Motors & Me: Noel Connolly

Noel Connolly with his bikes at home in Athenry, County Galway.

What are you currently driving?

My current bikes are a 2009 Harley-Davidson Crossbones, a 2003 Harley-Davidson xl Sportster, and a custom built Electric Motorcycle.

Love at first sight, or just a means to get from A to B?

Kinda, but I tend to see the motorcycle I want hidden beneath the stock machine.

What’s under the petrol tank?

Harley Crossbones has a 1584CC OHV V TWIN Engine.

Petrol head or Sunday driver?

I’m definitely a petrol head, but have built a custom electric motorcycle as well. I Did it to show that electric motorcycles don’t have to be copies of petrol engined motorcycles, but can have a totally different look.

What was your first bike?

First bike was a Vespa 90 Scooter, I loved that bike and it’s still around Galway today. Made lots of friends on Scooters back then, and a lot of them are still riding motorcycles/scooters.

What else do/did you own?

Gone through a lot of bikes, first ‘real’ bike was an RD 350. Been riding Harleys since 1991.

Dream drive in dream location?

Drove Route 66 on a Harley in 2002 for Temple Street Children’s Hospital, which was amazing. In 1994, a group of us joined a Harley HOG tour of the Pyrenees from Montpelier to Biaritz, again amazing. Would also love to Ride Pacific Highway 1 in America or along the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Passenger you’d most like on a long journey?

Passenger for any journey has to be my wife Kathy.

Passenger you’d least like?

Passengers I hate would be anybody who says “motorcycles are dangerous!” The most dangerous thing on a motorcycle is the nut behind the handlebars, and car drivers not looking in their mirrors.

What’s on your playlist?

I can’t wear earphones on a motorcycle, I prefer to hear the motor. But most motorcyclists have what’s called the Highway Jukebox. It works like this — as you’re driving along, nice day, going nowhere, just out for a cruise, a song will just pop into your head. Could be anything, doesn’t matter, that’s the Highway Jukebox.

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