26-04-2025
The Weekend Run with Liam Gaskin - Hidden Wicklow gem and my verdict on Suzuki's latest offering
I take a road less travelled for this run.
Everyone is familiar with the Wicklow mountains, Blessington lakes and Powerscourt House in Enniskerry – and these routes are well ridden by motorcyclists. However, in Wicklow, there are places and roads that are neglected in the main by bikers, drivers and tourists.
In contrast to the barren but beautiful Wicklow mountains, I visit today the lush foothills of The Garden County. I start my run today in Kilbride, near Wicklow town and just off the N11. My first stop was Redcross, a name very familiar to N11 drivers but I bet a town most have never visited. This is a sleepy little town but renowned for the stud farms and riding schools locally.
The road from Redcross to Avoca, my next stop, is not great. I'd give it 5 out of 10 but it does go through beautiful countryside. I headed to Avoca which is famous for 'The Meeting of the Waters'. This is where the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers converge to form the Avoca river. The location was made famous by Thomas Moore's song and poem by the same name. Take the road less travelled in Wicklow. Pic: Supplied
I was foolishly misguided as I believed the Meeting of the Waters was in the village of Avoca – wrong.
You go over the bridge in Avoca heading to Woodenbridge, but instead of going left at the T-junction go right for four clicks and voila! You've arrived at the meeting of the waters. In full flow it is a great sight.
The road from Avoca village to the end of my run is first class and for a biker I would give it 8.5 out of 10.
Now you have to track back on yourself to get to Woodenbridge. Set in the magnificent Vale of Avoca, it is well known for one of the most beautiful golf courses in Ireland and Irelands oldest Hotel established in 1608, The Woodenbridge Hotel and Lodge. They won a Gold Medal Hotel award in 2024 so are still going strong.
Little known find – a small tranquil World War 1 memorial garden in the centre of the town alongside the river. It commemorates 1,215 Wicklow men and nine women who lost their lives in World War 1. It is well worth a visit. Meeting of the Waters in Avoca, Co Wicklow. Pic: Supplied
Leaving Woodenbridge, I headed to Arklow – a large town with an interesting quay and harbour. My sights were set on the run to Brittas Bay, a 4km stretch of golden beach, via the coast road. And what a road, narrow with great twists and bends and ups and downs, simply a great biking road. Brittas Bay is famous with Dubliners who make the pilgrimage there religiously in the summer when the sun comes out (which isn't too often).
I parked up and stretched my legs with a stroll on the beach before finishing the run at the infamous Jack White's food and drink emporium. If you don't know why this pub is famous, check it out online. Truth is stranger than fiction.
I use the Detecht App to track all my rides. Click here to see the detailed map. Tiger Sport 800. Pic: Triumph
Well not an actual Tiger. The Triumph Tiger 800 Sport.
Now, my ambitions to be a MotoGp rider are long gone and the idea of riding a sports bike wasn't necessarily floating my boat but I was curious how it would perform.
The riding position on the 800 is upright which gives you a sense of real control over the machine. This is a bike I felt at one with. There was a connection between me, the bike and the road. I felt it was built for me.
I joined the M50 and weaved in and out of the traffic with great ease. The six-speed gearbox was as smooth as silk. Wanting to check out the torque I dropped it into to 4th gear and tickled the throttle and it took off. The speed of acceleration is astounding. The standard adjustable windscreen deflected most of the wind so I never felt I had to do my belly-on-tank impersonation of Valentino Rossi.
This is a really great bike to ride at any speed. I can see guys or gals commuting to work on it and touring at the weekend. The slip and assist clutch reduces lever effort and wrist fatigue. It genuinely is a doddle to drive in traffic.
I like to open up on the motorway and the 800 did everything I asked of it and had more to offer. I also like to tootle around housing estates to check handling in low gear and the Tiger tootled beautifully.
