tire not showing any wear because the rider doesn't lean the bike over far enough to contact that portion of the tire with the road. Goes from the very outside edge of the tire, inward. A person really shouldn't worry themselves with chicken strips, but it is supposedly a sign of rider ability and skill if you don't have any. If a rider only rode in a straight line, a tire would have two inches of chicken strips on each side of the tire or more. A normal rider usually has 3/4 to 1 inch of chicken strips. Those that are able to lean their bike way over (hopefully from track riding, not street) might have little to no chicken strips. 
The major problems with laws is that they tell us no. And we don’t like
the word no. Laws restrict us in everything we do. Thou shalt not is the way
many view Christians and Christianity, just a group of laws and telling me how
to live. How to not have fun, don’t do this, don’t do that. And sadly they are
correct in many cases, as many do not live in spiritual freedom after coming to
Christ. We witness that Jesus will set you free from sin, then hit them with a
new set of rules of how to live. And go from one binding situation to another.
It is called religion, whose base word means binding, as to tie up or tie down.
To restrict. And although we admire a religious person from afar, we don’t want
to live under rules. I know I don’t, which makes me a rebel among rebels, for
those who come to Christ have rebelled against sin, winning the only way
possible, Jesus Christ. Hence the name Christians, which means little Christs,
a name when first given 2000 years ago was given mockingly. And today many
still are mocked for their walk with him. And no rules, laws, or religion can
set you free from it. You will only experience true freedom in the
spirit....which is given when saved, yet many neglect. Trying to get by on
their own. Jesus saves, we try to get by on our own. By our own set of rules,
our own religion....bounded by it and not realizing it. The gospel of us being
the one we live by, whether we will admit it or not. So get over it, and into
the spirit!
It takes Jesus to be a Christian, yet many also think riding a motorcycle
makes you a motorcyclist. Just like standing in your garage doesn’t make you a
car, or sitting in church a pew, riding a bike just makes you a rider. It is
when you develop a relationship with riding, when you experience the freedom,
when you rather ride in the rain than sit in a car with the heater on you start
to get it. When your motorcycle becomes a personal thing, you have developed a
relationship with it. Color, size, sound, and where and how you ride are
important. Also who you ride with, or who you don’t. It goes beyond reading
the ads, or visiting a dealer. It is more than sitting on a new bike and seeing
how it fits. It is the freedom of the ride, the ride becoming the destination.
It is when the motorcycle has equal or preferential space in the garage, not
just covered or left out. It becomes a part of you, and as you ride more, you
become one with the road. Any road, and soon what was once a trained response
becomes a natural reaction. No more mechanical actions, your ride flows. You
take care of your bike and it takes care of you. And if you don’t it is your
fault, and when you do it is the asphalt. Some wrench, some ride. Some read
all about it, some experience. Some make excuses, some memories. Some have
great expectations of places to ride, some only commute. Some ride only on
weekends, some only every day. Some ride with their spouses, some are forced to
ride alone. Some look forward to their next ride, some are just enduring the
one they are on. And some get everything out of riding they can, while some are
stuck at a green light and don’t know it. Substitute Christ for your bike, and
see where you are in him. Where is Jesus in your life?
A popular poster reminds us “I rather be riding my motorcycle thinking
about God than in church thinking about riding.” Sounds like a lot of us if we
are honest enough to admit it. A life in Christ should never be a weekend
experience. Jesus is not just for going to church and enduring an hour. He
should be part of your life everyday. He should fill the most important part of
your life, he should dwell in your heart. Yet some treat him like the way they
ride, and when the bike won’t start, gets dirty, or needs maintenance, park it
outside and go on to to something else. Jesus is their Lord when all goes well,
but when something else is available, they flee like rats when the lights come
on. They really have no relationship, they just fill a pew, creating a pew no
one wants to smell. They may even had said a prayer, joined a church, tithed
regularly, or served on a committee. But they do not know Jesus personally. He
fills a void in time, not in their life. They have become religious, and live
by a set of rules. Within the group they are admired, but are miserable
inside. They have a motorcycle, they just don’t ride it, and if they do, never
go anywhere. They never get any bugs in their teeth because they never smile.
Only on cue when expected.
The law kills, the spirit gives life. And freedom in the spirit. Some
talk of chicken strips, not at McDonalds, but the unused space on the edge of
your tire. None of my bikes have chicken strips, the tires are worn to the
edge. I like the curves,and getting everything I can from my bikes. Some bikes
maximum lean is on the sidestand, and kick stands up is a challenge. I learned
long ago in corners to keep leaning, and in life to keep leaning too, on Jesus.
I may be selfish, but I want all I can get form him, I want to be blessed, and
to be a blessing. To see others saved, and growing in him. To walk in the
spirit, not become a victim of religion. The choice is up to us. The way may
be straight and narrow, but the roads in life aren’t. And we need to learn to
lean on him, to trust the spirit, and enjoy the freedom we are promised. So he
took all the Mosaic rules, over 600, and brought it down to one, love God first
with all your heart, then your neighbor. Be forgiven, then forgive others.
Including yourself. Maybe the hardest thing to do. But in Christ, you will.
Only in Christ can you do all things, with his spirit.
Motorcycles are not for everyone. Jesus is. I used to ride with many
others, but found restricted by their rules to ride by. So I ride alone, but
not by myself. Jesus is always with me, no matter the ride. Or road. I know
many who have taken an MSF course, and are good riders. They have the mechanics
down of how to ride, now they need to build the relationship with the road. The
more you ride, the more miles, the more experience. The narrower the chicken
strips, and soon only those who look for them are the ones who haven’t
experienced all the ride can give. You all know them, by their stripes you know
how they ride. With Jesus, it is by his stripes we are healed. And the freedom
begins.
If you don’t ride it is not my fault. It is your fault, so try the
asphalt. Same with Jesus. Not my fault, or other Christians. It is your
fault, based on a choice you make. Get out and enjoy the asphalt of riding in
the spirit, and see where he takes you. Lean on Jesus, not only in the curves
but in the straights also. Get the most for your ride and life but only in
him. Let him stir your soul the way riding does, and look forward to every day
with him. Don’t leave home without him, no matter what you ride. Finally, a
short story that happened after church...
A man approached me and also had a Triumph and wanted to ride with me.
Excited we talked, then his wife walked up. She hated motorcycles, when I asked
if she rode. “I’m in the medical field,” and she went on about the danger of
riding, and so my response surprised her. “So am I” I said, “I’m a patient.
And I am really glad to meet someone else in the medical field. Maybe you can
answer me a question, is it OK for me to go to sleep tonight? I have 4 friends
this year who have died in their sleep?” Her answer may surprise you, it didn’t
me. She stormed off.....You see I don’t wish to live my life in fear, but in
the spirit. I want all from life I can get. And if I have to sit somewhere,
why not sit behind bars, handlebars? She had rules, and boundaries. I have the
spirit, and freedom. My wife and I rode home, I don’t want to think of the ride
home with the other man’s wife. You know I did see a broom parked
outside....you think?
Your fault or the asphalt. Freedom in the spirit, or bound by rules. Your
choice. I can be best described as a Christian motorcyclist. Jesus and
motorcycles, it just don’t get any better. Except Jesus, Theresa, and
motorcycles. She rides her own bike by the way....even to church. The
asphalt....not my fault.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com