Cruising, I use the word in a different context than the way I ride,
through the various motorcycle dealers in my travels, they all share one thing
in common. No matter what brand, what size or location, each one is complaining
of lack of sales. Which puzzles them, and me too, for right now has the
potential to be a Golden Age of motorcycling. Great models from 300cc to 2300
cc, performance like never before, reliability, and discount pricing, and no one
can figure why they aren’t flying off the shelves. It makes no sense, Suzuki is
discounting a standard GSXS 1000 I see in stores for under $8000. Last
generation Bonnevilles if any left are $6999. Yamaha selling a cool FZ-07 for
under $7000. Only BMW hasn’t discounted yet, but the financing deals are there
to get you hooked. If the price don’t get ya, maybe the warranties will. From
12/12,000 miles to 36 months/unlimited miles on some bikes, add in the
reliability and you can be riding farther, longer, and with more confidence.
Even some new 2015, 2016 models left over, and that is just new bikes, so why
aren’t people buying?
On a recent visit to a multi-brand dealer, with all the Japanese, plus
Polaris and Victory, they have a used section that is larger than most of the
stores of 40 years ago. With one section devoted to used Harleys, and the days
count was 30 recent model, less than three years old Harley Davidsons. At lower
prices than at your badge and shield outlet. Just looking, black is the color
preferred, the mileages were low, most below 10,000, and they were sitting too.
One with just 915 miles on a 2016. Wasn’t it a short time ago when HD stores
added $3000 to each bike, and you paid it or rode a different bike? Remember
how snobby they were? Now with 0% financing, some leftover 2016’s, and
discounting, who thought you would see a Harley discounted, business is still
off. But here is some advice from the seat of the pants, where I spend most of
my time when riding, go to a Metric dealer and look for a used Harley. They
have them, they are priced well, they will finance you and instead of HD
standing for $100, it can stand for “hot dog, look at the deal I got.” And
since they all look alike, who will know it isn’t new? And you can join in the
stylish crowd of lifestyle riders!
Other great deals are used Triumphs. They have lousy used value, I should
know, but are reliable and even the 105,000 mile Tiger in my garage ran up over
110 mph yesterday. The bargains are there, are we looking? The dealers are
dealing, money lenders want to lend, and you want to ride. So what has
happened? I would like to think my downsizing from nine to three last year
hasn’t saturated the market...the deals are out there, what are you waiting
for?
The ads say “stop dreaming and start riding.” I agree. But in other
things, we do the same thing. So many are looking for something, they are
afraid, uncertain, and trust has been lost in many areas of society. But one
constant, Jesus Christ remains the same, yet people aren’t buying. They delay,
which is different than waiting, making excuses, and some do unto the point of
never finding salvation. Next week, next month, next year, if he hasn’t
returned like he said he would, maybe he isn’t. Add in the hoax of the 2012
charlatans, the Mayan calendar, and other doomsayers, and when it doesn’t
happen, well maybe it ain’t gonna happen. So they go on spreading their own
gospel, and deny Jesus. The psycho babble experts even have a name for it,
normalcy bias, which essentially means “if I haven’t seen it, then it hasn’t
happened, so it must not be true.” It seems any excuse the devil can keep you
from meeting Jesus he will use, and we fall into. Salvation was, and is, and
always will be the ultimate deal. For the gospel is simple so all men can get
it, and free so all can afford it. No age limits, no special discounts. FREE.
Like Jesus wants to make us when we are saved. Free is a concept we can
understand, so what are you waiting for? Stop dreaming,and start living!
Today is the day of salvation, why not yours? You’ve spent time reading
the ads, maybe even picked up the Bible. Prayed but forgot to listen. Maybe
even stepped foot inside a church and the walls didn’t fall down. You are
seeking....the spirit is calling, so what are you waiting for? Is the fear of
dying without Jesus and facing hell so appealing you rather enter eternity
without him? Or is he just for women and children? The fact you are looking
tells me that the spirit is already at work in you, for no one puts “seek God
today” on their calendar. Jesus is calling....
Yet so many lives are like the abundance of used Harleys. They tried the
ride, found the lifestyle wasn’t for them. They actually had to ride the
motorcycle to be a biker. The real guys who rode saw right through them, so
they went on to the next trend. How stylish. Religion has done that to people
too. Rules and regulations, demands on the person and their wallets. Studying,
tests, attendance, and where is the freedom? My kids, my boss, my wife and my
friends all tell me how to live, now you want to add religion to that also.
Sorry...All reasons you should seek Jesus. The religious hated him, his gospel
was a threat to their lifestyle. The truth that could have set them free they
rebelled against. What is your problem with Jesus? Have you already made a
decision based on rumor and innuendo?
So here’s the deal. Learned from a song in Sunday school. Jesus loves me
this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Still looking for love in all the wrong
places? Jesus has come to you, for you just as you are. No forms, no
membership, no applications. He will take you as you are in trade. Try that at
a dealer...
So if you are looking for a great deal on a used Harley, go to a Metric
store. But for the best deal on life and eternity, go with Jesus. There are
many V-twins out there, Harley is the original. And when it comes to gods,
there are many out there, but only one true God, Jesus Christ. What part of
being blessed don’t you get?
And you never will until you come home to Jesus...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com