Leo Hughes, baggage handler, Aer Lingus
Your bike? A Honda Gold Wing 1500.
Why this bike? I've always wanted one. My first bike was a Honda 50, then I got a Honda 125 - and then was off bikes for 14 years. As soon as I got back in the saddle I bought a Gold Wing.
Tell us about the purchase. I bought it in the US, on the eBay auction website. It cost around €11,500 including VAT and VRT and it's worth €17,000. It's a great service. The bike was flown on an aircraft pallet from Texas to New York then Cologne and on to Ireland. I picked it up in the airport after paying the VRT and VAT, filled it with oil and petrol and drove it home. The only problem with buying a bike on the internet is that you can't take it back to the garage to have a mechanic work on it but I have a very good Gold Wing mechanic in Mallow - Tom Foley - and it gives me an excuse to go to Cork for a spin. Gold Wings are so reliable that I wasn't worried about buying it over the internet.
How do you use it? I go to work on it everyday - it's only 10 minutes on the motorway. I love taking it out for spins. It's heaven. I took it out one day and ended up in Newry, Co Down - in 55 minutes. It's a very comfortable bike, like riding on a magic carpet.
Are you a member of any motorcycle clubs? Yes, the Gold Wing Club of Ireland. It organises a "Treflon" every year, a four-day event riding around Ireland - it's great and you get to look at each other's bikes.
Did you take rider training? I took rider training with the Irish School of Motoring before I did my bike test. I found it a bit frustrating because every time I went for a lesson there was a different trainer.
Have you a full licence? Yes, I did the test in Raheny and passed. Where I work 17 of the lads ride bikes - 10 of them did their test in Finglas and failed, the other seven did their test in Raheny and passed. So the lads who failed in Finglas took it in Raheny and passed. Very odd.
Any gadgets on your bike? A lot of lights! I buy accessories on the internet - they're cheaper and they're delivered to your door. You also avoid import duty on them. I bought a set of handlebar grips for just $40 - they'd cost €160 in Ireland.
Does your wife take spins on the bike with you? No, she won't go near it. Dolores doesn't really like motorbikes. I broke my leg and and am in a plaster cast at the moment, so I really miss the bike. She says she'll come out for a spin on it with me as soon as the cast is off.
Any tips for safe riding? Keep within the speed limit - there's no point in speeding. Make sure you can be seen. Being seen is not a problem on the Gold Wing, it's so big.
Your next upgrade? If I was to get another bike it would have to be a Gold Wing 1800. That's my next goal and it would certainly be my dream bike.