I watched as the woman stepped onto the running board and slid her leg over the rear seat. She then swung the armrest back behind her, and then plugged in her headphones. Looking at her husband, he then slid his backrest in place, stood on his running board, and slid his leg over the seat. He then proceeded to plug in his headphones, and adjust his windshield. He then started the bike, pushed various buttons to select the CD he wanted to listen to, put on his gloves, and pushed another button lowering his bike to the ground, off of the electric center stand. With music blaring, they ride off onto the freeway, immediately getting into the fast lane, setting the cruise control at the posted speed limit, and watching as cars, trucks, and other riders go whizzing by at 15mph faster, all casting demeaning looks at them, as they cruise down the freeway, totally oblivious to anyone or anything except themselves. The only interruptions are the words they have using their communicators. And they call this motorcycling!
Getting ready to leave on an extended trip, people ask which bike I am taking. When I tell them the Tiger, they invariably ask "is it comfortable?" To which I told a guy the other day, who should know better, "No, but it's only 10,000 miles of trip, I'll get used to it. Why would I want to be comfortable?"
And he acknowledged by a nodding of his head, he understood. I guess the fact that his old Sportster doesn't vibrate-tell that to anyone who ever rode on, and since the addition of a Mustang seat doesn't-now that's a miracle-maybe his nodding head is just a screw loose from too many miles on his two wheeled blender.
Recently I had friends in BA-Moto ride 1000 miles in 24 hours on their Scramblers-no windshield, floorboards, or so called luxury items. They rode, and my hat, 'er helmet is off to them. They understand the truer essence of riding. And I can associate with them, I don't like doing windshields either, although my touring bike, a 2006 Tiger, the old style, has a small one. Keeps wind off the shoulders down. And as I surveyed the bikes in my garage, none of them have a windshield, running boards, radios, armrests, cruise controls, or communication devices. Most unlike my wife's car parked next to them. Motorcycles, as they were designed, they even have handlebars, and not the popular one size fits all that many makes now have instead of the old tubular handlebar. Which means I can replace them if they don't fit. And yes, the Tiger has a Corbin seat, how could such a fine bike have such a horrible seat from the factory? And hard bags for touring. That's it.
But is it comfortable? Try long travel, soft suspension. While your touring bike feels all the freeway expansion joints, I float over them. It weighs less than 600 lbs. fully loaded, gets 45-50mpg, is smoother than a Gold Wing-counterbalanced triple is the way to go, and I've ridden as much as 276 miles on its 6.3 gallon tank. But is it comfortable? Four years, 55,000+ miles and 42 states-ride one and you be the judge. But how do you communicate with your wife?
By phone when she can't go, through hand signs and body language when she does. Makes the conversation when we stop more valuable. And we can take more roads, getting off the freeways, and seeing America-believe it or not the US of A is more than a freeway exit! Note to you homegrown So Cal types.
What you ride doesn't make you a tourer, just as going to church doesn't make you a pew-although you may stink one up. It takes a relationship, sorry Miles, with your ride and the road, and over time when you think you have seen it all, you realize how much you have missed. And find knowing Jesus is like that. The more I get to know Him, the more I realize I don't know. And just like new roads take me places on different bikes, and I see the beauty, and smell the air, in a different way each time I ride. And it takes bad roads, bad weather, and sometimes bad riding partners to fully appreciate what I have. And how far I have come.
God allows bad times-sorry any time you have something not go your way, don't blame the devil. God allows tests/circumstances to come into your life, so you can build a relationship in that area with Him. If you were never sick, you would miss out on the great physician. If hungry, the story of feeding 5000 would be just that. If needing help, it would be just a fable, instead of a testimony. Brotherhood, yes we bikers have that, but nothing compared with the Koininia fellowship with God and other Christians. And sadly, if no one ever betrayed a trust with you, you would not have the insight into Jesus himself being betrayed. And just like more miles bring more experience and joy, more time with Jesus brings more joy-read Psalm 1! And what a great place to spend with Him-while riding! He is more than a Sunday morning hour to endure, Jesus loves the open road-remember that is where He spent most of His time. Hmmmm? And loves eating-note to bikers, and is the best tour guide, period.
What does He ride? Whatever He wants, and He has ridden them all, in all situations. Make Him your riding partner today. On any bike, on any road, with any riding group, He makes the ride more fun, and worthwhile. And like life-the simpler you keep it, the more time you have to enjoy it.
Break out of the mold and follow Jesus. You may find that simple is much better, and the time spent more precious. And that riding a motorcycle is much better than taking the car-with its windshields, armrests, radio, CD system, and cruise control. More personal, I believe is what they say-both in riding and with the son of God. Enjoy both today-you will be glad you did.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com