You may not realize it, or even care, but you are living in a four stroke
world. Sound boring? Maybe, but inside my garage alone I have engines of
1,2,3,4, and 6 cylinders. Add the F150 in which won’t fit, and it has 8. All
of the four stroke genus. The RMX450 is the thumper, as we used to call them,
ride one you’ll understand. The two Bonnevilles define what a twin should be or
sound like, I like the sound of a V-twin Harley too, but nothing has the cool of
a Triumph. If you have to ask, you won’t understand. I have had Triumph
triples in 675,885,800,955,1050, and 1215 cc. And 2300cc. Combining the torque
of a twin with the power of an inline 4, they wail at speed-a song the magazines
have fallen in love with-just one ride and you are hooked. 800 and 955 Tigers
share space today. The GS 1000 represents the UJM-Universal Japanese Motorcycle
of the 70’s and 80’s. Smooth, fast, and wide-and how a CB750, Z-1, and a GS can
all sound different than an XJ750-same engine design-you go figure. Who says
engines have no personality. No CBX inline sixes, or monster KZ1300, no to
Benelli’s Sei. Just Theresa’s Mustang with a V-6. Having driven both inline
and V-6, from Rambler to Mercedes Benz, I still love the sound of an old GMC
V-6, the sound I remember from the housing sights being built as a kid. The
proper work motor, torque for low speed grunt. No one ever went fast in those
old trucks, well almost never. But nothing is more American than a good old
V-8, and again a Chevy 327, Ford 351, and a Mopar 318 all have their own sound.
But nothing rumbles at low speed like my old 1950 Buick straight 8. Gentlemen,
that’s torque.
I have driven 5 cylinder Audis, Acuras, and a Volvo 5 cylinder in a Land
Rover. Via ownership of Ford. Strange. But make it a V-10, and the roar-a
sound like a jet, and you have the unmistakable sound of Walker Evans at full
throttle at the Baja 1000. I have driven multiple V-12 Mercedes Benz, with
their German no-nonsense reliability, but hearing a V-12 XKE makes my knees
weak. Soul under the bonnet. Whoa! But give me the quiet elegance of a
Packard V-12, a 1937 Dual Cowl Phaeton like my friend Tom’s, that’s class.
Maybe being only outdone by a V-16 Cadillac, second generation. Just hearing
one at idle, or cruising a car show, power under control. The ultimate answer
to what ya got under the hood? So what do you have under the hood? What is
between your legs as you ride?
And I almost forgot, spending time on two different Suzuki Rotaries in
1976, the 1975 space ship design, and the more modern black with gold striped
1976. Smooth, seemingly quick, and silent. Whirring, or purring, only a slight
backfire when backing off the throttle. And it not slowing down like a diesel.
The future that never was-and maybe shouldn’t have been.
People are the same way. Same basic internals, just different packaging.
Some tall and slender, some short and fat. The same, only different. With as
many varieties as there are engine types. Add red, and yellow, black, and
white, and you find we are all precious in God’s sight. He doesn’t look at the
externals like we do, but he looks on the heart. Which can be scary for some of
us, but being forgiven by a loving God brings peace. Which can cause your life
to run like a fine tuned V-8, or triple. Jesus knows us, knows all about us,
yet loves us anyway-just as we are. With no performance options needed, in
whatever state we are in. And even when confronting the woman at the well, He
didn’t condemn her for all her husbands, a stonable offense, but even pointed
out that #7 wasn’t even married to her. Instead Jesus tells her “go and sin no
more.” Knowing she would, as we all would have and still do. But He left her
knowing she was forgiven, and loved. She didn’t have to live like she was, He
showed her a better way. We are never told the outcome, maybe we need to
reflect on how Jesus changed our lives. We are forgiven, but still sin. But
His forgiveness is one and for all-every time we confess He hears it like it was
the first time. He doesn’t threaten us with “you better,” or “if you don’t get
it together,” He just loves us. Even if we are a V-8 running on only 7
cylinders. He knows just where that miss is, and can fix it-a spiritual tune up
if you will. He loves those who are thumpers, or a V-16-He is no respecter of
engine size, horsepower, cylinders, or brand. Why can’t we be the same?
Instead of pulling up next to a cool car at the light, why can’t we nod in
approval, instead of wanting to race? Pride shows up in many forms...
Life will bring opposed twins like BMW’s into our lives, air cooled VW’s
and Corvairs. A certain kind of cool, maybe not for everybody. And that is
only the four strokes! I almost forgot about Mach 3’s, RD400’s, and Water
Buffalos-all two strokes. Ringa ding ding to you! For behind their banshee
shriek and hidden behind the smoke and aroma of racing caster, lies a wild
heart, untamed, only tamed by a careful throttle hand. A heart like yours was
once, crying out for love, only found in Jesus Christ. He only saw the need.
From the inside, and changes us from the inside out. So take His advice, turn
to Jesus and go and sin no more. So many engines, so many roads, get off of the
road to destruction...and onto the road of life. What’s in your heart tells us
a lot about what is under your hood. Oh the stories you’ll have to tell. And
you don’t necessarily need to have a V-8!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com