Hi, Has anyone done a scooter of Ireland? If so, do you have any tips of where to rent them or small motorcycles and what you did after that? We're thinking of doing something like this in the summer of 2023. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
Are you motorcyclists? Understand kilometers? Have helmets? Remember the Irish drive on the opposite side of the road than you are used to. You’ll need to research laws regarding scooters as well as look at google maps to see the highways, etc. Trust me on the different roads you’ll find lories, traffic, autos, busses, tractors, horse drawn carts, dog walkers, walkers, back packers, bicyclists, cattle, horses and riders, and sheep.
Posted by
OP
Arizona
2 posts
Thanks for your concern. I'm a licensed, insured, motorcyclist with decades of experience and all safety equipment.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
Do you enjoy riding in the rain, and on slick roads?
Not to be Debbie Downer, but Ireland gets a lot of rain (you know, that whole "emerald island" thing....it's green and mossy for a reason). There's even rain in the summer (I visited in July, and we had some rainy days, though in fairness, I also got a sunburn, so you should plan on a mix of weather).
My motorcycle owning days are long behind me but I'd consider myself a reasonably experienced, skilled rider, and I would not try this. Although the scenery in Ireland would make it a lovely place to zoom around on a perfect day (rain-free and having had no rain in the previous few days so everything, including roads, could dry out nicely), it's moist enough and it rains often enough that I would never consider riding a motorcycle there (of any size) as my primary means of getting around. Maybe rent one on a sunny day in a destination, but not as a way to get from place to place.
(We did rent electric, power-assist bicycles for a couple days on the Aran Islands, but those were slow and most roads there are gravel so we had no major issues with traction -- at least none that were caused by wet surfaces).
FWIW, I don't recall seeing a single motorcycle or scooter at any point in our trip, so it does not seem like a super-popular tourist activity (completely unlike tourist destinations that are reliably sunny and warm, where you see swarms of tourists struggling on Vespas and other scooters).
You will see lots of bicycles on the roads in Ireland, so I suppose if those folks can manage it, a careful motorcyclist could, too. You would have to be extra extra careful (and of course have really good insurance).