Pete Townsend, property marketing manager, IDA Ireland
Rides: 2002 BMW 1100S and 2005 BMW K1200S
Why the BMW tourer? Recently I attended a BMW open day and test-rode the new R1200ST. During the run I swapped bikes with a friend who was test riding the new K1200S. Fifteen miles was enough to convince me to place an immediate order. BMW has really rewritten the rules for sport tourers, the bike is very easy to ride and has phenomenal performance and is full of technology. I'm addicted to BMWs.
Why did you become a biker? As a kid I always wanted a bike but was never allowed, probably wisely so. I spent over six years in the US with the IDA, and a few years before I returned I got a dose of 'mid-life crisis' and decided to buy abike. Dare I say it, but the BMW 1100 RT turned out to be a great first bike.
Did you take any rider training? Pressure from home and common sense prevailed, and I took a training course in Boston with a State-sponsored riding school, where incidentally, you could also do your driving test. On returning to Ireland I had to retake the test, as they wouldn't accept my US licence.
What does your insurance cost? It's extortionate, it's about €1,200 for the two bikes.
Was there any family resistance to your biking? Yes, it wasn't a welcome addition to the household and wasn't helped by the fact that my riding instructor kept insisting that "Bikes were better than sex"!
Do you worry about your safety? Constantly, I was always taught that every car, every corner and every junction are a potential threat, so I ride with a lot of caution.
Had any accidents? No, but quite a few cars have tried to alter that.
Do you follow motorbike sports? Not really, although I do follow Isle of Man TT week.
Taken any trips abroad? I went to Normandy two years ago, and this year will be going down to Garmisch in Germany, it attracts some 30,000 other BMW riders. I'll probably do another trip, perhaps to France, during the year.
Do you think bikers share a special bond? Drivers drive to get from A to B, and bikers are passionate about every ride.
Any issues for the transport minister? Clamp down on mobile phone use in cars. On an average day I see 20 or 30 motorists driving and using mobile phones without a care in the world. Also, put your money where your mouth is in relation to safety and provide free bike training. Take VAT off helmets and give my friends in Dublin access to bus lanes.
Any tips for survival on two wheels? Give yourself a chance to be seen, wear bright gear and a white helmet and acknowledge your limitations.
What's your dream machine? A Ducati MH900e because it's the most beautiful motorcycle ever created !