Mark Horgan, company director
Your bike? Yamaha FZ6 Fazer
Why this bike? My last bike was a 600 cc Bandit which I really enjoyed, but I was smitten by the new Yamaha FZ6 Fazer. I got a great deal with trade-in, and changed in July of this year. Compared to the Bandit, the FZ6 is a great leap forward in technology. Its rigid cast-alloy frame and 180 mm section rear tyre make the handling a dream and the re-tuned R6 engine and under seat pipes complete the picture. The technical reviews were great, and for me the looks were too much to resist.
Is there anything you don't like about the Fazer? The seat is a little on the firm side, and after 100kms you really begin to notice. Also, most of the 98 bhp doesn't kick in until well above the 10, 000rpm mark. My next bike will have a greater torque commitment lower down the rpm range.
How and when did you become a biker? I rode a Garelli 50cc off the public roads when I was 14-years-old and this is where I got my grounding. The little two-stroke had long since lost its kick-start, and needed a push to get going, but with the ignition timing set to 'top-dead-centre' you could start the engine in either forward or reverse. The latter providing the biggest fun factor with three reverse gears!
What other bikes have you owned over the years? Apart from the Garelli, which was jointly owned by a group of us, I've had a few two-strokers under 125 cc, before progressing to Honda CB 400, 550 and 750 during the late 1970s and early '80s. I returned to biking three years ago and can't ever envisage the future without owning a bike.
Is your insurance high? Yes, it's far too much. I wish we had real competition in the insurance market here in Ireland. If I were living in Northern Ireland, my bike insurance would cost me 70 per cent less than what I am currently paying.
What do you use your bike for? Purely pleasure runs. Oh yes, and overtaking cars!
Ever had an accident? Yes, a long time ago and it was completely my fault. I ran into the rear of a stationary right-turning car. The front of the bike was badly damaged but I was luckily unhurt. It was boy racer stuff, and I learnt my lesson.
Have you taken any biking trips? Yep. I'm just back from southern India where I completed a couple of ,000kms on a 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet. This was a well-organised package holiday from www.blazingtrailstours.com There were seven of us on the tour, and we were accompanied throughout by lead and sweep riders on Enfields, and a support van with just about every spare part imaginable. We usually covered about 300 kilometres every second day, with a rest day in between to soak up local culture. Travelling on the roads in India is treacherous, but the rules are simple - the bigger the vehicle, the greater the right of way! I'd thoroughly recommend it, but it's not for the faint-hearted.
Why do you think bikers are so passionate about biking? Because bikers live to ride and drivers drive to live.
Any tips for the Minister for Transport? I'm sure he would benefit from the experience of riding an Enfield across India!
What's your dream bike? I love vintage Japanese bikes. My favourites would be Honda CB750 K from 1972 -1974, and the two-stroke triples like the Suzuki GT380. To me these bikes hold a great attraction, and were the first of the Japanese 'superbikes'. They provided new performance levels and reliability never before achieved, and provided an alternative to makes like Velocette, AJS, Norton, BSA and Triumph. - Patricia Weston