Earlier in the year, following a rather unpleasant passing on for my father, it was decided by my wife that it would be good for me to realise an old ambition and get some bike road trips done. I had been prevaricating about getting back touring for years but death in the family was kind of a wake up call. Previously I’d crossed Spain and back through the Pyrenees and done trips to Germany a few times but work and life had put the kybosh on touring.

So here I am heading west from Wimbledon, SW London - not as big as some of the trips on here but hopefully of interest.

I am on a 2005 883. It is virtually stock and having only had it a couple of months I’ve not actually ridden it more than an hour or so in one go. Since I got it it’s had the exhaust headers replaced, a set of new Avons and I’ve been hit by a fire engine whilst stationary in traffic so ownership’s been interesting!!!

I chucked an aftermarket screen on it last night and packed up a large bag to fit on the rack.

Set of this morning with a trip 130 of almost all motorways ahead to get me to Wales and an overnight in Cardiff.

Initially the buffeting from the screen at 70mph was quite unpleasant but I remembered a tip from someone on here about tilting it back to improve airflow and when I stopped to fuel the bike I gave it a shove. Annoyingly leaving the petrol station the speedometer wasn’t working so I managed to find a lay-by before joining the motorway and did the old turning it off and back on. This restored the Speedo but there were some warning lights but they all went off after a few seconds so I decided to just ignore them.Next couple of stops the speedometer was fine but again lights on when starting it but for the final stop it restarted without any warning lights so who knows - I’m sticking with ignoring it and hopefully it won’t blow up. I think a shake down ride might have been a good idea but too late now
Other than that the bike was great, just stuck around 70mph and chilled.

Got to hotel just outside Cardiff and it started raining as I walked away from my bike so perfect timing.
Tonight is a few beers with a friend who lives down here before a big day tomorrow; 100 miles or so then a ferry and really heading west!



Cheese baguette at motorway services

Wales as seen from my hotel room

 

I'm in. 👍

 

I will follow along, good luck.

 

So a few beers in Cardiff. Not too many long day tomorrow.



Welsh beers - Mmmmmmm!

Possibly one of the worst pints I’ve ever bought - absolute dog ****

Even not being Welsh one can respect this

Old building

 

Quick update

Well got to Kerry, Wi-Fi bad, weather is worse!!
Had to buy a tarpaulin for the bike yesterday

Bike in the yard.

 

I gotta admit, I had to look up Cardiff Arms Park. It looks like quite the place!

 

Having reached somewhere with decent Wi-Fi I can give a more in depth ride report.

Day two was always going to be a big one and in retrospect was two big. Started from the hotel in Cardiff with about 110 miles to the ferry - half motorway and then a mixture of dual carriageway and single. Few showers on the way and an annoying buffeting wind but no great dramas. At the ferry there were about a dozen or so bikes and with the exception of one guy on an old k100 they were all Germans on “adventure “ bikes. Had a chat with some of them and discussed their planned route which included a full lap of Ireland in ten days with camping at night.Ferry was usual, three hours of moderate swell, mild nausea, bit of a sleep, over-priced tea and then arriving in Ireland. Off the boat, cut through the queues and waved through customs and go!

The first three hours were great riding, the sun was out, the roads were in good condition, traffic was fairly light and cars would move over to let you through regardless of how dangerous the overtake they were suggesting was going to be! The bike was really great for this, steady seventy with occasional bursts for overtaking. Probably one of the best bits of riding I’ve had, even got a wave from a Garda on a police bike going the other way. I have been very impressed with how comfortable the sportster is. More speed might be nice but chilling was quite nice and I haven’t got the skills for high speeds anymore.

I had about 210 miles to cover and annoyingly only got off the ferry at 17.45hrs so night riding was on the cards and it would’ve been far better to stop for the night after a couple of hours riding, unfortunately I’d decided to get to my house no matter and just stopped to fuel the bike until I had about 40 miles to go when I did a proper stop but by this time it was 21.30, the route had also gone from dual carriageway to slower single carriageway and through villages which hit the average speed.

The big stop saw petrol for the bike and dodgy veggie burger and chips for me. Setting off all was fine as I hit the Ring of Kerry route however after about half an hour the sunset and shortly afterwards it started to **** down. I do not recommend Irish rural roads in the dark and wet after four and a bit hours on the bike. At this point I also decided that not bother to bring my jacket liner had been a major ***** up as had relying on a budget end of the market lid. Commuting on the bike and touring are two different gigs.

I ploughed on slowly in what was frankly a dirty old night and eventually reached Caherciveen and the turn for home. Took it slow and then reached my road. I’d only ever ridden down my road on a Honda c90 or a bsa bantam so didn’t appreciate that the camber and road surface for a big bike is ridiculous and it keeps trying to fling you into a ditch. Fortunately I reached my drive way, two hundred yards of wet grass with a muddy 90 degree turn at the bottom in the dark and rain is great ****-puckering fun.

The bike was parked up, Mrs Dan had a cup of tea and some barmbrack for me and that was the day done. Next day was definitely a rest day.



Dia duit na h'Eirrean

Mmm nasty road food

Bikes on a boat.

 

So having arrived in Kerry the weather took a turn for the worse, rain, winds, yellow weather warnings (not as bad as a red one but not good). Given I was aiming for R&R I thought stuff this and parked the bike up for a few days of eating, drinking and relaxing. So bad was the weather I had to go and buy a tarpaulin for the bike to keep the rain off the bike.

Fortunately today the rain cleared and I needed to be somewhere else so the bike came out for a quick trip. Two passes through the mountains of Kerry were dealt with and a fast blast into Kenmare finished off a nice afternoon of biking. The sportster was again great, although one of the running lights has packed in, but again very small Irish backroads are definitely not it’s optimal terrain but a lot of bikes would be a bit cheeky there tbh. Hopefully the weather will stay dry for a few days now (dry being only raining a little!).

Dangerous driveway!

My road, note the lack of camber and the nice slippery grass slap,in the middle of it.

McGillycuddy Reeks in the distance

Bealach Oisin

Long road to Glencar

Visiting family


Bealach Beme


Ready to descend the Bealach

Kenmare bay

 

Overnight stay in Kenmare so Mrs Dan went hiking and I did the Beara peninsula loop this morning. Just about a hundred miles of twisty, challenging roads with spectacular views. Little traffic and a big yellow object in the sky!!! Only rained the once as well.

Bike and a big stone slab




Out west.

Top of the Caher pass on the way back to Kenmare

 

Excellent photos! Thank you for sharing your journey. I laud your efforts.