I love Harley jokes. I also love Triumph, British, and Japanese bikes
jokes. Add BMW, and I am an equal opportunity joke lover. I cannot tell you
how many jokes I have heard about Joseph Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, of leaky
Triumphs, and of BSA’s. And I laugh with them. But this last week things
happened to me, we’ll file them under funny, because they are. But they also
reminded me of some who are so prideful that they cannot laugh at
themselves...so to quote an old National Lampoon Radio Dinner line, “you are a
fluke of the universe, whether you can hear it or not, the universe is laughing
behind your back..” Now I don’t enjoy group rides, I call them crowd rides, for
mixed in among those that can, are those that can’t ride, and you only ride as
fast as the slowest rider, or as good as the worst. Agreed? So this last
weekend, we hooked up with our friends in Black Sheep, HDFC, and rode to
breakfast with them. For Harley riders, these guys ride a faster than usual
pace, and I was amazed when we were able to catch up to them. When we came up
on them, Ned had been thinking of us, and was glad to see us, and us of them.
But we slowed to 60-65mph in a 70mph zone, breaking rule #1 of riding, never let
any semi trucks pass. With rule #1a being don’t let one of your own be the
cause of a traffic jam. But we all made it on time, and I joked with Ned later,
“I slowed down so I could keep up with you.” And we both laughed, as he is
definitely not a Harley snob. They gave me a hard time apologizing, saying next
time they will ride faster, so I can get out of second gear. Good friends, good
humor, and we love it.
Now when a Harley guy tells a Harley joke, I guess it is OK, but when I
tell them...look out. Wayne who rides an Ultra Glide, once told me that 95% of
all Harleys sold in the last 10 years are still on the road. The other 5% made
it home. Substitute Triumph, etc, and it is still funny. But my latest one is
“Harley Davidson-The most efficient way to turn gasoline into noise, without the
side effect of horsepower.” Maybe my new favorite, right after an early gem
from Gordon Jennings, “there is something inherently wrong with an engine that
makes maximum power at idle.” Loosen up and laugh, take a chance of getting
bugs in your teeth...
Coming out after too much Mexican food one night, I encountered a 400 pound
biker, named Tiny. How many of them do you know? Anyway, he started in on the
Triumph jokes, and with more booze than brains fueling his jokes, I got tired
quickly. But I was his audience of choice, so I decided it was time to join in,
with a Triumph joke. “Why doesn’t Triumph make vacuums anymore.” I asked.
“Because it was the only product they made that didn’t suck,” and he broke into
laughter, gave me a hug, told me I was cool, and how he once had a Bonne. Must
have been before he weighed more than the bike. And he went off telling anyone
else who would listen to his new joke. And I was his new friend.
But I have a friend, who once verbally accosted me for making Harley jokes,
he rides one. I was told I was jealous, and couldn’t afford one. His must have
been one of the ones who made it home. I was told how prejudiced I was against
Harley, and would never be able to ride one. “If he had to explain, I wouldn’t
understand.” But he did. But I did understand one thing he didn’t, and may
refuse to. We are all brothers, riding is what is our common denominator. So
when I take the newest press ride to see Spud at Biggs HD, he looks at it, and
explains how we have the same common disease, motorcycles. And how I have an
open invite to ride any bike on the floor whenever I want...how many of the
elite have that invite? And I am known as the Triumph guy! Back to Ned, it was
him and Ken who drove to Durango to get my Tiger this summer after my open heart
surgery. Both active in Black Sheep, and Harley riders, I am forever thankful,
and when I thanked Ned, I asked “weren’t you embarrassed by trailering my
Triumph?” he explained they wore masks. So if you saw a blue Tiger being towed
by two big guys with masks last summer, now it all makes sense. We ride!
We are in the midst of a great revival in the church today, one that will
usher in the return of Jesus. Church attendance in many places is growing, and
many are being saved. But bringing new ones into the church is exciting, but
growth only occurs, numbers wise, when other churches aren’t raided. Don’t take
from one, to feed another. Cannibalism of other churches is no way to grow. Or
is just inviting people to church. Jesus taught in the temple, but ministered
on the streets. He went to the people, out among the lost. Nowhere is it found
that He invited anyone to church. Yet so much evangelism is based on inviting
people to church. Get them in, it is the Pastor’s job. Maybe that is why some
churches are in decline, and some even closing their doors. Evangelism, like
witnessing, is part of our life. It is Jesus in us, not put on for an
evangelical event, street witnessing, or even church. It is who we are, just as
we are what we ride. We all ride, the common denominator, just as Jesus is what
makes us a Christian. Sitting in church won’t make you a pew either. And if it
takes riding slower to fellowship, I will. Just as I am delighted my Harley
friends reached out to this Triumph rider. How my close friend, Fr. Al, a
Catholic Bishop just died, big on uniting the different denominations. Just
like my two Lutheran pastor friends, Jim and Phil embrace bikers and welcome
them into their church-on their rides! Opening the doors to all says more than
any message about love! So to my friend, who I know loves me, just not my
jokes, I forgive him. And wish him well, reminding him that you are what you
ride, in my case a Triumph! And that I will ride with him anytime, if I can
keep up.
Maybe if we all concentrate on Jesus, and a little less on our differences,
we may see the family grow even faster. Both of God and of those who ride.
Heaven will not be brand or denomination specific. Why not get a practice run
in for our eternal ride, and love someone today. Laugh at a joke with others,
get to know them, and find a great chance to show them Jesus, where no preaching
would. Invite them on a ride, listen to them, they just might have questions
you have the answers for. And show them love, which is what we are supposed to
do anyway?
By the way, did you know that BMW stands for Broke My Wallet? Or Bring
Money with You? I’ve had five and speak from experience. Let your experiences
be of Jesus. He took the time to slow down for you, because He knew you could
never keep up, or do it on your own. And no matter how much chrome you have, it
won’t make you a better rider. Better a God of Light than the Prince of
Darkness. And the scriptures also talk about being in one Accord? Any upset
Honda fans? And as all old Triumph owners know, we don’t change the oil, we
just top it off.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com