I was taught by my father, and his generation, that you worked hard, got an education, saved some money, and were good to others. So, the first thing I did when I was about to graduate high school, was go and buy my first new bike, a 1972 CB350 Honda, that I paid cash for, with the money I earned doing my paper route and had saved for years. All in one action I had fulfilled the advice given me, at least as I heard it, and had worked hard, graduated from high school, saved money, and now was being good to myself. I was a success at age 18, having fulfilled all his advice, not realizing this is not quite what he had in mind-particularly the motorcycle part.
So a new motorcycle it was going to be. I had studied it well, and from riding Bill's CL77, knew I was ready for the Honda. But as easy as the choice was, Honda outsold all other bikes combined, and their 350 series was their best seller, there were a lot of makes vying for my attention. Just listening to the names-many gone, brings back precious memories, and lusts and desires of the someday I will syndrome-but in many cases days that would never come. Or worse yet, days that should never have come.
The Spaniards sold Bultacos and Montesas. VIVA Montesa said their shirts. And Gary Bailey, even rode for Bultaco. Remember the Pursang, sold as the Barcelona missile? How about OSSA? Mick Andrews, world champion trials rider rode one. Harley even sold some smaller bikes imported from Italy, for the dirt, and sold them under the Baja name. I was with Mike Brannon when he crashed his. How things have changed! Triumph was still selling Bonnevilles, the old 650, and told us their bikes were "Hotter than ever!" But would still be gone in a few years. The competition hotter. In their street line AMF/Harley also used their #1 logo in red, white, and blue-the 1972 performers they were called, and reminded us "when you think of power, Sportster's on your mind!" 1000cc! With or without electric start! Only a real man would own one of them! Note-they also sold a 65cc two stroke mini-bike called the Shortster-Van had one. Kick start only.
BSA was reminding us that Dick Mann rode their bikes, and was #1 plate holder for the AMA. "Ride the winner," they told us, but only for a while, as there would be no 1973 BSA bikes for sale. Also gone was Gilera, for a few years now, and how many remember Gemini? Benelli tried to sell us "real machines," while Maico still was a name to reckon with off-road. Another Brit was about to go away, as Greeves was running out of breath, and sales, as was Yankee, Penton, Norton, Ariel, Jawa, Sears, Sachs, Puch, and countless others who had vied for our attention, and our hard earned dollars. Machines, that were here for a season, then gone, never to come back, except in our memories, and when reading old magazines. A golden age for motorcycling, not fully realized when it was here, like many other things we look back on with regret.
Golden ages-or the good ole days, are here again, if you know Jesus. How many of us talk about living in Jesus' time, or would have liked to know the Apostle Paul, or listened as John the Baptist told us of His coming? But God's plans are always perfect, and you were, and are at the exact time in history that God wants you. And that is fine with me-indoor plumbing and another golden era of motorcycle being two great reasons. But the most exciting is, we are living in a time when the promise of Jesus calling the church home-the rapture, as we call it, can happen any time, in our lifetime. And it seems ironic, how that the time of Jesus' ministry on earth intrigues us so much, that those in His day were desiring to see the rapture in theirs-and would love to have seen it happen to their generation! Ironic. I guess they will just have to be comfortable about watching it from heaven, and being in his presence for the past 2000 years. No indoor plumbing necessary, either. All that, and heaven too.
Today is the most exciting time to be a Christian, as we see everyday the promises of the Bible prophecies in our news. And maybe, we might be that last generation, and be taken up by the rapture, makes it even more exciting. But how many of us live with that expectation? How many are put off by the scoffers who question "where is His coming?" not realizing that He is patient to see them into salvation, that they may be the last one to be saved, and then let the rapture begin.
Do we live our lives, does our witness encourage others in this promise? Time is short, and it will happen, just like Jesus said. But unlike the countless motorcycle brands, who once were, but now aren't, the rapture will change the world forever, ushering in the anti-Christ, and then the day of the Lord. The worst seven years ever on earth, and you don't have to be here for it. Your choice. You see back in the day, some bought a dying brand, and got stuck with a machine that couldn't be fixed, because there were no parts or dealers. They invested badly, believing the ads, their friends, tradition, and the dealer-BSA will always be around, hey-Dick Mann is national champ. But today, sadly them and many others are only memories.
Choose Jesus today, the day of salvation, as tomorrow is promised to no man-Dick or others! Enjoy and live in the golden age of Christianity, and watch as Jesus Christ give life to your style. For 2000 the years the ads have been right on-He is just waiting for you. And unlike so many bike brands, He will return, just like He says. And your answer is....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com