The Bikers Next Door

March 2, 2022 –

The sales of motorcycles continue to grow despite the chain supply problems and the increased production costs for components. In the first three quarters of 2021, sales in the United States were 692,000.

As I ride down the road, I am amazed that many Florida motorcyclists don’t wear a safety helmet; the state does not have a helmet law. Maybe these bikers believe they are less accident-prone than cyclists in other states.

When my wife and I were first married, we lived in a small duplex with duplexes on both sides. Though the parking spaces weren’t marked, each resident had one parking space.

One evening, as my wife and I made ready to go out to dinner, I found the parking space behind our car blocked by three cycles. I went to the neighbor’s duplex and politely asked him to remove the scooters. His indigent answer was, “Scooters?” Those are hogs, not scooters. My faux pas. But three Harley bikers came out and moved their hogs.

Hog riders say life is more fun when you are on one. If you prefer riding on two wheels with or without a helmet, that’s fine. I like riding in my four-wheel car with a roof over my head.