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Mobster
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Wicklow, Ireland.
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 Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject: Swop your ride |
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Something I've often thought about. Have often thought of touring in the US but never fancied paying large rental costs or paying to ferry my bike that far. Is there anyone out there thinking the same way as me who would like to tour in Ireland , UK or Europe.
Wouldn't mind exploring this idea....
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"Illegitimi non carborundum"
'97 K1100LT |
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Mystic Red
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2330
Location: Twin Lakes Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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I thought about it but roundabouts on the other side of the street scares the crap out of me! 
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466 |
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Flying Duck
PsyKotic Waterfowl
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
Location: Bumf***, WA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure you do it on the west coast if you come to the US. California and Utah (as well as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming) are where the best riding is. Lots of great national parks too!
I might be tempted come summer. You never know as I myself have toyed with this idea. Autobahn.....mmmmmm.......
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Large John
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 199
Location: S.L.C. Ut
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| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| Flying Duck wrote: | Make sure you do it on the west coast if you come to the US. California and Utah (as well as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming) are where the best riding is. Lots of great national parks too!
I might be tempted come summer. You never know as I myself have toyed with this idea. Autobahn.....mmmmmm....... |
no bahn in ireland, but i did 10 days tour there last june and it was almost as pretty as utah. actually it was drop dead gorgeous after you get used to the fact it will rain every day, not ALL day but EVERY day lol ;>))
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John Merrick
KOG # 16
You're never too old to have a happy childhood |
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doug
Big Brick Rider
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Location: Cork, Ireland
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Mystic Red wrote: | | I thought about it but roundabouts on the other side of the street scares the crap out of me! |
Not our fault if you all drive on the wrong side of the road!!!!
You should try France or Spain, they just seem to consider roundabouts as obstructions in the middle of the road - real scary stuff.
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'89 VFR750 (X2!) |
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John Clauss
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 732
Location: Robesonia, PA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:22 am Post subject: |
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| Flying Duck wrote: | Make sure you do it on the west coast if you come to the US. California and Utah (as well as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming) are where the best riding is. Lots of great national parks too!
I might be tempted come summer. You never know as I myself have toyed with this idea. Autobahn.....mmmmmm....... |
Pffft. There are great roads everywhere you just need to know where to look.
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1997 K1100LT
1975 R75/6
It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al |
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Flying Duck
PsyKotic Waterfowl
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
Location: Bumf***, WA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, there are great roads everywhere. They're just better in the west. 
Riding on the "wrong" side of the road can be a challenge. Your habits send you to the wrong side of the road after turning at intersections. I rented a 250 enduro in Nepal for a fews days to tour the Kathmandu Valley. I trained my Nepali guide to smack me on the left shoulder if I ever headed for the wrong lane. It worked out pretty well. (How crazy was my guide to just hop on the back of a bike with some stupid American tourist at the helm?)
Driving on the "wrong" side is much easier. I think it's because sitting on the wrong side of the car is a constant reminder that you are in an opposite universe.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
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Mobster
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Wicklow, Ireland.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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I find the GPS is a big help when "driving on the wrong side" definitely worth the investment.
Ireland:
Yes, rains quite a bit here but July is usually reasonably dry, with the exception of last July when it rained almost every day. Ireland is a different type of bike holiday than Continental Europe. Everywhere you can travel is always within a days ride so you'll never find yourself putting up lots of miles. On the other hand there's always the temptation to have that one last pint of guiness, resulting in a certain lack of enthusiasm to get on your bike the next day. Scenery is beautiful roads are ..... different. The craic is mighty and you can really cut loose. All in all very enjoyable. Wales and Scotland are only a ferry ride away and again they each bring their own challenges and surprises.
Keep the posts coming, positive feedback overall.
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"Illegitimi non carborundum"
'97 K1100LT |
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Jim Brotherton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Nieuwegein Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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Have already made 3 trips to England and will heading off again in May for number 4. A trip to Ireland is on my list of things to do, maybe 2009. Already have the maps in the house and planning routes. Riding on the other side is not that bad, just have to keep in mind where you are and the round abouts are now a piece of cake (took some adjusting).
If you have any personal recommendations or tips would like to hear them.
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1995 K1100RS
2004 R1150RT |
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doug
Big Brick Rider
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Location: Cork, Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| Jim Brotherton wrote: | Have already made 3 trips to England and will heading off again in May for number 4. A trip to Ireland is on my list of things to do, maybe 2009. Already have the maps in the house and planning routes. Riding on the other side is not that bad, just have to keep in mind where you are and the round abouts are now a piece of cake (took some adjusting).
If you have any personal recommendations or tips would like to hear them. |
If you do plan on coming to Ireland make sure that as much of the West Coast as possible is included in your itinerary. The scenery etc in the West is pretty spectacular to say the least.
To put it mildly, the roads, especially when you get off the beaten track, can be quite 'interesting'. In many places there is no 'wrong' side of the road, because the road ain't big enough to have two sides  , and you won't bump into to many roundabouts either!! Be prepared to drive at your leisure and don't plan on breaking any land speed records.
One of my own favourites is in Kerry, a circuit around 'Slea Head' which is one of the most westerly points in Europe. I'll try to dig out some of my own pics but check out the link below anyway.
http://www.lakehotel.com/Car_window.htm
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'89 VFR750 (X2!) |
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Jim Brotherton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Nieuwegein Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Looks great! My plan was to stay in the south east. south west and west. I was going to try to go this year but the Wife wants her yearly trip to England. My daughter wants a trip (her first so staying close to home) so we are going to do Denmark. And there's some week-end trips to Germany with some friends from the USAF.
This work thing is really interfering with my riding time.
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1995 K1100RS
2004 R1150RT |
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doug
Big Brick Rider
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Location: Cork, Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Jim Brotherton wrote: | Looks great! My plan was to stay in the south east. south west and west. I was going to try to go this year but the Wife wants her yearly trip to England. My daughter wants a trip (her first so staying close to home) so we are going to do Denmark. And there's some week-end trips to Germany with some friends from the USAF.
This work thing is really interfering with my riding time. |
Ha ha, Tried work, didn't like it, joined the Prison Service instead!!! 
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'95 K1100lt
'89 VFR750 (X2!) |
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