There are many myths surrounding the different types of motorcycles we
ride. 30 years ago the first thing we changed when buying a new bike was to put
on low bars, now every manufacturer makes a sport bike, save for Harley. Low
bars, clips ons are standard, and how can they be comfortable? Then at the
opposite end are the cruiser guys, the Harleys, Victorys, and the new Indian.
Sitting upright, but many with feet on crash bars, legs spread apart in the
birthing position, holding on tightly to the apes, and I wonder how can that be
comfortable? Gold Wing riders look at me and wonder how can anyone ride
something without a sound system, compressor, heated seats, and electric
windshield, and call it a touring bike? And finally the BMW GS crowd, with one
trip through the Tourtech catalog, and a new bike, you can spend $30,000-for a
dirt bike, that no yuppie will ever ride in the dirt. And yet in my 2006 Tiger,
I find the perfect combination of all rides for me. First is the freedom from
wrist pain. I have ridden sport bikes all my life, and currently riding a 2015
Daytona R- a race bike for the street. In traffic it is painful on the wrists,
but above 80, and in the curves, I am having the time of my life. Going faster
in corners than I should, and having a bike to back me up, but my Tiger is
almost as fast, and comfortable-in all riding, all day. On all roads,a nd with
Theresa on the back.
Today’s adventure bikes like the Tiger, BMW GS, and Yamaha’s Tenare don’t
have you stop when the pavement does, and allow to a certain degree an off road
adventure, if 600 pound dirt bikes can be adventurous. But kept in common sense
boundaries, I have gone down many roads on the Tiger when I would have turned
back on any other ride. Riding up the backside to Parkfield on the gravel road
among the cows on my Sprint RS is a good reminder, today I just keep going, and
enjoying the ride. So I can enjoy the second freedom, the freedom from clean
pavement. Underneath all that asphalt is dirt, and dirt takes you places the
pavement won’t. And you get dirty, which is always fun. And amazing how a sign
saying pavement ends is only the start of an interesting ride. So many places
are only a few dirt miles away....Theresa and I know how to pack. We have even
taught it to others, after watching as Mike and Randy came out from their motel
room with their luggage on a cart. I was embarrassed for them, we had two tank
bags, and a tail pack-for both of us. But we use soft luggage when we can, but
on the Tiger it has hard bags, so we can fit more, more securely, and not worry
when we leave the bike unattended. We have the third freedom, the freedom from
soft luggage, and knowing how to pack, we have been gone for as long as 37
days-take that Gold Wing rider, travelled over 11,000 miles and 31 states. On a
non-touring bike! With no radio, or GPS. We pack for 4 days, then repeat. We
can do it with soft luggage, but I too often see soft luggage sliding to one
side, or loaded incorrectly-give me the Tiger with hard bags anyday.
The fourth freedom works on both the ends of the seat. Theresa has taken
up to 6200 pictures on our trips, most from the back of the bike. And as any
rider knows, if the passenger is happy, so will you be. Too many wives won’t
ride because some husband thinks his skinny seat looks cool, let him put his fat
butt on it for an hour, then ask him. But with the comfy Corbin seat we have on
the Tiger, we also have the ability to look around. I can see over most cars,
some SUV’s, and around pick ups. I can turn my head a far as my neck will turn,
without pain, and nothing to inhibit its view. Sitting up dirt bike style, is
still the most comfortable, and I can look at more than my elbows in the
mirrors, while the mirrors stay clear with no buzziness unlike my V-twin
friends. And I can enjoy the freedom of riding, which is why many of us ride
rather than take the family saloon or car pool. There are freedoms within the
freedom, and I can be happy on any bike,at any time, given the right
conditions. But when it gets nasty, I’m tired, or have another 500 miles to go
that day, I am glad I chose the Tiger. And like many are finding, adventure
bikes handle like a sport bike, have better brakes than a standard, and are
smother than a Gold Wing. And with less chrome to polish, can look even cooler
than the $3000 extra you just spent at the HD store. Mile after mile.....
Yet we all ride, the most important thing. So we get the freedom thing.
But how many times after along day of riding, if someone called you for a ride
that night, would you accept or make excuses? We’re home, bike put away,
clothes in washer, yet the ride calls, or the road call to you. And that can be
the best ride of the day. A short trip with a friend, the road the ride, and
the destination is home and in bed a few hours later. Reviewing the rides of
the day, and planning for tomorrow’s. I had a friend call me the other day,
asking me to go to a rally for the flag with him. I used to, but stay away from
political rides, I rather ride. That is my form of protest. But he was
concerned if he should go, he had never been to a bike rally before, what if
there was swearing? What if their were scantilly cladded girls? What if people
were smoking? What if....and so he decided not to go, can’t go out to where all
that sin is. And yet, that is where we are directed by Christ to go. Out to
where the sinners are! Years ago I got upset with God at a CMA rally in Ogden,
Utah. LDS country, and they knew we were not. Asking God, “why would you put a
group of Christians in the middle of LDS land? his answer was simple. “Can you
think of a better place to put a hospital than where the sick are?” And it all
made sense. But to my friend, he studies day and night to get closer to God, to
be a witness, yet stays inside the church four walls. He knows more verses, can
tell me where it says so, but has never seen the application. He is hiding from
confrontation with sinners, rather than embracing them. In all his studies, he
still hasn’t gotten to the part to love sinner, hate the sin. He is preaching
to the choir, and missing out riding. He has no freedom, but yet is fearful of
who he might see, what he might hear, or worse yet who may see him at such an
event. Maybe if we look at Jesus in a different light, we see Him with
hookers-scantilly clad, biker types, the religious-Pharisees, and He probably
hears His name spoken in vain more than you ever will. Yet it is out among the
sinners, where the sick are, He takes His message of healing and salvation. His
choir is the world, and He is freedom. Freedom from legalism, freedom to live,
freedom to be who we are in Christ, and the freedom to leave the four walls of
the church. Four freedoms in Christ-and while riding. For Jesus knows we are
the church, and no walls can hold back His love or His message. No amount of
knowledge can overcome His wisdom, and no piety can overcome His humility. So
out into the world we go...riding in the freedom of the spirit. We are the
church, and we are taking His message to a lost and dying world! Now that’s
freedom!
Sadly the world of motorcycling is becoming like the religious-we are
dividing ourselves. We need to remember our commonality-riding, and ride with
each other. Not argue over which bike is better, or faster. it needs to come
down to the rider, a good rider can make a bad bike better, a bad rider can
trash a good bike. Works like that in church too. So remember the freedom we
have in Christ Jesus, and take Him and it wherever you are. I rather be
described as a guy who rides, and who loves to ride. And I would rather be
known as a man who loves Jesus and His church. And wants to take that message
out on the road. The ultimate freedom, riding in Jesus. Now that’s an
adventure I am glad to be part of!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com