Neil Condron, managing director, xmi design consultants
Your bike? A BMW R1100S Boxer Cup Replica
What was your first bike? A very secondhand Kawasaki 90cc circa 1973, which I bought from a friend. He wasn't around when I collected it so the money was given to his mother in return for the key. To the embarrassment of us both, no matter how hard I tried the bike wouldn't start. I even had her push me up and down the road trying to jump-start it. Eventually I pushed it to a garage and got technical advice - turn on the petrol!
I progressed through a variety of machines over the following years to a Kawasaki 500cc MACH III and then retired from bikes at 22 years of age glad to be in one piece.
What put you back in the saddle? About five years ago, I convinced myself that my fat ass wasn't too old to get back on a bike. Paying due respect to my looming mid-life crisis, I told my wife that I was either going to have an affair or buy a bike. We both agreed that I had a better chance with the bike. I went for a cruiser, a BMW R1200C, because I reckoned it was more a "middle-aged man's machine". It's upright with lots of chrome and a padded saddle with adjustable suspension. Straight away I was smitten. I became a committed born-again biker, donned leathers, ditched the car and started toying with the idea of a slicker, faster, sports model. Three years later I saw the BMW Boxer Cup - love at first sight.
How much did it cost? After the addition of an alarm system, touring panniers and a few extras, there wasn't much change from €€20k.
What does it cost to insure it? 900 a year for fully comprehensive.
What do you use your bike for? I gave up on cars about five years ago and use the bike as my sole mode of transport 365 days a year, excluding the annual snowy day. The only obstacle I haven't overcome is where to put my golf clubs.
Have you spent much money on gear? About 4k over the past five years. Being an all-weather rider, good all-weather gear is essential. I also invested in a tank bag, an Autocom audio system and an iPod so I can answer my mobile and motor to Mozart or Eminem with the low growl of the engine as a backing track - pure audio magic. My next purchases will be fitted earplugs for longer spins. I'm also tempted to buy a set of Boxer Cup leathers and boots.
What's your next upgrade likely to be? I genuinely can't think of what could class as an upgrade. The Boxer Cup is all bike, it's sport with style. In my opinion it's the best that BMW has to offer. My bike brings a smile to my face every morning especially when the rain is teeming on a cold winter morning. I climb into my leathers and, snug as a bug, throw the leg over the bike, select the desired sounds from the iPod and pop her into gear. And then comes the real pleasure - slipping past car, after car, after van, after car, after car, after truck, after car knowing that every full blooded male stuck behind the wheel gives my baby an envious once over. Ah, if only my studio was a bit further away from home! ... - Patricia Weston