I read this little notice about the Heart of America Motorcycle Club "Art of the Motorcycle" exhibit at the Kansas City "City Market." I decided to check it out today, with my kids (in a car, following me), and pulled up to the gate to the market... usually, it's open, but today, it was closed. "Oh, are you with the motorcycles?" the guard asked. "Sure am." He waved me in.
I parked next to a Suzuki, at the end of a long row of motorcycles. Many of them were vintage bikes - an old Motoguzzi, an 1975 Honda 400, some Harleys, some Ducatis. Answered about a dozen questions before dismounting, another 50 while standing there, and, after I walked around the show with my kids for an hour or so, another 50 before I could leave. This could get kind of time-consuming. Which is just fine with me.
The first question is usually, "how far?" The second - "how fast?" "Can you start it up?" "Does it make any noise?" "How much does it cost?" Those are the usual ones.
"We're an all-inclusive club, as you can see," said one guy, as he motioned to the different styles, ages, and makes of bikes.
"Would you consider allowing a member with an electric bike?" I asked. He looked at the bike (for about the 12th time) and furrowed his brow. I was wondering how "inclusive" they might actually be.
"Sure... membership is $20 for the year."
He then took me over to his 35 year old Honda, started it up, and said, "Now THAT'S what a bike is supposed to sound like."
I don't know that I'll be able to convince him of anything otherwise, but maybe if one or two of them have an open mind, it's a worthwhile investment.