This is a lot of bike for not a lot of money (comparatively speaking). I am also impressed with some of the standard equipment such as wet, dry and fast (my definition) driving modes, optimised ABS cornering, switchable traction control, cruise control for the longer runs, adjustable windscreen which worked really well for me, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Tiger starts at €14,895. If you have a few extra euro you can get heated grips – which I highly recommend – tyre pressure monitoring, a very useful auxiliary power socket and of course luggage boxes.
All in all The Triumph Tiger 800 Sport is a pussycat with a big bite. It's probably the bike I've most felt at one with for a very long time.
Change your tyres and helmet at least every five years – whether they look good or not.
Rubber erodes over time and although you haven't done huge mileage they can be dangerous. Your helmet also needs replacing by then as it will always have had a few knocks and bumps when you're handling it. The padding will also become weakened as the oils on your head and sweet damage it over time. Always better to be safe than sorry. Ali Horan is one to watch. Pic: Supplied
What Ali has done in 12 months, most bikers haven't done in a lifetime.
Ali only got her first motorbike in March 2024 — but from then on, she knew she'd found what she was meant to do.
It didn't take long before she made some big life changes: She left her full-time permanent job in the events industry and went freelance to give herself the freedom she needed to pursue motorbiking. She even gave up her apartment so she could pour every resource into riding.
She clocked over 20,000 km around Ireland and toured Morocco just 8 months after getting on a motorbike for the first time. She wanted to be on the road all the time.
She put her name down for a trail riding event taking place in Portugal in March 2025. Instead of flying in and shipping her gear, she rode the whole way down solo — covering over 6,000km through Spain and Portugal. That trip become the foundation for her YouTube channel, where she's documenting the journey from start to finish, including four days of dirt biking in the hills of Monchique.
She release a new episode every Friday. Stunning scenery, amazing heart stopping roads and a great story. Ger Colleran on the Normandy D Day beaches. Pic: Supplied
Ger has had a very interesting career. He's been a journalist, national newspaper editor and – on occasion – a TV presenter. He currently writes a column in The Irish Mail on Sunday and is a practising barrister at law. This is an accomplished man who does not like being idle, and great company on a biking weekend.
1. When did you start riding bikes?
When I was 50, not a midlife crisis I assure you.
2. How old were you when you took it up?
See above.
3. What was your first bike?
A Honda Deauville. I've since graduated to my current bike, the BMW R1150RT.
4. Did your license come with your car licence or did you do the test?
I did the test.
5. Did you get your test first time?
Yes.
6. What was your most memorable ride out?
Five days in Normandy visiting the D Day beaches. I'd highly recommend it.
7. Did you ever have a spill?
No.
8. Did your partner approve of you getting a bike?
No.
8B. Did your partner ever ride with you on the bike.
No, but that was my choice.
you do any major tours on the bike?
Weekend runs round Ireland and Normandy.
10. What would you say to someone considering buying a bike?
Take trading in very, very seriously. Be careful, because I believe they are ALL out to get you! Celtic Horizons' Donegal tour is one hell of a ride. Pic: Supplied
If you want great company, great craic and great motorcycling roads near to home jump on this guided tour to Donegal by Celtic Horizon tours.
When David Buckly retired as a motorcycle cop he established Celtic Horizon Tours. They specialise in sport, culture and fun. I think the fun aspect applies to motorcycle tours.
Dave has planned and led motorbike tours across Route 66, the West Coast of America, the Italian Alps, Spain, France and literally almost anywhere you can think off. He is also the trip organiser and Road Captain for The Blue Knights in Ireland.
The Blue Knights are the Global Motorcycle Club for serving and retired cops. If Celtic don't do the tour you want, they can organise and book a self-guided tour for you.
You'll find them here
The Donegal run Starts on Sept 6th and includes two night's dinner, bed and breakfast and road captains to guide you. The run starts in Athlone and takes you to Letterkenny.
The cost per person sharing for all the above is €395, now you wouldn't beat that with a big stick. Check out the Donegal tour here.
This one is this Sunday so you'll need to get your bikes on.
And this one in memory of Little Lucy is in June.
