An editorial from the Early July 2013 North Woods Call
As summer kicks into high gear and outdoor temperatures escalate—along with gasoline prices—garage doors roll open and increasing numbers of would-be wild ones emerge on their two-wheeled cruising machines.
They clutch the chrome handlebars, twist the throttle and roar off down the open road in search of freedom and camaraderie. There’s nothing quite like the joy of acceleration and the feel of a warm wind in your face. We get that.
What we don’t understand, is why so many motorcycles—particularly, it seems, Harley Davidsons—have to be so doggone noisy. After all, aren’t there ordinances in most communities that prevent any person or group of people from disturbing the peace?
Yet, we’ve often been walking along a quiet roadway contemplating pleasant thoughts when one or more of these vibrating vehicles come sailing by, breathing fire from their lungs and bellowing like medieval dragons on steroids.
What’s that all about? We’d likely get a ticket from some irritated neighborhood constable if we did something similar with our automobile.
Don’t get us wrong. We like the whole idea of motorcycles—their “stick it in the man’s eye” independence, fuel efficiency and most everything else they represent. In the often spirit-crushing culture in which we live, we need something to help us get in touch with our rebel souls.
So go to it easy riders. Feel free to get your motors running, head out on the highway and look for adventure—whatever comes your way. Some days we wish we could throw on a brightly colored bandanna, tight leather jacket and pair of stout boots, and climb aboard for the ride.
But is it too much to ask that you add an effective muffler to your list of essential gear?
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