The Weekend Run with Liam Gaskin — A test ride to remember and Anton Savage on the original Route 66

Extra.ie​

10-05-2025

The KTM seamlessly blended ruggedness and refinement on the hottest day of the year. Pic: Supplied
Picture this: the warmest day of the year, the open road, and a roaring beast underneath me that feels like it was made to conquer both long-distance and urban environments easily.
Enter the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, supplied to me by 2Wheels Dublin, the KTM distributors in Ireland. This bike somehow manages to blend ruggedness with refinement in a seamless fashion.
Let's start with the riding position. Perched atop the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, I felt I was completely in command of this machine. The ergonomics are spot-on, offering supreme control over the bike without compromising comfort. Whether weaving through urban traffic or hitting high speeds on the motorway, I felt confident and untouchable. I felt like I was in complete command of this machine. Pic: Supplied
In an urban setting where you need to expect the unexpected, the KTM handled it like a pro. Nimble, responsive, and you could say, almost graceful. Sharp turns were effortless, and navigating tight spaces was a doddle.
Once I hit the motorway, the bike showed off its other side—a majestic cruiser. The gearbox was smoother than a jazz pianist on a Saturday night, and this KTM knew how to stretch its legs and breathe, offering an exciting and relaxing ride. I was surprised that wind shear affected the KTM much less than other bulkier machines.
Now, I'll admit I didn't get to test its off-roading capabilities this time, but with its sturdy frame, design, and heritage, the KTM 1290 Adventure would handle rough terrain with the same ease it showed in urban and motorway settings. It's a bike that will tease your adventurous spirit while riding! Pic: Supplied
Comfort is a crucial factor for any motorcycle, and for me, on long stretches of road, and after my ride, I couldn't help but imagine packing my bags and setting off on a cross-country journey. The seat feels like it was meticulously crafted for marathon rides, and the overall setup is excellent. It's the type of bike that whispers, 'Why stop now?'
The KTM 1290 is a motorcycle that can tease out your adventurous spirit while ensuring you're riding in comfort and style. Whether navigating urban streets, cruising on the motorway, or enjoying a cross-country adventure, the KTM has it all.
This machine would typically set you back €22,499, but for a limited time, the guys in 2 Wheels are offering it for €19,499.
If you're looking for a clip to see the KTM in action, click here and enjoy — It's well worth a watch.
Anton started his career as a researcher on Radio Ireland. He is the director of The Communications Clinic. He has hosted his own TV show on TV3 and co-presented Ireland AM. Anton was part of 70+ bikers doing a fundraising run that generated north of €400,000 for the Children's Health Foundation. Pic: Supplied
He is currently the host of The Anton Savage Show on Newstalk Radio on Saturdays from 9 am to 11 am and on Sundays from 10 am to noon. He is also a columnist with the Business Post and an Ambassador for the Children's Health Route 66 fundraiser.
Never mind when I started, I can tell you when I first wanted a bike. I was about 6, and a guy who worked with my parents won what I think was a Honda VF750. He let me sit on it. Its speedometer went to numbers I'd never seen. And while I was sitting there, he told me he 'had to sell it because the girlfriend said we needed new curtains'. Six-year-old me swore then and there I would never turn a motorbike into curtains as long as I lived.
Ten. I was a very poor student. We had weekly tests in my class, which I failed with remarkable consistency. My mother said she would set aside £10 for every A I got (when getting even one was an unlikely prospect), and at the end of the year, I could buy whatever I wanted with the fund. I became a straight-A student, ending the year with a very old, tired, and beat-up Yamaha 125 DT.
The next year, I reverted to my normal exam performances, but this time I was a very poor student, with a motorcycle. Which is a big step up, no matter how you look at it… Because it was a full-size adult bike and I was ten, there was no way I could get my feet down, so I had to run beside it to hop on, or make sure to stop near a low wall.
I put the biggest knobblies I could find on that Yamaha, a DID heavy-duty chain and the largest sprocket available. It lost a lot of speed off the top end, but it LOVED to wheelie.
First road bike was a Honda ST1100 Pan-European because I wanted to do long-distance stuff, including one memorable-but-painful non-stop 24-hour, 1000-mile trip from Dublin to San Sebastián via Holyhead and the Channel Tunnel.
A lovely bike but underpowered. Replaced it with a CBR1100XX Blackbird, replaced that with a Yamaha YZF R1, then renewed my desire to live until old age and went briefly to an enduro (Suzuki DRZ400), which got nicked.
