Peter McKeever, bank official
Your first machine ? A Honda 50 bought in 1971 . . . 50p worth of petrol ran the bike for a solid seven- days commuting to school, town and the local chipper.
What attracted you to it? After seeing Easy Rider that year I knew I had to have a bike. Anything to start with . . . I had got the bug. If you wanted the freedom and the craic with the mates you had to get your hands on a machine.
How much did it cost ? £25. I earned the money it working in my Dad's office during the school holidays.The weekly wage amounted to £5 before tax.
Your current machine? A 1987 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster and - my favourite - a 1980 Triumph Bonneville bought from a dealer in Chester last year. What a bike!
What did it cost? £3,200 sterling . . . insurance, third party, was IR£450.
What do you use the machines for? Mostly weekend runs with fellow bikers - down the N11 to Brittas Bay, Arklow and Gorey. Twisty back roads like the Wicklow Gap and Sally Gap are best with the thrill of taking the bends ideally with no cars about!
How much did you spend on gear? Not a lot - £70 on a second-hand biker jacket , £115 on a helmet, £45 on a pair of goggles ( old first World War Pilot type) and £80 on gloves.
What's your next upgrade likely to be? I'll never sell the "Bonnie", but I'm going to add a bike to the collection - hopefully a 1970s Norton Commando early in the new year. I just love the classic British big twins, the sound of them, the styling, the grin factor when aboard.
Do you follow any motorsport? I'm a keen fan of road racing and enjoy trips to the likes of the Tandragee 100, Northwest 200 and Skerries to meet up with acquaintances. Unfortunately, the all-time greats such as Mervyn Robinson and Joey Dunlop are no longer about, but up-and-coming new faces keep the interest going in the sport.
Any bad memories? I've had a couple of hairy moments, all my own fault. In 1974, a Kawasaki 90 and I parted company outside Foxrock Church when I took a corner at speed and had to brake suddenly to avoid a bus - only damage was to the bike side panels and my pride. In 1997 I dropped the Harley on a bend having braked on loose gravel to avoid a parked car - damage amounted to a broken mastercylinder, mirror and dented petrol tank.
What gets in the way of enjoying biking? Road conditions, I suppose, my pet hate. Unfinished surfaces, loose gravel, tar seams and potholes are a biker's nightmare, particularly in wet conditions.