Wheels: Noisy motorcycles: Really necessary?

Allow me to set the scene: a picturesque coastal Maine town, late summer. The cool air is a bit nippy, but the sunshine is warm to the skin. Seagulls and rolling waves harmonize in the background while your eyes can trace stacks of lobster traps, discarded buoys, buckets and tarps, all signs of a working pier with just enough debris to be convincing.

Brick facades of storefronts and restaurants set off al fresco diners enjoying the finest coastal New England offerings made better by company and conversation. There are the ear-splitting explosions of fuel and air responding to the fisted throttle of adolescents on motorcycles.