An Cosantóir

find most of the guys are very experienced, but when young lads join they are not used to having powerful bikes under them. The weather can also affect how bikes handle so it's very important to give advice and safety briefs if necessary." A tour can consist of anything from ten to 40 bikes and international meets can have hundreds of riders. That's a lot of machines, powerful engines, and enthusiastic riders. To keep everyone safe the guys employ a seniority structure. Steven Clarke is the group's sergeant-in-arms, which is basically the organiser. He gives out timings, ferry tickets and that type of thing, and, very importantly, keeps discipline amongst the group wherever they go. On the road he monitors everything to make sure everyone is riding safely and nobody is getting left behind. John Enright explained to us how the group controls so many bikes on the road, especially with many different types of bikes with different speeds. "You have a designated lead man, a back-marker, and a drop-off man," John says. "When the lead man, who is always at the head of the group, comes to a turn he signals to his drop-off man who stops and directs everyone to make the correct turn. He knows when everyone is through because the back-marker always takes up the rear position." "The front and rear of the group can break up to be ten minutes or more apart," added Paul Gaughran (Road Captain, East), "but we know that everyone will be accounted for: it's a simple system but it works and everyone is safe," Sport or touring bikes aren't cheap and the Green Knights are very aware of this and don't want cost to discourage potential new members from coming along. "Anyone is welcome to come and meet up with us," said Thomas O'Connell. "We can help people get started. By no means do you have to go out and spend thousands on your first bike: we'll guide you in the right direction." Financially, there is also the added benefit of a member's discount on motorbike insurance that the Green Knights have in place with Carole Nash Insurance and Aon Insurance. For more information on the Green Knights visit: www.gkimma.com | 15 V Pops ox Peter Cox (2 Bde MP Coy) "My bike is a brand new BMW R1200GS; a new model only launched in Ireland on March 2nd. It is liquid-cooled (a new step for BMW) by two radiators filled with a glycol gel. This model is up from 110bhsp to 125bhsp and improvements have been made all over. I have the touring edition with a full luggage system, satnav, engine bars, a tank bag,and a Scala Rider Bluetooth system that allows you to get directions from the satnav and take or make phone-calls, or listen to the radio or MP3." Wes Walsh (ex 2 Inf Bn now 2 Cav Sqn RDF) "I have a Ducati Multistrada 1200 with 150bhsp and full antilock braking system (ABS). It has four riding modes: Sport, Touring, Rain, and Duro. I completed a Dispatch Riders course in the cavalry but even still having the riding modes is very handy as different conditions can catch you out. "I'm a customs officer now and I've been away for a few years working in Portugal so this is only my second run since I came back and I'm looking forward to getting back on the road with the guys. They're a great group: several of them came over to Portugal when I was there and we toured around on our bikes. It was fantastic." Marty Clarke (1 Cn Cois) "I have a Kawasaki 1400GTR, which is basically the touring version of one of the fastest bikes in the world. This one is shaft-drive instead of a chain and has electric windscreens that can move up and down to suite the conditions, heated seats, and ABS traction control: it has it all. Its counterpart is the fastest legal road bike, capable of a top speed of 200mph. This model is detuned and is specifically designed for touring but it can still reach a speed of 150mph. "The Green Knights is a great group to be in. You get to travel all over the country and the continent." Paul Gaughran (rtd) "I have a Honda Valkyrie 1520cc. It is a flat six custom, which means it has a six-cylinder, flat engine and is custom built. They started making them in 1997 and discontinued them in 2003. I'm not the tallest person in the world but this bike has a low centre of gravity, which makes it very easy for handling and manoeuvring. I have sports bikes at home but this one is perfect for cruising. "The Green Knights is a great way of keeping connected with the Defence Forces and all the guys I served with." Steve Clarke (rtd) "I have a real bike, a Harley Davidson Fat Boy; an American bike that is very well recognised from the TV. It's perfect for cruising as it's belt-driven, low maintenance, and trouble free: you just sit back and relax. It has a vintage look and vintage sound to it and when you are on the open road you will turn heads. The 1450cc engine is very big, with a lot of pulling power. With some smaller bikes, when you put bags on the back you know it, whereas with this you can load anything onto it. Believe it or not this is a 2004 bike. Harley Davidson hasn't changed the design since the 1950s." Kevin Ayres (rtd) "My day job is an accountant but my part-time job is a driving and motorbike instructor. I have several bikes and this is my BMW GT K1200. This would be classed as a sports tourer and will hopefully take the place of the sports tourers I had before, such as the YamaFJR1300 or the Honda Pan-European. It has computer-controlled suspension, cruise control, VS, heated seats, and heated grips: has virtually all the mod cons of a modern apartment. "The computer allows me to change settings from one rider to rider and passenger and to allow for various weather conditions as well. "While this bike can do around 150mph with high comfort, like most motorbike guys I get more of a buzz from cruising around twisty, country roads where you get a good lean." take ha it www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

• Cover