations line
up....so I’ll just go for a ride, and think on Jesus. A riding partner so
unique and different why would I ride any other way?
That something you seek is really a someone, Jesus Christ. And he leaves
it up to you. Sorry I cannot hear your answer inside my helmet....it still and
always will be that personal...so let the good times roll!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com