Now on a Yamaha FJR1300, which is without doubt (for what I need) the best bike I have ever been on. I almost never drive a car now; I can commute, travel around the country, do the big shop and carry passengers comfortably. And it has quite a bit of power, although another 40 bhp wouldn't go amiss.
I did the test. I've also recently done the Rospa test, so I can volunteer with BloodBikesEast (you need a silver or gold cert to do blood deliveries on the bike).
I had done advanced training years ago when I got my first road bike, but I repeated the exercise, this time with a friend of mine who is a Rospa tutor and a thorough, rigorous and insightful individual (and very handy on a bike). Found it hugely useful.
Yes.
Last year, I was part of 70+ bikers doing a fundraising run that generated north of €400,000 for the Children's Health Foundation.
We did Chicago to Santa Monica on the original Route 66. Two weeks, 2000 miles on backroads, spending 7 hours a day on a BMW K1600GTL (not a bad place to be for extended stretches) through some of the most amazing scenery on the planet.
The Painted Desert and Sitgreaves Pass in the Black Mountains are breathtaking, and so is 46c when you're crossing the Mojave desert in jet black unvented gear, black boots and a black helmet – a poor choice!
7. Did you ever have a spill?
Oh god, yeah. I don't think I ever rode the DT without flipping it or stuffing it. I once missed a turn going down a slick grass hill and ended up wedged so tightly in a hedge, I couldn't get off the bike or make it fall over.
I had to wriggle off it backwards like a worm, then physically yank it back out of the bike-shaped hole it left in the undergrowth. I dumped the DRZ a few times off-road, too.
Only had one road crash – a car didn't see me on the Pan-European and put me into the wall of a flower shop on Booterstown Avenue—no major damage (to me, the bike, and my gear were not so lucky).
Since I was ten years old, bikes and I have come as a package. I've never not had one.
I've crossed Europe several times, across the Pyrenees into Spain (I love the run up and down from Andorra) and across the Alps into Italy through the Brenner Pass.
The 'biggest' tour was Route 66 last year. I'm doing it again with Children's Health Ireland in 2026 (it's every two years). I'll be buying light-colored mesh gear this time.
Do advanced rider training—being good on a bike and avoiding crashes are two entirely different things.
I suspect a lot of guys think because they can get their knees down and do second gear clutch-up wheelies, they've nothing to learn, but on the roads, I found the Police Roadcraft approach taught in most advanced training really helps in staying not dead.
On a whim, I decided to get myself a new pair of padded protective jeans for my summer runs ahead, but my first thought was: 'I'll get them online.'
Online, I only had two choices. Cheap Chinese gear seemed good value until I realised most of the cheap jeans weren't Kevlar and didn't come with safety padding.
Option two is to buy expensive brands directly from the manufacturer or Amazon. Neither option appealed to me, so I asked a pal who told me about Cotter Motorcycles, an online Irish retailer with a shop in Ballymount.
I was out that direction test riding the Honda 1100 Rebel, so I popped into Cotters' shop. Long story short. They have a great range of Biker jeans, boots, jackets, and helmets on display and a lot more online.
A lovely lady called Grace was really helpful. She took me through their different jeans brands, their different qualities, etc.
I took a fancy to a pair of Black Shima Devon Jeans with Airforce Protectors. They had level 2 protectors at the knees, which is the second highest level of safety, and level 1 protection on the hips.
And now, for some of the best reasons, do not shop online for bike gear unless the company has a shop you can visit if you have a problem. Grace said that Shima's sizing was smaller than others', so she suggested I go one size up, which I did. I slipped into the changing room and they fitted perfectly.
I was also advised that if I had any problems with them, I should bring them back. Advice, fitting, and in-person returns are things you will not get online.
I checked out their website and couldn't believe the range of gear available online, along with brakes, wheels, tyres, oils, chains, sprockets and more. Cotters cater for all budgets. For example, you can buy a jacket for as little as €89.99 or as much as €599.99.
You check it all out for yourself by clicking here.
Do advanced rider training—being good on a bike and avoiding crashes are two entirely different things.
I suspect a lot of guys think because they can get their knees down and do second gear clutch-up wheelies, they've nothing to learn, but on the roads, I found the Police Roadcraft approach taught in most advanced training really helps in staying not dead.