In summer 2023 the Ireland Made video crew rode a portion of the Wild Atlantic Way with an eclectic group of bikers and their bikes from Ireland, UK and America.
Launched in 2014 by Michael Ring, T.D., the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, the Wild Atlantic Way was specifically designed to make the most of the scenic Irish coastline. We have heard that German bikers were included in the preparatory research as to whether or not the route would be suitable for motorbikes.
The Wild Atlantic Way covers 2,500 km (1,553 miles), spanning nine counties and three provinces, from County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale, County Cork, along the Celtic Sea coast.
The road route is divided into five sections: County Donegal to County Mayo, County Mayo to County Clare, County Clare to County Kerry, and County Kerry to County Cork. Along the journey, travellers encounter 157 discovery points, 1,000 attractions, and over 2,500 activities.
The stand-out-bike on our summer spin on the Wild Atlantic Way was a recently restored 1959 Moto Guzzi Lodola GT 235 owned by Martin Conachey.
Martin has been riding bikes for over fifty-seven years and in his own words is, “still crazy about them and nothing ever came close to the buzz I get from riding aul motorbikes”. We couldn’t put it better ourselves!
Martin’s 1959 Lodola, restored to concours condition was originally supplied new from Stanley Woods who was famous for his twenty-nine motorcycle Grand Prix wins in the 1920s and 1930s.
Martin’s bike, built by Moto Guzzi, are the oldest continuously producing European motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is celebrated for its historic contributions to motorcycle racing and industry innovations, including the first motorcycle centre stand and the wind tunnel used for aerodynamic designs.
The company’s motorcycles feature air-cooled 90° V-twin engines with a distinctive longitudinal crankshaft orientation, showcasing transverse cylinder heads on either side—a trademark design.
The predecessor to Martin’s Moto Guzzi, was the Lodola 175 introduced in 1956 and has the distinction of being the last motorcycle designed by Carlo Guzzi himself.
The 175cc engine boasted an elegant design, incorporating an overhead camshaft, a slanted cylinder positioned forward, artistic finning, and a unitised crankcase and gearbox with fully enclosed mechanics.
The Lodola combined adequate performance with excellent fuel economy and sound handling and was generally well regarded. However, the Lodola 175 did not align with the perception of a typical Moto Guzzi for many, as the brand had established a trademark with its traditional horizontal engine layout.
The Lodola when new also came with a hefty price tag and faced substantial competition from other more powerful Italian 250cc motorcycles in the market.
Responding to market forces, a Sport version was quickly introduced, and by 1959, the engine underwent enlargement to 235cc, transforming into the Lodola Gran Turismo.
Pushrod valve operation was adopted for the bigger engine, which produced 11bhp, an output good enough for a top speed of 112 km/h (70 mph).
The simplified overhead valve (OHV) engine reduced the need for owner maintenance, and the increased displacement offered a wider range of engine power, resulting in a more user-friendly riding experience. The Lodola GT continued in production until 1965.
We look forward to seeing you along the Wild Atlantic Way in 2024.
Information sources:
Adventure Bike Rider
Motoguzzi.com
Motorcycle Specs.co.za
