Graham Cullen, signwriter, CM Signs, Thurles
What's your current machine and how much did it cost? A 2001 Yamaha Fazer 600 - the current model is about 00 new (I think . . . don't shoot me, Yamaha dealers).
What attracted you to this bike? Primarily the riding position, as it's comfortable to sit on for hours on end. It's a great all-round sports tourer, and surprisingly light.
What attracted you to two rather than four wheels? In a word, freedom.
Do you drive a car? Yes, at the moment, a Toyota Avensis. It's a necessity I'm afraid. It's hard to fit a wife and two kids on the back of a bike!
Are you likely to change your bike in the future or are you happy with what you've got? I'm happy with my current bike. When I do change, I'll probably go for a Honda VFR 800 Vtec.
What do you use your bike for? Pleasure, weekend trips mainly. From Thurles you can reach any corner of the island quite easily.
How much do you spend on gear? I bought some Givi luggage this year in Andorra and had it shipped home. It cost about €300, a whole lot less than I could get it for in Ireland. Andorra is tax-free.
Ever had an accident on the bike? No, thank God. I had a close one in France once though - a guy in a car pulled into the fast lane as I was passing him. I found out the brakes on my Fazer were in excellent condition!
Have you done many trips abroad on two wheels? I was in Morocco in June this year. I did the land bridge across Britain, ferry to St Malo, and then down through France and Spain. A ferry took us from Algeciras to Morocco. Eight of us were there and back in two weeks.
More people than ever are now taking to the road on two wheels. Why is this? For a lot of people it must be traffic, especially in built-up areas such as Dublin. But, for many others, it must be because they've realised the freedom on the road that a bike can offer.
What bonds bikers closer than motorists? Bikers drive bikes because they like them. Cars owners drive cars out of necessity. When a biker pulls up somewhere they'll often head over to the nearest biker to talk about his or her bike. Car owners just don't do that.
You're Minister for Transport. What changes would you make for bikers? Better roads would be a nice start. What's badly needed is somewhere to park motorbikes in cities and towns - parking on pavements isn't ideal for bikers or pedestrians. And don't get me started on insurance.
If you won the lottery what would be your dream bike? A Jesse James Custom from West Coast Choppers - it's a cruiser made to order in the US. It would cost anything from $40,000 to, well, the sky's the limit. ...