Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:15 AM CDT
Letter: Strange is right about loud motorcycles
By LOWELL BARKLEY, Mattoon
While reading the letters to the editor the other day, I saw a letter from a lady in answer to Mr. Strange’s letter about “the evil motorcycle“. All was well until I saw the phrase “motorcycles has mufflers.” At this point it was a good thing I did not have a mouthful of coffee or I probably would have spewed like Old Faithful and choked to death from laughing.
After composing myself, I thought back into the days of my youth (not quite as far back as Harry’s), and vaguely remembered there once was a state law that essentially said, “No person shall modify the exhaust system of any vehicle so as to cause it to be louder.” I seem to recall that most towns also had similar laws. I have also heard tales of police officers checking to make sure mufflers were in proper working order.
However, in recent years, I had thought that these laws had been quietly repealed or were like some of the blue laws that time had passed by(not worthy of enforcement).
With some motorcycle organizations touting the removal of mufflers(using the slogan: “Loud Pipes Save Lives”), motorcycle TV shows not even attempting to use mufflers and hearing a number of cyclists saying they were going to change their pipes (read, put on a straight pipe), it is no wonder I was so amazed to read the phrase in the lady’s letter.
It seems that 90% of motorcycles that go by the places I frequent have no muffler at all and the riders all seem to be making a concerted effort to be sure every one knows it. Especially in the late night hours. A person would think these riders would show a little restraint in town, but nooo, “not me, I like to wake people up.”
So, until I hear different, I am going to agree with Mr. Strange on that part of his letter.
For the record, yes, I ride. It’s a scooter that is big, fast, comfortable and has the muffler that came from the factory.
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Good job Lowell wrote on May 31, 2007 7:29 AM: