There is much talk today among those of us who ride about the new 2014
Yamaha YZ-09. A bike that seems to be modeled after Triumph’s Street Triple,
three cylinder, hooligan looks, but in a 900cc vs. a 675 cc engine, it has drawn
initial praise from the press, and discounting some styling quirks, it should do
well. Especially when it is priced at only $7990, a full $1400 less than buying
the Striple. But if you buy for price, you may come up short, for it has been
purposely built to a price, and when one magazine compared it to the Striple,
they favored it. But when doing a bike swap at Mick’s, I talked with two guys
who ride, one writes for another motorcycle publication, and the other at age 70
still has very few who can keep up with him. He had just done 300 miles on it
the day before with his grandson, who writes for another publication, and is
recognized as among the fastest riders out there. So listening I was amazed at
their take on the FZ. Both liked the power, 900cc in 450 pounds should be
sufficient, but unlike the first road test done, by a magazine notorious for
pushing the envelope of truth for ad dollars, these two experienced
riders/writers were honest about it. The bike is built to a price, and even
with upgraded radial brakes, and ride by wire, with three modes, the fuel
injection is off, making it hard to ride. And the suspension is poor, making
them both want to get off and ride something else. Now true this is an entry
level priced bike, but why torture the new rider when a better suspension is
available, albeit for more money? And in a class where the customer base will
be more interested in his monthly payment, for an extra $20/month, he can have
his riding time satisfied. Which forces him to either park the bike, trade the
bike, losing his shirt-if it is low to purchase, there will be no trade in
value, or upgrade the suspension. And by doing so pushes it into Striple
territory, but with the aggravation he wouldn’t have had if he had bought after
a road test, and not based on price or an article based on attracting ad
dollars. Too many have fallen for a pretty face, or pretty words, only to be
disappointed in real life. It happens to all brands, look at all the newer
Harleys traded in at Jap stores, when the new rubs off, the payments continue
until something is done about it.
Curiously the letters to the editor on this first road test rave about the
bike, but had never ridden one themselves. The power of the press, and the
written word. But also the power of real life setting in when buying something
built to a price. Now no one wants to spend too much, but we don’t mind
spending a little more to get what we want, or is advertised.So again it is a
buyer beware market, just as life is. Taking into account that no manufacturer
wants to purposely build a bad product, but somewhere an upper manager signs
off, it goes to marketing, and it will get ridden and reviewed. Knowing what he
has signed off on, leaving it up to the press intro and gourmet food and too
much wine to influence the writers/riders. The market place can be a tough
place to find the truth out. Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chances.
Over the years I have attended many churches, some new, some established.
The new churches all having one thing in common, which the old ones did when
they started. They saw a better way to do something, and set out to change it.
Not necessarily breaking the rules, but maybe bending then to fit their own
criteria. Religion built to a price if you will, when it is not all about
Jesus, there will be compromises, and a penalty paid. Talking with Fr. Al, now
in heaven, he once told me about his Catholic friends who told him he wasn’t
Catholic enough. He could speak 5 languages fluently, do any mass in Latin,
knew all the catichisms, and before he died was a bishop. Not Catholic enough?
He smiled. Then he told me about his Born Again friends, who told him he
didn’t spend enough time in the New Testament, where Jesus is. “But I love the
Psalms,” he explained, and Jesus is found in every book of the Bible, the 4th
word in Genesis, In the beginning GOD,speaks of Him. All this about a man who
was always in trouble with the Catholic church for giving communion to
non-Catholics-we all have Jesus, and at his death was working to buy up old
churches in decaying towns so the people could have a place to worship, each
denomination their own service! And had opened the chapel on Sunday afternoons
for worship teams to play from all churches, with a healing service after!
Maybe his friends were right-they just got it all wrong. Jesus didn’t set the
standard, He is the standard, it is only in religion we find Him compromised, or
brought down in value to a price. Like the sign says, Walmart is not the only
saving place. But who wants a discounted God when you can have the whole God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for less?
Beware of clever slogans, clever sermons, and flowery praise.
More than once I have been seduced by a pretty face, or a promise of a fast
ride. Don’t buy for price, or for a payment. You’ll ultimately give something
else up. I have yet to ride the FZ-09 myself, so I reserve judgment, but having
ridden and owned Striples, I am riding the standard instead of riding a
compromise built to a price. I like to think the same way about my God, the
standard, as opposed to a compromise. We can all worship at different houses of
worship, aka churches, but we need to keep focused on the one true God, and His
son, Jesus. A few adjustments to any bike can make it better, don’t go the same
route with Jesus. Why compromise when you don’t have to. Take the Fr. Al
approach, it is all about Jesus. Get to know Jesus, don’t believe the ads.
Road test Him yourself, then make the choice. And you will find there is
nothing like the real thing. Works for motorcycles, it should work with God
too. You will get what you pay for, not always what you expect. Sometimes it
is better.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com