In the 1770’s, if you heard the cry “the British are coming, the British
are coming,” if a rebelling colonist, you took cover, for it meant trouble, big
trouble. But fast forward some 175 years, and again the cry goes out, but this
time among American bikers, who in the years following WWII, are looking to
ride, looking for excitement after our big win. Many who fought to gain us our
freedom, are now home, and for many the lack of excitement is a good thing, but
for many they are bored. And motorcycles provide a outlet and lifestyle for
many. The American Biker is born in Hollister in 1947, depending on which story
you choose to believe, when some bikers go crazy and the law is called in. And
the fear of bikers begins, and of course they ride American bikes, Harleys and
Indians mostly, and today major clubs, some outlaw mandate you must ride an
American made model. All in the defense of freedom, go figure. And now that
Sonny has switched to Victory, along with his chapter, and Indian is back-again,
American bikers again have a choice after their long absence. But in the early
50’s, some wanted lighter and faster, and with no Japanese bikes yet to ride,
another decade away from the Japanese invasion, many looked to England, home of
Triumph, BSA, Norton, and Vincent. Bikes made for the English secondary roads,
faster, lighter, and with a sense of sportiness 800 pound dressers don’t
display. The British were not only coming, they had arrived, and soon set speed
records at Daytona, and as their sales increased, so did the sport sided of
motorcycling. But somehow the Brits still felt everything from steering to
shifting must be on the right, and so they shifted on the right side, via foot,
instead of on the left, hand or foot. So Harley, looking to recapture lost or
potential sales, comes out in 1957 with anew model, lighter than the old ones,
smaller engine, and with right hand shift, so all the Brit riders could adapt.
Sportster they called it, and for years would be the quickest and most powerful
thing on two wheels, and the British vs. the Colonists battle had erupted
again. And it still goes on today, with Sporty and Bonneville shootouts in
magazines and on the road. Each claiming victory, depending upon the criteria
used. But both winners, there are no losers here, we all ride.
For as long as I have been riding, over 45 years, motorcycling has meant
freedom, freedom to ride and enjoy the great country we live in, and freedom
from boredom, and being stuck in a car. A freedom that those who don’t or won’t
ride will never enjoy, let alone understand, and so we are forced into a
minority group, and labeled by those who must find fault with the different.
And spread fear, instead of taking advantage of our offer to ride. We know many
won’t, even after a ride, but the offer is there. Yet it is easier to profile
us, since it is hard to tell what is under the leathers or in the helmet. Could
be a 1%er, or maybe a doctor rushing to the hospital. But put us in groups, and
we become gangs, thugs, and treated like lesser human beings. By those who are
anything but superior to us. And for me, I have always found bikers,
motorcyclists, and those in the industry to be a better group of people. We
have families, too, and we ride to live, not to die. Remember that as you cross
into my lane with your SUV filled with kids, while on your cell phone. Now
who’s dangerous?
Take Paul Revere for instance, businessman, traitor, and horseman.
Traitor, you say? Remember we all were, those who were rebelling against
England, and he could have been hanged as a traitor, losing everything for is
stand. Riding a fast horse, and proclaiming “the British are coming, the
British are coming,” while galloping through villages. My kind of guy, he would
have ridden motorcycles today. Probably an Indian, no Harleys then, but there
were plenty of Indians. Sorry Honda, and no true patriot would ride a BSA-after
all the Brits may come riding on them. So Paul was our sort of guy, he
understood freedom, riding, and a sense of adventure. Sounds like those of us
who ride, doesn’t it? Then as now, those who rode represented freedom. In 1928
a huge dam broke, flooding through Santa Paula and the valley from Castaic to
the ocean. In the middle of the night, two motor officers, went house to house,
warning citizens of the flood coming, saving thousands of lives themselves. A
bronze statue stands across from the train station in Santa Paula honoring
them. Again, those that ride, in the cause of freedom, saving lives, no matter
if they ride or not. Only on a motorcycle could that have been accomplished, no
one bothered to profile them that night. Yet so many are afraid of freedom, so
what is it about freedom that scares the masses? But not bikers?
Some 2000 years ago a man rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey.
Proclaiming to be the savior that is prophesied, He fulfills over 200
prophecies, spanning 700 years. Yet by the end of the week, He is tried,
condemned, and crucified-no crime committed, His major crime was He brought
freedom. A threat to those who are in control and abusing it. A threat to sin,
forgiveness. Today we read about Jesus in the Bible, and marvel at how that
could happen, He was a nice guy. And as I look around today, I wonder how can
the persecution go on against Christians? We are peaceful, loving, and
forgiving. Yet we get treated like bikers, profiled, and prejudiced, and blamed
for inventing rules, when Jesus came to fulfill the law, by doing away with it,
and giving freedom in the spirit. And today He would ride, maybe British,
maybe, Honda, maybe Harley, but He would ride, and like many of us, proclaim the
gospel. Showing that freedom comes with a price, it is never free. Maybe that
is why so many fear it and us-they can’t or won’t pay the price. In the case of
Jesus, He paid it once and for all. In full. No payment books, no balance
due. You get the title the day you accept Him. Which may be too much for our
monthly payment based society to accept. Which may be too much for the four
wheelers we share the road with to accept. The freedom to be responsible, not
the right to be prejudiced. Yeah, Jesus was and is my kind of guy.
History is filled with freedom fighters, some we know, some who died
faceless and nameless. We call them heroes. Paul Revere was a hero. The two
Santa Paula motor cops were heroes. But Jesus Christ, He is the ultimate hero.
The only one who we call our savior. The only one who could have done it. So
today when some Christian biker proclaims “Jesus is coming,” pay attention. A
true rebel in a world of sin, He is offering you freedom from your sin, your
fears, and pain and suffering. He may be on a Harley, Indian, Honda, Kawasaki,
or Ducati. But beware-the British are coming, and proclaiming the good news
too. To al y heroes who do, could have, and would have ridden, thanks for the
freedom you offer. But my heart and life goes to Jesus, the only true savior.
Who still rides today...declaring freedom to all on two wheels...and those stuck
in four. Sounds like a moonlight ride may be in order. Americans, patriots,
bikers, and Jesus. What does your hero ride?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com