Alex McAllister, director of McAllister's Garage in Malahide, Co Dublin talks about his first bike, a Yamaha 250 Virago.
What was your first machine? A Yamaha 250 Virago. With all the chrome I thought I was Peter Fonda in Easy Rider. I discovered that Virago means "an abusive woman" - it was a nice bike but not me. I had another Yamaha and a Honda. I bought an 850 BMW from the paper and collected it out near Powerscourt.
What attracted you to it? I was immediately hooked on BMW and bought an 1100GS which I still have. I'm attracted to quality German engineering. Well, I would be biased about German motor products, wouldn't I?
How much did it cost? £9,999 - second-hand in 2001.
What does your family think of your interest in motorbikes? I have two brothers and we were all told as children - a big NO to motorbikes, don't even think about having one. Motorcyclists had a very high mortality rate in the 1960s. I used to turn green with envy when my school-friends sported their new machines and their female pillion passengers. I had to wait many years before I could indulge my suppressed passion. I feel my parents were right not allowing us have motorbikes. Maturity brings an increased sense of self-preservation.
How much do you spend on gear? About €1,300 on clothing - all BMW genuine articles. I have a thing about buying manufacturer's material.
What did the insurance cost? I'm insured with our garage policy.
What do you use your bike for? I use the bike a lot - can't tolerate heavy traffic so, if I can use the bike, I do. I'm also very involved with the BMW motorcyclists club. It's very active and has a great social scene. We've organised runs and weekends away in the best of hotels. We were in the Lake Distract earlier this year. It's a real gentlemen's club - with women members, of course. We have two very enthusiastic women members.
What's been your longest journey on the bike? My longest journey was through France down and across the Pyrenees into Spain. Did it the year before last with three friends.
What's your next bike likely to be? Next year I'll have a new 1150GS. I've just passed my test. I took lessons with the local authority motorcycle training and got the silver level. I can highly recommend this training regardless of your motorcycle experience. The image of the motorcyclist has changed dramatically over the years; it's not the long-haired, noisy, beer-swilling, overgrown schoolboy any longer, more the matching leathers drinking afternoon tea outside a country hotel.