Hearts, drums beat for Old Glory; 3-ton, 22-foot motorbike, Uncle Sam on stilts are part of Troy's annual homage to the flag.(Capital Region)

Byline: COLIN McDONALD Staff Writer

TROY - Riding a 22-foot-long motorcycle is not the worst way to traverse the three-mile route of the Troy Flag Day Parade.

The 39th annual parade was the Troy debut for the 6,000-pound diesel motorcycle built and driven by Aaron Burbick, 70, of Hoosick.

"He does it for the crowds," said Joyce Glaspell, a friend of Burbick who rode in the back seat of the tricycle and had to yell over the rumble of the bike's engine, which Burbick took from a cement truck.

To answer the two questions repeatedly hollered from the crowd: The bike is a 671 Detroit diesel engine. And no, it can't do a wheelie.

The …