I purchased a new Honda Deauville motorcycle last year, spent over €10,000 on the bike, and another €1500 on Shark helmets, Good quality Dainese pants and jackets, expensive boots etc. After 12 months, (This past August, I sold it all at a considerable loss, but was happy to be rid of it). Passed my motorcycle test first time, but even with that just didn’t feel safe on the bike, even though i was a fair weather motorcyclist. So many ‘near misses’ over the 12 months I owned the bike, e.g motorists pulling out of side roads directly in front of me, when I know that if I had been approaching in a car, they would never have pulled out. I’d often, at a junction further up the road, pull alongside the driver and ask why had they pulled out in front of me, to which the reply was more often than not, “I didn’t even see you”. I always wore a high viz jacket, and the bike had its headlight switch on automatically on engine start, and even with this, motorists still didn’t see me. Tailgating was another regular occurrence. I’d be traveling at 120kph on the motorway (in the driving lane and not the overtaking lane I might add), with people inches from my rear wheel… (Is it ignorance or pure stupidity that causes people to do this, do they not realize how vulnerable a motorcyclist is ?). Another reason I sold it was riding on the M1 past Dublin airport, as HGV’s overtook me, I used to briefly look down at their large wheels, and just image if I lost control and ended up under it, just wasn’t for me. One thing I learned over the year was to give motorcyclist/cyclists, pedestrians even more room, because they are so much more vulnerable that you are in your car/ van / truck/ bus. As I say, I feel I am much safer in my car and for that reason, I won’t be risking life and limb again, taking on the numerous inconsiderate motorists in the country whilst riding a motorcycle. R.I.P to both this man who lost his life and indeed to the man in Cork yesterday.

Ya know, I was feeling devastated yesterday when St Pats lost to Sligo. A tragedy like this, a real tragedy in every sense of the word, doesn’t be long about sorting out my priorities. Two bikers in two days, shocking. And neither of them were kids, both about my age. My thoughts are with their families and friends today. May they rest in peace.

RIP

Terrible, two bikers killed in two days. RIP.

Pure gent. So many gutted by the news.

Very sad 2 guys over the weekend my they rest in peace

Rip

R.I.P. Code for Navan is 046, not 146.