While I agree that being arrogant with your loud sled is hurting us as a collective group with the peacenicks, I also believe that it is just one more step to taking away our freedom. The folks responsible for the attacks on snowmobilers dont just stop with motorized users, they go after foot traffic in some areas as well. I believe people need to be responsible in thier actions and around others, but I do NOT believe we need to give up something many of us enjoy, to appease the masses of "greenies" out there. Like said before, they will go after anything burning fuel at all in the backcountry eventually. If its not the loud cans, it will be the tracks we make in the terrain, dispersement of wildlife, etc...
Loud cans do not neccessarily add performance , but they do shave a substantial amount of weight, which helps to increase real performance on the mountain. They also are VERY useful when seperated from your group in the mountains. I got lost once while boondocking around with about 5 other buddies. I was able to shut off my sled and locate my guys by listening for thier sleds. I could have been lost many other times due to not finding my group because I couldnt hear them 100 feet away in the trees. Yes, I have been fortunate to have areas to ride where you arent restricted to local groomed trails or small regulated riding "areas." Those reasons alone are enough to keep me a firm believer in "loud" cans.
Bottom line is we have been blessed with many freedoms in this country. I believe that we can be responsible at the same time as not bending over and giving our freedom away one piece at a time as well, just because they can use it as "ammo against us." Id rather see snowmobilers use some ingenuity and common sense to fight back for our rights, not just lay down and give up our arms. Trust me, theyll be going after many of our Constitutional rights a little at a time and I believe giving them this would actually be ammo against us as well in the long run. Just my opinion.
