Conor Sheil, clarinet player with the Opera Theatre Company
What was your first machine? A Suzuki GSX250 which I bought about 12 years ago in Dublin from a friend.
What attracted you to it, and indeed motorbikes? I suppose it was a continuation from my years in the saddle on bicycles. I was attracted to two wheels and a car was out of reach at that stage. I was 21 and a freelance musician, teaching and playing around the city.
How much did it cost? I can't remember exactly, but around £400.
What's your current machine and what did it cost? A Honda Magna 750 that cost £4,000 back in 2000. It's a 1987 bike. To car owners that may seem expensive for such an old bike, but motorcycle have retained their value better than second-hand cars.
What did the insurance cost? €480 with Carroll Nash and that covers me to ride any bike so long as it's not my own.
What do you use your bike for? Generally for commuting. I have a car, a Nissan Maxima, and for longer trips or at night I prefer the car. The bike is not so good from a visibility and comfort point of view.
How much do you spend on gear? An Arai helmet £450, a leather jacket £200, gloves about €50. I replace my helmet every four years. I haven't spent any money on boots.
What's your next bike likely to be? I'd like a Honda Blackbird or a Suzuki Hayabusa, named after a Japanese bird of prey that attacks blackbirds, a Suzuki joke on Honda. I've considered getting a Pan European but the Blackbird is just as comfortable. It also has a better 0-60 mph.
Your longest journey on the bike? From Dundalk to Wexford at night. I remember getting off and walking, running, and even pushing the bike to warm up.
Any run-ins with the law? I had gone 10 years without being stopped for speeding and then one day I was stopped twice. It was on the Wexford road near Jack White's Pub - I was stopped twice within 20 minutes. Luckily I was stopped by someone different the second time.
Any crashes? I've been lucky so far. I've had no serious injuries though I was knocked off my bike outside the Olympia by a taxi doing a u-turn. I flew over his bonnet and landed on my back but thankfully with no serious injuries. My helmet saved my life.