Pat Barry, director of corporate affairs, Guinness talks about his motorcycle, a Honda Africa twin 750cc
Your machine? A Honda Africa twin 750 cc.
What attracted you to it? Well, I'm pretty tall and I wanted a good strong machine. With this one I can see above the traffic, whereas on a lower machine, I would be stuck in the traffic. So the safety factor was a big consideration.
How much did it cost? When I decided to go back on the bike a year ago, I took a lot of advice, especially from John Wheeler of the Rider Training Scheme. He found me the bike in England. It was a 1996 model, but with only 13,000 miles on it - we got it for £3,900 sterling. I had to pay VRT on top of that, but I reckon I got a fair bargain. It has a top box too.
Insurance? I was pleasantly surprised. I expected it to be higher - it came in at around £450.
What do you use the machine for? I have a daily commute from Greystones into St James's Gate, and I can put a suit in the top box and change when I get in. If I have to move around town during the day, I usually use taxis. Changing in and out of the gear is a chore, but it's very minor compared with the advantages.
What was your last machine? That was a long time ago, back in the late 1960s - a Honda Benly.
How much did you spend on gear? I decided to do things right . . . between helmet, gloves, armour-lined jacket and trousers I spent about £1,000. But it's been worth it. The waterproof gear has kept me dry, even in bad conditions.
What's your next upgrade going to be? I haven't thought about it.