The early eighties were a wonderful time to be a motorcycle rider, as if
any time isn’t a good time to ride. But with the four Japanese makers going
head to head, horsepower growing by leaps and bounds, and only inflation against
us, we had many choices to cover our 24.9% interest rates. The magazines were
filled with ads, a catalog compared to today’s thin, and physically smaller
excuses. And a generation of riders who never knew soaked feet from tickling
carbs, breaking an ankle from the kick starter coming back at them, and no
British motorcycles to excite them. All Jap brands ended in a vowel, and
sounded Japanese, only BMW, Moto Guzzi, and Ducati were Euro, and Harley
provided the only American brand. Much different than the brands available
today. But these young Japanese companies, some only in the states since 1955,
others only making bikes for less than 20 years, had taken over the market. And
now competed against each other instead of the Brits. And one company,
Kawasaki, decided to run a contest via one of the magazines, “design the perfect
motorcycle.” We had numerous bench racing sessions about how we would do it,
and even one guy sent in his style of blueprints. An exciting time, as we
actually thought the factory was listening, when in reality they were trying to
unload the warehouses from overbuying, hoping they could sell them all. Making
it possible to buy a year old new bike for substantially less, if you could live
without the current colors. But the future was still exciting, and with 6
cylinder Hondas, 100 horsepower Suzukis, and shaft drive Yamahas, Kawasaki held
its ground, although the Z-1 was nearing 10 years old, retirement age then for
motorcycles. So the contest may have been more hype the genuine interest, but
one creative type took it upon himself to enter a current year Suzuki as the
motorcycle Kawasaki should build. And in the spirit of competition, and fun,
remember when riding a motorcycle was all about fun, the magazine supporting the
contest gave it an honorable mention. I cannot say if it helped ether bike’s
sales, but we all got a good laugh out of it. And Kawasaki continued to let the
good times roll.
But we were at an age and interest level where each road test was read,
rather studied. That 1/10 of a second in the quarter swayed more than one
decision of what to buy. Rear disc brakes, comfortable seats, a tank that held
enough gas, and factory bags and windshields made Windjammers, drum brakes, and
worn out seats less desirable. My old Z-1 seat had gotten so hard my friend
used to joke “the only reason they put a cover on it was so it wouldn’t rust.”
Dainty posteriors would never accept the old seats of yore. But with each new
issue, each new article and road test, we became self proclaimed authorities on
at least our own brands, and the debates would get heated many times. We
believed what we read, and it made a direct influence on what we rode. We
thought we were experts, much to the chagrin of an old Triumph ad, where Honda
riders were enthusiasts, only Triumph riders knew their machines. Maybe because
they were fixing them more...
But we each were authorities in our own right, especially when opinions
were to be accepted as fact. And like Hondas, everyone had one or two. We read
it, so it must be true. But still with a common denominator, we all rode. That
was the important thing, we all rode. And many rainy days were spent at the
local shop, sitting and dreaming of the next bike, if only we ever paid off the
current one, with the future of what came next from the manufacturers helping us
dream. You knew the parts guy, the mechanic, usually the owner, and a salesman
or two. You talked motorcycles, roads, places to go, places traveled, whether a
full face or open face helmet was better, why anyone would ride a Harley, and
how could anyone afford a BMW? Brochures were free and available, and many
ended up at home on the kitchen table, or stapled to the garage walls. A great
time to be a motorcyclist, and we knew the future would only get better. And
more expensive....but we were ready. So enough talk, let’s ride!
