"Ten years ago biking was only for bikers, those hairy- arsed greasy types," according to Simon Collins, managing director of Inchicore Motorcycles. "Now it's become more accessible to everyone because of the traffic congestion."
Testosterone pumped through the halls of this year's motorbike and scooter show at the RDS. Leather-clad with helmet in hand, the men strolled through the show wearing their gear as an emblem of their enthusiasm. Women were present only in small numbers, even if you included the organisers and the scantily-clad women draped over the more powerful motorcycles.
For those of us not overly enthusiastic about motorbikes but who just want to avoid the traffic jams - and get to our destination without having to depend on public transport - there was plenty to choose from at this year's show.
Peugeot had an impressive range of scooters. Lowest in the price range, the Vivacity compact is a 50 cc, two-stroke scooter with the lowest seat available on the market at a height of 750 mm. Its big wheels will get you across most pot-holes. It retails at €1,880.
The sporty Speedfight 2 available in 50-to-100 cc and hailed as "the replica of a two-time world champion rally car", is available in five two-tone colours, retailing from €2,289 to €2,298.
Green machines offer a range of electric scooters that will not pollute the atmosphere. The EVT-168 moped scooter, retailing at €2,500 comes in a range of classic two tones: blue/green or purple/black. With a maximum speed of 45kph and a battery charging time of up to six hours, this scooter is sure to get you through the traffic stylishly and without leaving a plume of poison behind. "We've sold 30 scooters since we opened in May," says Robert Nolan, general manager of Green Machines. "There's virtually no transmission maintenance," he says. "You just plug it in to charge up the battery and it'll go for up to 60 kilometres."
Piaggio's chic and classy ranges of moped scooters are sure to tempt the most frustrated public transport commuter. The 50cc Zip comes in two colours, tropical blue and aluminium, and costs €1,525. "It's light, with a low chassis and appeals to both men and women. It's our most popular scooter," according to Steven Breure, general manager of the Scooter store.
For something different, try a rechargeable electric scooter. Similar to the ones children play with, they're proving very popular in London where commuters must pay congestion charges. "London commuters fold up their scooters and carry them in the boot of their car until they reach the charge zone," says Gerard O'Byrne, managing director of FYM Motorbikes & Scooters. "They then leave the car, unfold the scooter and complete their destination." Eco-friendly, foldable, lightweight and convenient, the SuperScoot 100 electric scooter boasts a top speed of 12 km per hour. It retails at €149.
So, whether you're one of the hairy biker types or just simply want to commute to and from work, there are plenty of motorcycles and scooters on the market to suit your needs.