Hi guys, Hope you all had a great weekend and were able to get out for a spin in the sun. I just wanted to ask for a bit of advice regarding long (ish) distance riding on my 848. I want to do a trip with my girlfriend as pillion from London to Dublin, then around the coast via Kerry and up to Donegal, then home. I've worked out it will take around 25hrs of driving although I'll be visiting family at various places so will allow 5/6 days to complete. Do you think this is a good idea? Is it too much with a pillion? Are there any upgrades/accessories you would recommend i.e. luggage, seats, pillion accessories, etc? Has anyone done this or similar before and what are your thoughts and experiences? If I was on my own it wouldn't be a problem but I'm wondering if it would be too much hassle with a pillion, I've warned her it wont be very comfortable but she's still really keen as am I If you guys think it will be more hassle than fun then another option would be to hire a tourer, perhaps even a Harley. Could anyone suggest a good rental place or perhaps a bike swap? Thanks in advance.
Howdy. Personally speaking, that is a long way for a pillion on an 848 no matter how fit they may be if that were the case. On top of being perched really high, pillion would have to also carry a backpack. There is a crowd over here called Motorcycle Rentals and Tours Ireland If say you got to Dublin, you could hire a bike off them, that would be more suited to the both of you. Kerry is a great spot, very scenic but there are a lot of kamikaze tourists in big coaches & campers and rented cars. Not ideal for an 848 two up if ya get me. On top of that you have the Iirish weather. Its been one of the wettest years on record but same for you guys in the UK too. From Dublin its 4.5hr ride two up. Roads are ok but its an awkward-ish place to get to. Lot of A roads but its agood spin down. I aint turning you off ( i hope ), Ireland is a great little country but two up on a sportsbike, i wouldnt personally.
The last time we visited Ireland we did a 5 day tour round the south and west cost then ended up at NW200 for the Racing. The scenery and people were fantastic but to be honest some of the smaller coast roads were just not good enough for the 999. My mate was on his Fazer and had a nice comfortable ride but a lot of the time I was holding him back, Got recovered from Belfast (because it was absolutely chucking it down with rain and got water in electrics) but found when i got home the condition of the roads had even shaken the headlights loose. It's a fantastic place to go on the bike but maybe choose your roads very carefully for your 848 - especially if you're carrying a pillion. If she goes with you on the back I'd guess she won't ask again!!
Your little tour sounds like a great idea. Personally I would want to take a bike more suited to taking a pillion. You may not want to rent another bike, but in the long run, it will make the experience more enjoyable for the two of you.
If she knows what to expect I think it would be fine, but, and its a big BUT, dont be tempted to do too much distance each day and stop regularly for tea, lunch and stretches.The coast from West Cork starting in Kinsale , and all through Kerry,Clare,Galway and connemara,into Mayo,Sligo and Donegal needs 5 days from Cork to do it justice.
Hire a bike bud thats suited to you both as has been previously suggested. I sometimes take my boy out on the back of my 848 and its bloody hard work plus the bike doesnt like it at all.
beyond 220 miles/day get s you in fatigue country.. but hey, i'm 53, so... in any case, she must love you dearly as she will get knackered...
Thanks a lot for the advice guys. I think I'll look into hiring a bike, I want to enjoy the drive as much as the destination. Can anyone recommend a good hire company in/near London? I would love to do it on a Triumph Rocket but something similar would do.
Come on that's no age at all and without getting into marathon riding sessions 350 miles a day is comfortable as that equates to 8 hours with stops/sight seeing and lunch at a nice easy pace, even on Ireland's country roads.
I beg to differ, living as I do on the wild west coast. 350 miles a day is not the same as the UK. 200 to 250 is quite enough.
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I wouldn't want to pillion for long on an 848 Been pillion on the SS SSie and multi Multi is fantastic and comfy upright and easy on the rider when stopping as you can stop yourself lurching forward The SS was good if you like cuddling up to rider but lots of head knocks. Pillion is tiring hanging on at the best of times so allow plenty of stops as my feet would cramp and my wrists shoulders would ache Even more so carrying luggage I remember being pillion once with a rucksac on rider and one on me tell you thats hard work you hang on by the skin of your fingers
I do...................... :wink: I am on a Triumph forum and we have an annual long weekend , done various ones all over England and Wales over the years, in 2010 I did one over here based in Kerry. They asked for two varied and interesting routes doing 200 mile days and believe you me they were well knackered and couldent believe they had ridden such a short mileage over such a long time, and no hanging about either. .No comparison between 200 Irish and English miles , even in Somerset
Went over to west coast of Ireland last year on a 748, had a really great time and will go back again one day for sure but beware of the weather - it can rain bigtime out there like all the way from Westport back to Dublin which took around 4 hours and was not the greatest way to end what had been a week of very windy but mostly dry weather. If you do go then you have got to spend some time going round Connemara and surrounding areas, amazing scenery with fantastic biking roads and great pubs serving good food and of course top notch Guiness. Go for it but think carefully about the distance you can travel in a day and about how practical your choice of bike is for two up touring.
I spent 5 years in Athlone central Ireland, I had my Superlight over there for some of that time. The roads are slow and bumpy in most cases. You'd be better with a multistrada or a BMW GS, something with nice soft suspension and lots of travel.
