Leinster Motorcycle Roads

Not the most glamorous-sounding route, but I took it rather than take the motorway back to Dublin and was pleasantly surprised by this road. Good visibility, nice bends, and mostly good surfaces. Smiley face all the way!
The main downside is hitting a few villages and their 50km limit, but otherwise highly enjoyable. Of course, the usual caveat regarding Irish roads in intensive agriculture areas applies. Farmers have full licence to spread as much shite as they want on the carefully-engineered surfaces, and seem to do so with great zeal. It's a bit like animals marking their territory. At this stage, the whole country smells of shite - but that's another story. Watch out for it in the wet - lethal.
I ended this route at Athy because the town is a traffic nightmare, even on a bike. Almost met my maker when an octogenarian deliberately pulled out in front of me without a care in the world and with his caravan behind him.
After Athy, the road is almost straight and has a bizarre 60km limit most of the way to Naas, so do anything you can to avoid it. Motorway would be better.
So, an unexpected bonus in the not-so-boring Irish midlands.

• breezin
• score: 8

some fast corners

• alanconway
• XT600E, FZR600, Royal Enfield, GSX400f
• score: 20

Fast some tightening turns

• Jonathanpatt99
• score: 20

A nice jaunt on a Sunday afternoon. A mixture of nice straight road with a few sections of some nice twisty's (watch out for the tractors though) A few hours ride over a couple hundred kilometers with a great coffee shop in Cootehill

• TrickyD
• score: 7

Rural road till Swords, coastal roads from Malahide onwards. Awesome views, plenty nice places to park for a coffee or just to stare at water.

• Ignat
• BMW R1150RT
• score: 10

Nice along the coast to Newry. This is a fast version (back via motorway), if have spare time can return along the coast too.

• Ignat
• BMW R1150RT
• score: 10

North Bull Island - Malahide - Rush - Skerries - Balbriggan and back through the M50

• ndabar
• Suzuki GSR600
• score: 5

Very scenic route along the rivers Nore, Barrow and Suir, with places to stop off for refreshments and photos.

• muller
• ST1300 Paneuropean
• score: 21

nice

• sr
• score: 5

A very nice leisurely 4hr is ride (if you stop for coffee in Laragh). Loads of climbing & descending. Only place I have seen any speed vans or Garda is on the road from Blessington to the Hollywood turn off.

• jblen
• BMW F650 GS
• score: 25

My favourite ride through beautiful Wicklow and back.

• jblen
• BMW F650 GS
• score: 25

Good Sunday spin

• 80derek
• kawasaki Ninja 250
• score: 10

...

• csmoses
• CBF1000-9
• score: 7

A good fast stretch of road that winds through Cavan farmland for nearly 40km - nicely cambered with a good surface.

• setanta
• Honda Pan European ST1300
• score: 10

Went out yesterday with the lads and I used to love it in a cage, but by jaysis was it glorious on the Hornet. Lots of fast sweepers, good line of sight for approaching corners and not much traffic.

• gtiguy
• score: 5

Just a quick spin. Watch out for the hump back birdge just before you come into Straffan.

• 80derek
• kawasaki Ninja 250
• score: 10

A very pleasant 70km of winding country roads through lakeland and farmland. The road surface is generally good and cambered well so a good speed is maintained almost throughout. Carrick on Shannon isnt a bad spot to stop for coffee along the river after the spin

• setanta
• Honda Pan European ST1300
• score: 10

I live in Dublin. This is my go to route if i find myself at a loose end. Takes me about an hour and a half, Longer if you want to stop in laragh for fuel/coffee/smoke. Nice sweeping main (rural) roads with good surface from Dublin Hollywood, and from Laragh back to Dublin. Great set of corners just as you leave Dublin heading for Hollywood (If its dry). Smaller road over the hill from Hollywood to Laragh. The surface is OK for a mountain road. Views are well worth it. Two things though, Thee road WILL be busy on Sundays or sunny saturdays, you will be stuck behind sunday drivers. Try to be clever with your timing. Other thing be ware of possible animals on the road. Three sheep on it today between Roundwood and Kilmacanoge.

• waxogg
• score: 5

Secondary regional roads, very twisty & technical. Medium surface, lots of blind bends & crests. Great fun :-)

• johnfitzer
• score: 45

Nice coastal drive from fair view along the coast to Howth. There are a number of traffic lights between On route but also nice stretches without. Going around the hill of Howth is great and there is a great biker coffee shop on the harbour front. Ill panorama. The drive though baldoyle and out to malahide via portmarnock has the sea on your right for 90% of the journey. Be very carefully of tide times as the section between malahide estuary and the donabate road can only be done at or around low tide. The end of this journey finishes up at the hotel at the beach in donabate. On a nice day it is a lovely stop to stop and look out to sea having a refreshment. When finished and heading for home you are only a few minutes from the M 1 motorway and the m50. Enjoy...

• Nugmeister
• Ducati Multistrada
• score: 5

Lots of good corners on this route.. Road surface mostly good... Only bad section is between Woodenbridge & Arklow... Some nice crests between Larragh & Rathdrum but be careful because some crests are on bends & always some water patches on this road even in the summer..

• johnfitzer
• score: 45

A lot of good quality, high speed bends, Worst part of the route surface wise is from Woodenbridge to Arklow, Otherwise excellent grip.

• johnfitzer
• score: 45

Lots of good quality bens on this route, a lot of blind crests between Rathdrum & Larragh be prepared to get some air under your front wheel but, take care as some of the crests are on bends. General road surface on this route is very good, not many chippings or potholes... Enjoy.

• johnfitzer
• score: 45

A little bit Bumpy in places, Some nice open streatches but mostly twisty. One of the most popular bike road in Wicklow. Defo worth a blast.

• johnfitzer
• score: 45

A good road with some nice coastroad scenery. a nice round trip from Navan. www.navanmcc.com

• Olafhd276
• Yamaha FJ 1100 & Kawasaki ZZR1100
• score: 10