Not all bikes with jobs belong to builders, though, as some bikes have found other ways to help their owners do whatever it is they do for a living. For instance, take a look at Barnett’s Magazine Online’s feature bike called Jesus Bike belonging to Beth Roberts of Kernersville, North Carolina, and guess what it represents? If you haven’t figured that out yet by either the name or the paintjob, you’re not really trying very hard or . . . well anything else I say would probably insult your intelligence so I’ll explain the unexplainable.

 

   Back in 1991, Beth and her husband, DQ Roberts, started Christian Riders Ministry (CRM) in Bayonet Point, Florida, to connect with motorcycle riders by traveling to secular motorcycle events where a tent is set up, meals are served, a daily worship service is held, and people are counseled and ministered to. Checking out Beth and DQ’s business cards tells it all in one word under their names “Missionaries” and well, that does say it all in a nutshell. What this customized Sporty does with its religious-theme paintjob is open doors even though it has none with the people Beth and DQ are interested in reaching. Apparently it is working too as they’re still at their chosen vocation some 22-years later.

 

   Jack Cofano shot Beth’s bike in Daytona after a recent restoration/refurbishment of the original customization that was not so fresh anymore. The 1993 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster underneath all this work was bought new by DQ and Beth and slowly built over the years until it became what you see today. “We began in 1994 by customizing it one piece at a time. Many Christian brothers and sisters across the country have donated time, talents and parts to the project,” said Beth. “In 1999, it became the pink Jesus Bike with a new paint job. The little pink bike begins with Jesus’ Hand airbrushed on the front fender complete with spike in His Palm. The theme continues to the blood of Christ splattering on the tank and even a bit on the rear fender. The theme is completed by a huge cross taillight built into the rear fender.” Beth also has a pink leather jacket, chaps, pants, shirt, doo-rag and purse to match the bike.

 

With all of those changes to a stock bike that was still intended to be ridden as well as show, what was there left to do? According to Beth, “The biggest change this time around has been in the professionalism of the build. It was taken totally apart, the frame molded and painted pink and then rebuilt with touches such as Diamond Cut jugs, and pink boogie lights. An old-style springer front end and a stretched gas tank take it over the top. People are blown away at the beauty but also at the plain Gospel message that the bike delivers. On a trip from South Dakota to Indianapolis, every gas stop took about an hour as the bike drew people over. This bike has become internationally known and has been featured in magazines in the U.S.A, France, Japan, and Australia.”

 

Yup, I’d say that bike is not only working it, but working it well. For more information on DQ and Beth’s Christian Riders Ministry, visit www.christianriders.org.