Principal Blog
New Year, New Rides
02 January 2025
New Year, New Rides
With all the cheese gone and only the least appetising chocs left rolling around the Quality Street tin, it’s time to look ahead to more wholesome pursuits.
Well, one: biking.
Paul Browne is excited by what the next 12 months has to offer to Ireland’s diverse motorcycling community.
Now that the holidays are over it’s time to start looking forward to a new year and a new year of motorcycling.
It looks like ’25 is going to be a good one.
For starters, there’s a number of new bikes coming to the market.
These include an an addition to the Tracer 900 range from Yamaha (right) with the trigger activated automatic gearbox option available.
Another highlight comes in the form of Honda’s DCT option NT1100, a bike which, yes, is great for touring but being both agile and sleek is no slouch on city streets too.
Both of these, as well as a choice of similar machines make taking a touring holiday, either here or in Europe, almost compulsory!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, riding the west coast anywhere along the Wild Atlantic Way is like riding through a two-wheeled paradise.
Used, definitely not abused
With both dealerships and distributors reporting healthy new machine sales, there’s also a decent selection of nearly new used bikes coming to the market.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a new bike, then there’s still plenty to choose from. To help you get on board a fresh steed, there are also finance deals on offer via many dealerships.
Kit is getting better as well.
Fresh designs on existing products as well as brand new and innovative motorcycle clothing are all on the way for this spring.
Motorcycle clothing took up significantly more space at both EICMA and Motorcycle Live last year.
This year, expect to see cleverer pieces at better prices from people like Knox and Halvarssons.
It’s not only clothing that’s getting smarter.
With a significant uptake in bike theft here in the capital, companies like Hiplok and BikeTrac are meeting the challenge with stronger and more reassuring security products.
Keeping what’s ours would appear to be getting easier.
Get outta here!
There will also be plenty to do with a number of events planned, or in the planning stages, for the spring and the summer.
Look out for locally run ride outs as well as road adventures such as RevUp which takes place this coming May bank holiday weekend.
For solo trips or day trips with friends the Photo Rally is a great way to meet other riders as well as discovering new and interesting places.
If you like your riding a little faster Mondello host a full calendar of track days from spring until autumn.
For a sunnier experience Irish company Motocraft will be hosting bespoke events over several days on some of the most iconic tracks in the world.
Andalucia – our lead picture – is in the diary for August, for example.
Whatever you ride and wherever you do so, there’s plenty to do and see in the coming season.
Ride safe and, once again, have a great new year!
