Bagpipes and Harleys? Kinda like chocolate and peanut butter; they go together better than you might think. Both have a long and romantic history; both have been used as weapons of war; both tend to affect people on a gut level (you either love 'em or hate 'em; there's no middle of the road); and, of course, both are LOUD!
A set of bagpipes can be a great companion on a long motorcycle trip. They pack up a lot smaller than you might think, they're surprisingly rugged (then again, maybe it's not so surprising, given their long association with armies on the march), and they provide one of the few ways a biker can make it into the local paper outside of the police blotter.
And, of course, both Harleys and bagpipes are found regularly in parades. A motorcycle provides a convenient way to get to and from the parade, as it doesn't take up much space and parking is often a real pain-in-the-arse at parades. Of course, riding to a parade raises the question of whether or not to risk riding in a kilt (but that's another story). Often the pipers will be just a few units away from the Shriner motorcycle corps, those guys who do precision maneuvers on beautiful chrome-and-white Electra-Glides. I've got a friend in a Shriner motorcycle group, and he's tried more than once to persuade me to join him. But, as I point out, can he take his bike inside the bar after the parade, make a little noise and have other people buy him beer for the rest of the evening?
There are some things even a Harley can't do.