From time to time I am given a bike from Triumph that has been a buy back
under California’s Lemon Law. Sometimes to confirm the complaint, sometimes to
confirm the repair. Last summer I was given a like new Tiger Explorer, the big
one, with the customer complaint “it loses power momentarily under
acceleration,” which the dealer couldn’t fix. One quick trip around the block
confirmed it, but liking the bike, kept it for 1000 miles, just to confirm it.
The problem was there was no problem with the bike, it was either the dealer,
not uncommon, or the owner who will never admit to their failure. But in fact,
the bike was doing exactly what it was trained to do, when the traction control
was on, and it sensed rear wheel slippage, it cut out power momentarily.
Something easily duplicated, even my wife’s Mustang with traction control will
not spin the tires, but with it off, whoopee! The owner didn’t know or hadn’t
been told how the traction control worked, and had it replaced with another one
of the same model. Which will do the same thing! By not knowing or being told
or opening up his owner’s manual, he will be faced with another bike that is
running as it should, and reacting as it should under the circumstances. He
will always fault the bike which isn’t the problem. A lesson to all until it
happens to you...
We were riding our new touring bike, a 2015 Tiger 800, and decided to ride
up to Oak Glen for the afternoon. Knowing it was a magnet for traffic and
parking, we felt safe on the bike, knowing we can navigate where other cage
bound drivers cannot. And all went well until we encountered the off camber
parking lot. The signs were there, the rows of mini vans parked askew, funny
how when one parks out of line, the others feel a responsibility to follow
suit. It was off camber, leaning the wrong way, meaning I had to park uphill
against the hill, and it had pea gravel. Any one could mean disaster, but
together get out the iodine and bandages. We had walked the ground after I felt
I had parked safely, and when going to leave had underestimated the skill it
would take in leaving. Trying to balance the wrong way on little stones on two
wheels is hard, going up hill is harder, and when the traction kicks in, you
look like an idiot. Every time my rear wheel would slip, the motor cut out, and
every time it did, it seemed the viewing audience grew. And after losing count
of how many on/off and on again starts, I finally made it. Switching off the
traction control would have made the ride out easy, one burn out and off I would
have gone. A simple solution to a self induced wound and I know better. Which
was only compounded when reminded by Theresa “why didn’t you just coast down the
hill and go out the other exit?”
So beware of off camber parking lots, and people who think they know what
they are doing. Stupid know no boundaries, and is an equal opportunity
employer. Always looking for another victim. Happens to Christians too, when
we are caught off guard and react differently than we know to. Or were trained
to, or as we do in church. We go along doing the things we are taught, assuming
they are right, until faced with a situation, and react differently. And of
course, the accuser or well meaning brother would never have acted that way in a
similar situation. After all, he’s a Christian and has all the answers. Sadly
he never has been in a situation where he lost traction, at least that he will
admit. He attends the right church, drives the right car, listens to the right
radio stations, has lunch with the pastor, has been to Israel, gives to
missions, and his kids raised in the church are almost as perfect. Perfection
being his biggest flaw, for his life is not real. And dealing with these
idiots, sorry they are, until they face a situation where they cannot control
it, and must trust God, are all talk. They live an off camber life with
reality, and miss out on the things of God in their ordered world. They don’t
suffer, and when others do they must be in sin. Or out of fellowship, not in
the word, or not studying enough to be approved. God sees things differently,
and in Malachi refers to the trials we endure as perfecting us. As silver is
heated, the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off, repeatedly until the
silver smith can see his reflection in the liquid. The clearer the reflection,
the purer the refinement. It takes years in our lives to be changed, and only
in death will we become perfect. To those of us who cannot see clearly, it is
refreshing to know our problems are working out in our favor, and perfecting
us. And why God has installed a spiritual traction control in our lives so that
when we are about to skid off the road, we are warned, and saved. But like cars
and bikes, it can be over ridden or turned off, and we can skid and burnout when
least expected.
I find it even more interesting this was written some 1500 years before
mirrors were invented. Maybe if Lot’s wife had a mirror she might not have
looked back. But where you look you will follow, and we are going forward,
losing traction and balance, but regaining it by God’s love, by Jesus’
forgiveness. We fail, he never does, yet when we don’t get our own way, we try
other sources to ease the pain, when all we have it already there for us in the
form of the holy spirit. Losing traction, life out of control, quit spinning
your wheels. God has everything under control, it is the throttle hand of your
heart that controls how you react. Too much brake or throttle, you stoppie or
wheelie. But power under control, meekness, allows a smooth take off, smooth
acceleration,and better times, both on and off the clock. You can be ignorant
and not know, or know and still spin out like I did, either way you’re gonna
crash sooner or later.
In every trial you get a chance to experience Christ personally. To be
refined by fire, to have the impurities removed from your life. I should have
known better than to park where I did, and even should have known to turn off
the traction control on the rocks. Only in the midst of it did I remember, but
I was out by then. God will take you through the fire, the the parking lot, and
show a way out you didn’t know existed. All the time spending time with you
that you wouldn’t have. All things work together to those who love the Lord,
and when Jesus is your Lord, you have fulfilled his purpose for you. You now
have the keys to ride with him.....
So don’t spend the time or your ride in just church or a parking lot. Get
out and live what you have been taught, to prove God right and all men liars.
To maybe lose control and fall back on Jesus, to trust him as you never have
before. Twist your spiritual throttle and see all the Jesus you can. Read the
book, address the problem, let God be God, and enjoy the ride. Funny, I cannot
remember anything else about the day, only losing traction. Despite all my
years of riding and skills, a momentary lapse of judgment almost cost me. Don’t
make the same mistake, learn from mine. And foremost remember that after fiery
trials, the silver is priceless. Pure. Or you can buy Tanzanite for a lot
less....some only want the sparkle, they miss the time spent with the master
craftsman. Who does your life reflect? You may be surprised when you look in
your mirror. Snow White was....if only she had listened to the
dwarfs....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com