Ireland Backways Adventure Loop
7 Riding Days around the island
September 25 – October 3, 2026
Ireland Backways Adventure Loop
7 Riding Days around the island
September 25 – October 3, 2026
Join us for an unforgettable 7-day gpsKevin Adventure Ride through Ireland, where riders will experience the very best of the Emerald Isle’s scenic roads, coastal beauty, and legendary charm. This loop has been designed to highlight Ireland’s most iconic motorcycle routes while ensuring comfort each evening in carefully selected hotels along the route. Riders will also enjoy the authentic flavors of Ireland with traditional meals, fresh seafood, and hearty pub fare.
Gap of Dunloe – A narrow, winding mountain pass with breathtaking views, perfect for motorcycles.
Ring of Beara – A rugged and lesser-known loop with spectacular coastal cliffs and quiet, twisting roads.
Ring of Kerry – One of Ireland’s most famous rides, offering sweeping ocean vistas and charming villages.
Wild Atlantic Way – Sections of this epic coastal route immerse riders in Ireland’s dramatic seascapes.
Sally Gap – A ride through the Wicklow Mountains, known for its wild beauty and cinematic landscapes.
Luck O’ the Irish Experience – Cultural stops where riders can enjoy music, local stories, and warm Irish hospitality.
Each night, riders will settle into comfortable hotels chosen for their character, charm, and location. After a day of exploring Ireland’s best motorcycle routes, enjoy evenings filled with local food specialties:
Fresh Atlantic seafood
Traditional Irish stews and farmhouse cooking
Artisan cheeses and breads
Guinness and whiskey tastings in local pubs
This adventure combines world-class riding with cultural immersion. Each day brings a new landscape, from windswept coastlines to lush green valleys. Riders will share stories on the road, enjoy evenings of camaraderie, and create lasting memories in the heart of Ireland.
Whether it’s twisting through mountain passes, gazing out at the Atlantic, or enjoying live music in a small Irish town, this 7-day loop delivers a full spectrum of Irish magic.
The Ring of Kerry
Wild Atlantic Way
Is this route right for you?
This route is not good for beginners; you should be very experienced in backcountry travel and prepared for any difficulty or failures. This route includes options: both easier and harder routes. For those just tired and wanting to end the day early, we have added easy paved shortcuts. And for those tough guys wanting more, we have added some challenging routes.
Gap of Dunloe
BMW air-cooled rear exhaust
Signup info:
The cost to join this 7 day ride is $3,495. This covers your lodging for the 9 nights during the ride. It covers the cost of a support van and driver to carry your daily luggage. It also includes your ride packets which consist of a custom Garmin GPS map on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions.
Now taking signups: You can now reserve your spot on this ride by leaving an $400 Deposit (Ride limit is 16 riders)
Sorry the ride is sold out. It was more popular then we thought. At this point there is the possibility that someone drops out. So add your name to the wait list and we will contact you if this happens
After your signup riders will receive an email from me with further ride information and instructions.
Note:
Riders must make 50% payment by June 5th, 2026.
Riders must make full payment by July 31st, 2026.
Riders will receive ride packets in the mail one week before the ride.
Refund Policy
Your ride deposit is fully refundable until the 50% payment date above. We encourage riders to make their deposit early in order to ensure they will get a spot on the ride and to begin working on you own ride arrangements. After making your ride deposit, you will be connected with the other riders in order to coordinate any plans or discussions you may have. And to just have fun developing plans with the other riders. If your plans change, you will receive a full refund until the 50% payment due date above.
What additional costs do you have: airline tickets, motorcycle rental, food, drinks, souvenirs
Motorcycle Rental: Estimate: Motorcycle rental is between $800 - $1,200 depending on bike choice, plus $240 for delivery and pick up fees
After ride signup you will receive an email with rental information
Airline pricing: You are on your own for making reservations to Dublin:
Example: From Chicago to Dublin round trip is about $700
Ride Details
I know many of you also enjoy dreaming about the ride and making your plans, so here is the detail, enjoy!
