Kevin Barrett, chief information officer, Elan..
How many bikes do you have? I have two bikes, a 2004 Yamaha R1 in California, and a 2003 Yamaha R6 in Dublin. The nature of my job means that I travel quite a bit between the US and Ireland and it is important to have a bike wherever I am!
Did you notice a significant price difference between the US and Ireland? It's not too hard to believe, but the R1 in America cost a little less than the R6 in Ireland. Both were in or around 12,000.
What does it cost to insure these bikes? Insurance in Ireland costs 1,100, which is not bad considering the type of bike. The cost of insurance in the US is so high it's embarrassing, but lets just say it's a multiple of the cost in Ireland. American insurance companies don't care how many years experience you have with bikes; if you haven't gained the experience in America then you don't have experience at all.
What do you use your machines for? For fun, pure and simple. It's the ultimate stress relief simply because it requires 100 per cent concentration on the road and the surroundings. The feeling of freedom on a bike is something you can't describe - you just have to experience it. I occasionally take the bike into work but only in fine weather, and there is a lot of fine weather in California. I avoid the wet weather primarily because I've seen too many accidents happen in the wet.
Do you spend a lot on bike gear? Yes, an awful lot, and to be honest I have lost count at this stage! I am heavy into personal protection and so I never go out on the bike without being covered from head-to-toe in armour. No matter how expensive gear may be, it's worth it because skin and bone tend to be harder to replace!
With such a gear fetish what are you likely to purchase next? I'm interested in the latest developments in jacket airbag technology, but then I don't believe you can have enough protection. Finding gear that provides a high degree of protection and yet keeps you comfortably cool in the soaring temperatures of California is a constant problem. Of course I have the opposite problem in Ireland. I'm always on the lookout and I have a real problem passing a bike gear shop without going in and buying something.
What's your next upgrade likely to be? I'm toying with the idea of buying another bike, something a little bit more upright than the R1 or R6, but with similar performance and looks. Supersport bikes are great fun but the pillion passenger can get a little uncomfortable. I'm not actively looking but who knows, if I see something that fits the bill, it shall be bought.
Do your family worry about your safety? My mother is in two minds about it: on the one hand she loves motorbikes but on the other she worries about her son riding one. My father thinks I just need to grow up. My 10-year-old son thinks its great that his dad rides fast bikes. The love of my life worries but mostly keeps her worries to herself. Telling her about a near miss because I was accidentally on the wrong side of the road in California was not a good way to increase her confidence. If I could only persuade her to get her own bike, the problem would be solved. I am working on it! ... - Patricia Weston