With talks of an electric economy, some vehicles may lose their characteristic noise
By Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D
This past Memorial Day weekend, while trying to overcome strep and watching the neighbor kids tear up everything in their path, I was able to enjoy smoky mastique steak and BBQ ribs along with sunny weather and the sarcastic humor of House on my laptop.
However, my most enjoyable memory – aside from my daughter riding her bike down the street without training wheels – was the roaring sounds of the Harley Davidson bikers cruising the streets – an announcement that warm weather has finally arrived in Wisconsin.
Ever since my brother bought his Fat Boy a few years ago, and the few rides I’ve been on with friends, I’ve not only become a huge fanatic of the historic bikes, but I’ve come to love the comradery that surrounds them and I’m determined to become part of the culture someday (yes, my bike will be white with pink flames).
While enjoying the powerful rumbling of the engines, I started to think about the rising gas prices, the sustainable energy movement that’s beginning to become more popular, and discussions of an electric vs. a hydrogen economy; and I became curious about what the future will hold for loud motorcycles, such as Harleys and Choppers?
My favorite thing about Harley is the thunderous purring of the engines. It’s an entity in itself and creates such a powerful emotion that makes riding one more intense, but with the transition to electric power, vehicles will lack the noise that combustible engines produce. Will this change the popularity among the husky two-wheelers? Will this change the entire riding experience?
I’ve seen pictures of “futuristic” bikes and read articles on electric and hybrid designs, but I guess my tomboyish country-girl alter ego keeps me addicted to loud noises, the smell of diesel and fascinated with the grotesque designs.
I love monster trucks and NASCAR and can’t imagine watching such events without the loud revving of the motors. It would actually be dull – like eating a buffalo wing without the hot sauce.
I’m all in favor of sustaining energy and producing alternative fuels that are less harmful to our island world, but riding a quiet motorcycle would just be as dull as eating a sauceless wing. I guess I’m contradicting myself when I support the move for greener energy yet still put money away so I can finally buy a Harley and attend the occasional truck show.
Between the two options – and I’ve been made aware of costs, advantages and disadvantages of both – I still stand by hydrogen because I think it could help preserve the wonderful sounds that loud bikes and cars produce. If I need to pay the extra money for my engine revving obsession, then I guess I’ll have to cut back on some of my other pleasurable favorites – and hot sauce is harder to give up than you’d think.
Memorial Day weekend, The 4th of July and summer weather won’t be the same without that motorbike’s purring engines, so here’s hoping we can find a way to maintain the noise while sustaining energy.