Ride Yoda's
Magic Yoda Roberto
Master Yoda gpsKevin
Irish Yoda Declan
What are these Adventure Rides like? These rides are designed along the theme of exploring the world. They include a mix of remote dirt routes, back paved roads, sometimes some very seldom ridden paths and pavement. Rides are a mix of all these things and sometimes some surprises due to weather conditions. These rides are for experienced, well seasoned riders that are capable of turning a washed out road experience into just part of the day's fun. Riders should be comfortable with turning around when necessary and finding an alternative route around unexpected obstacles. These rides are not for new riders. As an experienced rider, the tough part of having a great motorcycle adventure is the routing and logistics. What routes do I take? Where do I stay? How do I find the best routes and places?
View the ride maps
OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.
I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride. At first glance these maps do not look so impressive, but they are way cool. If you start zooming in, you can see the ride in incredible detail. I have spent a ton of hours sorting through the details of the ride for each day, so for those of you that enjoy this sort of thing, well enjoy!
Legend:
The Blue lines are MAIN routes
The Red lines are Harder routes
The Green lines are Easy options
The Black lines are the out and back viewpoints
How does the ride navigation work?
This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You are given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.
(see my ride Navigation Video)
Are you right for this ride?
When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff: come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.
How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?
I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride. They come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.
(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)
Note from me, gpsKevin
My goal for this ride is simple: great riding. You can count on great routes and places to ride.
But in addition, the ride is about discovering new places, meeting new friends, seeing new parts of the World.
Thanks,
gpsKevin
FAQ's
Q: Would this be a good ride for new riders?
A: No, this ride is for intermediate and experienced riders only. The riding has easy route choices and tough route options.
Q: What are motel room arrangements?
A: Rooms are two beds per room. You will room with a fellow rider.
Q: Can I use my cell phone?
A: Sorry, at this point we do not support cell phone GPS use for our rides. The IMG files will not run on a cell phone.
Q; What do I do if I don't have a Garmin GPS?
A: Buy one, you need it. Get a Garmin, it is still the most reliable
Q: Is the riding really on my own?
A: Yes, but we recommend you bring a friend
Q: How good are these routes?
A: They are 99% perfect. Or sometimes, 99.9% perfect. Or sometimes, 95% perfect. So be prepared for a little imperfection.
Q: What are Custom GPS Ride Maps?
A: Custom GPS ride maps are electronic maps designed specifically to show the paths and path choices for a particular ride. The maps show the paths as clear bold lines so the riders can easily see them even on small screens. The lines are often comprised of groups of arrows or chevrons so that riders can easily tell the recommended direction of travel. The lines come in multiple colors so that riders can easily choose between Hard and Easy options. Custom ride maps make ride navigation much easier than ever before.
Warning:
Any and all riding is on you own. Conditions change and routes may not be navigable.
Legal access can change and is not guaranteed. Riders must assess the local conditions.
Weather can make the routes impassable. Riders must obey all local laws
gpsKevin assumes no liability for these rides or your actions.
Who is going on this ride?
Magic Yoda Roberto
Menlo Park, CA
Master Yoda gpsKevin
Support Truck
Escondido, CA
Yoda Jane
Support Truck
Escondido, CA
Declan G
Irish Yoda
Denver, CO
Jake B
Byron Center, MI
Shawn P
Torrance, CA
Shaunna P
Tehachapi, CA
James E
Escondido, CA
Bill F
San Diego, CA
Walter S
Kihei, HI
Mike B
Los Gatos, CA
Chris S
Petaluma, CA
Jim R
Langley, BC
Dave S
E Stroudsburg, PA
Walt P
Stroudsburg, PA
Frank F
Bethlehem, PA
Craig & Elena M
Camarillo, CA
Axel W
Athabasca, AB
John T
Escondido, CA