Motorcycle Madness
Many of us thought that the zeitgeist of the late 1960s and early 1970s would never end. Surprise! Surprise! Those days of great hope and change not only went away, but the values and actions of many of the activists/protesters of the generation of baby boomers have been driven into the ground. The protest against the genocide in Gaza may be an indication that the Phoenix of protest is rising from the ashes, but it’s too early to tell.
Along with the vanished days of great change of more than 50 years ago were the ever-present motorcycles on the road. Almost everywhere I traveled on my bike, a scrawny Yamaha 2-cycle 250 that could hardly get out of its own way, fellow motorcyclists would raise two fingers and flash the peace sign. There was the feeling of camaraderie with the majority of those on two wheels on the road. There were others who represented something different from the masses of those mentioned above, but they were not as obvious as today. Today the others are the vast majority of riders.
Many motorcyclists today travel on huge screaming machines, wear clothing with symbols that often speak loudly to what is represented. Helmets sometimes reflect the kind worn by German soldiers during World War II. The peace sign gesture, now a cliché, has long since vanished. It is impossible to translate appearances into politics, but at a local demonstration supporting migrant children during the Trump administration, one such motorcyclist raised his middle finger at the assembled group. Contrast the differences between these two historical epochs.
Motorcycling was more like “Easy Rider” and “Get your motor running…” by Steppenwolf, than the murderous attack at Altamont by motorcyclists.
My friend Michael and I went motorcycling weekends and drove through some of the most beautiful landscapes of northeastern Connecticut. On one ride while still in Rhode Island, Michael stood up on the seat of his Triumph Bonneville and let go of his handlebars. Do not try that at home or on the road, but those were the gilded days of motorcycling on the open road.
I really miss the spirit of those times and my bike.
Motorcycle Madness