From the first time I entered a bike shop, I wanted to be part of the
brotherhood. The smell of racing castor, combined with smoke from two strokes
and Chesterfields, was an aroma I never forgot. We listened to the old guys
tell stories, make fun of our newness, and with every joke made about us only
wanted to join in more. In a way they were accepting us, via a test, to see if
we were cool, and wanted to join their ranks. Somewhere among the girlie
calendars, grease and oil, and watching guys smoke under “NO SMOKING” signs we
wanted to be part of it. Dreaming of the day when we could join in, and our
stories would be told. When important issues of which gas to use so you didn’t
foul spark plugs, which header gave better power, and dreams of next year’s
models filled the conversations. But it was the old stories, the tales told of
how it used to be that lit a fire underneath us, that made us look ahead by
looking back. It was about the brotherhood, and even if you rode a different
brand and we made fun of you, you were a part of the brotherhood. The important
thing was you rode, the common denominator was motorcycles, and our place of
worship was the road. With small stops in between to brag on things since you
last rode or met. No last names, each one had a nickname, some we never knew
their real names, and we wondered if some ever left the shop. But we were a
family of sorts, and even though out in public we were misjudged, whenever we
saw another rider we waved, and acknowledged each other. And many still do
today....
After 45 years of licensed street riding and 41 years a Christian, many
times the subject of brotherhood has come up, among church types. They don’t
get how we can be so different yet so accepting of those who ride, even if not
what we ride. They miss out on the brotherhood, and I wish the church would get
it. For centuries Catholics and Protestants have butted heads, Jews not
accepting Jesus as savior, and the denominations have only furthered the schisms
within the church. We forget that without Jesus Christ, we share no
commonality, and he unites us, not divides us. We talk of unity in the spirit
much as liberals define free speech, “as long as you agree with me.” Churches
compete for members from other churches, and call it evangelism. Saving saints
from that other denomination. We forget we are the church, and it is built on
the rock of Jesus. And without him there is no salvation, and no church-we are
the church we are rebelling against! If only we could get the brotherhood we
share of bikers to permeate the church-what a difference.
Fr. Al was a good friend of mine, a Catholic priest who died a bishop, who
when offered the position called me to pray for him. He was always in trouble
with the church, he loved Jesus first, and would serve communion to whoever came
for it. He didn’t care about what church, he loved you in Christ. And so our
conversations would be about Jesus, how the spirit was important and we stayed
away from religious and denominational differences. So when he asked me to
pray, I knew it was from his heart, not his denomination. And his answer taught
me a lesson, he accepted the new position, not for the title, not for the
prestige. He wanted to get out on the road and to meet more Catholics, for in
his words “there are a lot of Catholics who need Jesus.” He got it, and he
understood the biker brotherhood when he started accepting us at the chapel, and
wanted us to be involved. He wanted all who came by to see true brotherhood,
and how Jesus welcomed all. Rider or not. Saved or not. Catholic or not. It
was all about Jesus...as it should be. Is your church, your conversations
reflective of him? Do you accept the different, or must they change to think
like you before they are accepted? If another church ran a contest for the
perfect church, would yours be an entry? Could it? Yet we have the example of
Jesus among the disciples, 12 men, all different, who were equal in Christ. And
who when in the spirit would change the world. I think I need a ride...
Jesus is the answer for the world today, among him there’s no other, Jesus
is the way. Do you really believe that? Or do you just sing the songs of the
Andrae Crouch song? Bikers still wave to each other, and even though BMW riders
feel superior, we love them too. The fact we ride is more important than what
we ride. Is Jesus more important than where you go to church? To what
denomination you follow? Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, Baptists, and those in
Calvary Chapels all need Jesus. All. Don’t miss the chance to share the gospel
today based on man made barriers. If only the church could get the brotherhood
it desires and finds within the biker community, think how it could change the
world. At the next toy run, notice how we give freely and in great numbers, but
at church they accept an offering. We meet because we want to, not because it
is an appointed time. We accept you as you are...no need to cite examples of
being different in a church service. We need Jesus, and until we follow his
spirit we will always be divided. I think I need a ride....and a wave. From a
brother...who reads his Bible as much as a bike magazine and shows what it
says. Many are called, few are riders...a brotherhood the church needs. If
only it knew it...does your pastor know you as well as your parts man?
Hmmmmm.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com