When Honda first introduced its tiny motorcycles to the Americans in 1959,
the ads never mentioned them as motorcycles. Thanks to The Wild One, all
motorcyclists were seen as leather jacket wearing hoodlums, so they just called
them Hondas. Creating not only a brand, but a market standard for years to
come. You never met the nicest people on Harleys, Triumphs, or Nortons, but you
did on Hondas. And thanks to Honda’s success, soon we had Yamahas, Suzukis, and
Kawasakis-all from Japan. All motorcycles, but not wanting to identify with
the old standards. They emphasized fun, good times, and getting out in the wind
without the benefit of leather, denim, grease and oil. Big sisters rode Hondas
on campus, kids rode them to school, and America was taken over by them. Funny
looking machines with funny sounding names, that soon matched or exceeded the
performance of their bigger cousins, for half the price, and twice the
reputation. Bikes and bikers, motorcycles and motorcyclists were changing, and
it was a good time to be a rider. A time when freedom cost less than $50 for a
used 50cc machine, and you were riding. When 250cc was a big bike, and
Triumph’s mighty 650cc was considered real big. And Harley’s so big they
expressed their size in cubic inches, how many knew what you were talking about
when you mentioned a “74,” or riding a “61” down Highway 61? But we were soon
to learn there is no substitute for horsepower, no replacement for
displacement. Today entry level 250cc bikes are making a comeback, yet 500cc is
still considered for girls, and 750cc is small. Bikes we once thought were big
and unobtainable are now the standard, with Harleys up to 111 cubic inches,
Triumphs up to 2300cc’s, and sport bikes with over 200 horsepower. Where once a
Sportster was defined as “able to grow hair on your chest, and so fast if you
already do, it will part it,” today most 500cc bikes will be faster, quicker,
handle better,and cost half as much. Today we start big, and get
smaller....presided only over our pocket books and FICO scores.
But it takes a trip to a vintage bike night, or meet to see how much we
have really changed. Or how much we really haven’t. The thrill of the open
road still exists as ever, never mind the engine size. And looking at row after
row of old bikes, we look at those 250cc and under, and wonder how did we ever
ride them? They were so big then, but seem so small now. Maybe we were much
smaller then also, and the price of our thrills smaller. But you needed to be
there, to live the times to fully get it, no one who wasn’t will not remember
75 cent fill ups. The smell of racing caster, or the ring a ding ding of two
strokes, and their smoky get away. Where bike shops were in bicycle stores,
sporting goods stores, or just out of town. When tune ups were monthly, oil
changes to most were just adding it to replace what leaked out or was burning,
and master links were a part of every rider’s pocket contents. They had tool
kits because they were needed, we changed tires or patched them by the side of
the road, and we all had at least one friend with a pick up or van, who we
stayed friends with for that occasional ride home we would need. We knew how
much to save for the new sissy bar, or carb rebuild kit. We took off our pipes
to sound fast, added chrome to look like the big guys, and a metal flake helmet
was worth the $9.95 it cost in 1972 dollars. History will eventually rewrite
how it was, but there is nothing like being there, living it, and remembering it
how it was. It took all the oil leaks, push starts, and spark plug cleaning to
get intimate with our old rides, the push home to be glad we didn’t own such a
big bike, and the endless wait until Tuesday when the shops opened up after
being closed Sunday and Monday. It took endless afternoons in class doodling
about our rides, afterschool jobs that paid little, and having parents who
didn’t get what our problems were when we wanted to ride. We were rebels to
them, and where once it was blamed it on motorcycles, now they blamed Honda.
And Honda cried all the way back to the bank in Japan.
I wonder how many of us even got it back then, or even do now in our
memories of the times? I read articles that are inaccurate, TV shows with
clothing from another generation supposed to be real, and cars and bikes that
never would be seen together. How many have caught the 1974 Chevy in American
Graffiti, cruising, the theme was “where were you in ‘62?” Was Chevy really
that far ahead of its time? Yet history, books, movies, and even stories told
at bike shows have rewritten history of how it was. Without being there you
never will truly know. And so it is with God, so many telling us how a
Christian should live, or act or behave, or what standards we need to live up
to. It is bad enough out on the street, but when it happens within churches, or
is shared at Bible studies, we need to step up and say “enough!” We need to
share our testimonies of how Jesus changed our lives, to show the difference,
and love on them. You can learn theology from a book, but until you study it
and get it from a clear mind, until you have personally experienced Jesus, you
never truly know who he is. It takes the hard times, the agonies of life to see
the depth in which he loves us, how he never leaves us, and it takes his
forgiveness to prove it. It takes trials and tribulations to see and experience
the depth of God, something we all wish to avoid, but find the best testimonies
come from the hardest trials. We see God’s strength made perfect in our
weakness, when we finally give up and give it over to him, we see his majesty,
grace, and mercy. Things you can read about and study about, things you can
see in films, but until you experience it personally it isn’t the same. But
yet many try to deter us from God, to keep it impersonal, when God desires just
the opposite. His spirit is always calling out to us, pointing us to Jesus, who
points us to God the father. Some have degrees in theology and have studied
about him, I know the author.
And just like it is in the times of breaking down where we get personal and
intimate with our rides, when we lift off the seat, look under the tank, or
change our own plugs, it is when the tough times come and we turn to Christ we
see a part of him we never would if we hadn’t had the struggle. Very few pray
during good times, we all rush to him when the times are tough. With only a few
remaining after the trial is ended. And there is never a time when we don’t
need a mediator, one to intervene for us in our troubles. And maybe the
greatest lesson we can learn from Job is that we need one, and his name is
Jesus. A true arbitrator tries to make a fair arrangement for both parties,
Jesus as our advocate gets us the best deal for us. Our sin for his love and
forgiveness. Words or theory until you experience it first hand. Not through
husbands or wives, friends or neighbors, or even classmates or the guy sitting
next to you in church. It is that personal.....which is where God separates us
from those filling a pew once a week. Jesus is an everyday, all the time person
in our lives. He promises us good times, blessings, miracles, and eternal life
in heaven, that we can have now on earth. We can ride any size bike, and never
feel cheated. Size doesn’t matter, the fact we ride does, and the fact we know
Jesus is what it is all about. Stop dreaming, start experiencing him now. For
yourself. It is time to get behind the handlebars and find out what he is all
about.
There is nothing like being there. I rather be in the picture than taking
it, I rather be in the story than reading about it. I want all I can get from
God, and Jesus is the way. Simple and effective. And available. So here’s to
all the rebels among the rebels, who serve Jesus daily. Who know the truth and
have been set free. The holy spirit is the ad that entices us, it is Jesus who
introduces us to his father, and God who loves us so much he sent him. Find out
for sure, the real thing today. Seek Jesus, and live life. Through your own
eyes rather than someone else’s. Know the real truth. Hondas were and still
are motorcycles. Always have been. Jesus is God. Always has been. And we need
Jesus. Honda riders were motorcyclists, and you did meet the nicest people.
Meet the nicest person ever today. First name basis. There is nothing like
being there, and no one else like Jesus. You just have to see for your
self.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com