John Pearson, managing director, Edward Dillon & Co
Your bike? A Honda Pan European ST1300.
Why this particular bike? I wanted a bike for both touring and commuting. Safety, reliability, good low-speed handling, weather protection and built-in storage were all essentials. The Pan European has all of these and it's great fun to ride.
Why two rather than four wheels? Simply frustration with increasingly unpredictable and long journey times as a result of traffic congestion. I use the bike to commute from Bray to my office in Mountjoy Square all year round - journey times are predictable at any time of the day and parking is easy. I reckon that using the bike reduces my commuting time by about eight hours a weeks. It also makes the journey a source of enjoyment rather than frustration.
Ever take rider training? Yes, I took a four-day intensive course going from basic theory to motorway riding.
Do you drive a car? Yes, but an awful lot less than I used to.
Any family resistance to your biking? Not at all. My first "traffic beater" was a Yamaha Majesty 125 and my wife was very soon encouraging me to get a bigger bike so that she could enjoy the two-wheel experience with me.
Do you worry about survival? I'm not a worrier but this doesn't mean that I ignore the risks associated with motorcycling. Survival as a biker, as with so many other activities, depends on acknowledging, understanding and managing the risks. Also, staying alert, anticipating the actions of other road users and adapting to prevailing weather and traffic conditions are key contributors to biking safety.
Any accidents on the bike? Not on this bike but in my earlier biker days I had a couple of minor spills caused by greasy manhole covers and lane switching motorists - early lessons on the importance of anticipation.
Any two-wheel trips abroad? Yes, my wife and I have taken the bike on holidays to France and Wales - and we have a few more plans in the pipeline.
Do you think there's a bond between bikers? I suppose that there's a greater physical proximity between bikers. As you sit at the traffic lights you're just a flip of the visor away from a "how's it going?" with a fellow biker. The car driver sits in air-conditioned and stereophonic isolation. Apart from that the fact bikers are a minority will in itself generate a sense of kinship.
Any bad experiences with motorists? My biggest fright was being undertaken at speed, by a motorist as I indicated to turn left into my own driveway. The motorist confessed to having had "a terrible week" and just "not seeing me" - scary stuff!
Any tips for survival? Stay alert, think ahead, ride defensively and within the limits of your abilities and prevailing conditions.
Your dream bike? I'd find it difficult to improve on the Pan European as an enjoyable and efficient all-rounder.
... - Patricia Weston