The year ahead: Looking into what the next 12 months will bring in motorcycling terms, there is a lot of speculation as to the effect of maturing SSIAs. One estimate predicts a €27 million spend on motorcycles. If true, that would mean sales of over 2,000 more top-of-the-range new machines which would certainly come as some relief to the trade.
Changes we have seen in recent years look set to continue. The average age of people taking to two-powered-wheels continues to rise. The majority of those buying new machines, as well as those training, now hovers around the age 37 mark. Insurance statistics point to a significant increase of new customers in the 39-40 age range.
Motorcycling has ceased to be, as it was in the younger days for some of us, the only affordable and accessible transport. With the insurance cost of a Dublin-based 16-18 year old's moped at around the €1,900 mark, the cost of buying and running a Micra starts to look attractive.
It is noticeable now how mopeds, not so long ago as ubiquitous as wasps round a jam pot, are fast becoming a rare sight.
Motorcycling is now, very largely, a recreational activity. Many combine fair weather commuting with recreation but, there are comparatively few for whom the motorcycle is their sole means of mechanical transport and fewer still who are 'professional' riders, such as couriers and instructors.
Today's motorcyclists are getting older but not necessarily always wiser. Many probably had a Honda 50 years ago. Often the bike seems to have fallen by the wayside long before marriage, mortgage and children. Now, 20 or so years on, the mortgage is more manageable, the children probably in secondary school and the partner back in the workforce. This makes the motorcycle affordable, with the added bonus that, in congestion beating terms, it can be justified. Sadly, a fair proportion of these returned riders are buying very high-performance machines of which they had no experience, as is evident from the continuously high proportion of "single vehicle accidents" where, clearly, a lack of skill so often plays a major part.
The AON BikeCare training initiative, which rewards those who can demonstrate a good, safe riding standard, has helped many reduce their insurance costs. It has also meant, for those with higher-powered machines, that again, by proving their competence they can get cover which would otherwise be unobtainable. Hopefully, in time, raising the standards in this way should help reduce accidents and fatalities.
The question remains will 2006 actually see the long-promised, decades overdue, introduction of Compulsory Basic Training? Serious road safety initiatives, unlike toll motorways, seem forever to remain beneath the Government's gaze.
In terms of new machines the year ahead is full of promise. BMW's radical HP2 Enduro will be one of the first machines on test.
We are also looking forward to the launch of their K1200GT, a derivative of the supersports K1200S but in more comfortable "GT" mode. There is already huge interest in their all-new F 800 S, an 800cc parallel twin.
There is also the new R1200S as well as the much improved R1200GS Adventure launched at the recent NEC Show. All will be tried and tested during the year.
One of the most interesting machines could well be Yamaha's "automatic" FJ1300AS. The chance to sample their fly-by-wire YZF R6R is eagerly awaited. Riding their XV1900 Midnight Star, an 1,854cc behemoth of a cruiser will be a distinct contrast.
Honda's GL1800 Gold Wing with the new airbag system should arrive here in the middle of the year. We also look forward to riding the new 750 Deauville.
Buell's XB 12 Ulysses, America's answer to BMW's R1200GS, is certainly on our list. Harley-Davidson's new Street Bob is a must and 2006 has to be the year in which we finally get to test ride their iconic Ultra Classic Electra Glide.
Kawasaki's ZZR1400, is, on paper, a potentially hypersonic machine holding the promise, if one could but find the space, of 300 km/h and more. Moto Guzzi have just announced the 1200 Norge, a luxurious looking tourer. If we can track down their elusive press bike fleet on 2006, we will certainly try it out.
A visit to the Triumph factory and test riding their new Daytona 675 Triple and their 865cc Scrambler is another not-to-be missed assignment. As in previous years we expect to be covering the RDS Bike Show in the Spring and the Motorcycle and Scooter Show in the NEC in November.
With any luck we should get to the Milan Show in September, by far the biggest show being held in Europe in 2006.