ulster exile

The Knox backpack is a great piece of kit. Comes with a helmet bag and you can attach your helmet to it for when you're walking about. Also has a laptop case and lots of cool pockets. Hubby wouldn't be without his and I think I'll get one too. £40 or thereabouts.

I still fancy one of these, because of their looks and how well they'd do in and around town and probably on the twisties. From what I can gather, if speed isn't what floats your boat, then something like this might.

Although I'm no longer a Yamaha owner, I still hang around here and read some of the posts because the people on here are fab. JimR especially took the time out to offer a lot of help and it doesn't surprise me to read this thread. Goff summed it up pretty well I think

Excellent write up! There was a lot more drinking done with youse than with us (ps did they have any potcheen for you?). We got drenched on the way over and ended up borrowing my da's car for the NW200. Went to University corner but didn't stay all day - it was friggin' cold! The weather was truly appalling all week - our textile gear failed on us it was so dirty and wet, so by Tuesday we had to put the bikes away and get the car out again while they dried out. Got home Friday night, 12 hours after setting off from our cottage near Hillsborough, Co. Down and I'm still bollocksed! Can't wait to do it again, although we may try the Ulster GP next time in the hope for better weather

This worried me too. The Holyhead/Dublin ferry (Stena line) said they do all the strapping when I called to ask so if you're doing Stranraer - Belfast route you know the answer already. The Cairnryan - Larne is P&O so dunno about that one.

Beautiful bike! I'm so jealous I found myself nearly walking into somebody's garden to look at their red MT-03 when I was visiting relatives in Shrewsbury the other day - they really draw you in.

lol me and hubby are doing a Welsh version of that - we're travelling to Betws-y-coed on the Thursday night and sailing from Holyhead friday morning. Staying for a week. If you see a blue Hornet FS (I never got the Fazer after I got rid of the YBR) and a silver CB600 together, say hello!

Thanks for sorting it, although I was a little disappointed to receive an email telling I'd a pm, then not being able to get onto the site all day and then finding out it was spam. Oh the disappointment lol

Congratulations - pleased for you

Well I guess that congratulations instead of commiserations is in order, given the style of your post! Nice one and have fun

Go to Northern Ireland? Ulster Grand prix is usually on in August time - it's not a patch on the NW200, but good craic anyway...

Well if nothing else, you've stopped us from scratching our heads! Cheers

I've no idea about half of what you've said (because I don't understand it!) but best of luck for Friday.

Thanks for the replies both! After posting this, I went hunting for a top box, but then saw a brand new humpback for half price so couldn't resist, knowing how versitile these are. Thing is, I couldn't figure out how to get my seat off to fix the base on so I just carried on using my spinexx tail pack, which is fairly handy anyway as I can stick my gloves and stuff in the mini cargo net on it, unclip the straps and off I go. I do like the humpback though - hubby has one for his bike and I like the idea of having the base permanently attached with the advantages you have listed. I'm in the process of selling this bike at the mo so I'm taking both sets of luggage with me and I'll get a topbox for the daily commute and keep the luggage for longer trips (like the NW200 in May!!)

Way ahead of you! Saw one of these today when I went to look at a Hornet. Not a fan tbh although the one on offer was tidy but not in the best nick...the place i went to had mainly old bikes - a do-er uppers dream! Thank you for the suggestion though

Hornet has a 16 litre tank... Cheers for the heads up on the seat though - if I end up with a Fazer, you'll see me on the forum As for the SV650s - no can do. My other requirement is seat position - I have carpel tunnel so too much strain on my wrists leave me with pain and numbness in my hands. I basically need as upright a position as I can get and the SV650 naked felt uncomfortable, so the SV650s wouldn't do at all, which is a shame, because these are cheaper and there are more low mileage versions out there!

Oops didn't see your later comments (watching a recording of the Ireland match). I'm 5'4" with a 29" leg. Ruled out the Bandit as it's too heavy for me. Hornet feels comfy to be honest. Fazer is ok but would need the seat scooped for me to feel 100% ok. I wanted a 600-ish cc and semi-faired as I can see me doing a wee bit of travelling. Have seen a 2001 Hornet s for £1990 and 6.6k miles to give an example of a private sale on those and similar to the FOC prices on private sale for 02/03 model Fazers. Dealer prices are silly compared to those!

Thanks for the advice both. I visited my instructor this morning with the box of beer I promised him, but he wasn't there so didn't get the chance to ask about the advert as I was advised to do this. I may head back there tomorrow. As for the FOC - I've seen some of the ones on offer, especially that bloke from Spain *groans* what a deal!!! This is why i'd rather get rid of the bike first even at trade prices, instead of p/xing it, simply because I feel like I'm taking two hits if I p/x (the trade in price and the price of the bike I'm buying). I have advertised this bike everywhere I can think of - forums, MCN, autotrader, gumtree, preloved.com, pistonheads. You name it, I've advertised it (apart from here, but I reckon that everybody on here will be on here because they already own a Yam and they won't be looking a 125!). I haven't given it a huge amount of time so far (only a week) but I would have expect a hint of interest from someone given the exposure I have given it - it's in pretty good nick too and not overpriced imho compared to the others on the market. This is why I'm considering my other options especially since I've a hubby with his first big bike big dying to get out there an enjoy it with me. Incidentally, although i feel like a traitor saying it on here, I also really like the Hornet S and have seen a couple excellently priced ones on private sale so would consider those too, if I can get rid of my bike.

Unfortunately not - yet! I figured that for my first big bike, I'd best go cheap so I don't end up crying when/if I drop it. In addition, I had an car accident in December, which has resulted in a claim against my hubby's car insurance. The claim hasn't been sorted yet, but is likely to end up as a "fault" claim against me so I can't really afford to be insuring a newer bike, given that an estimate on a nearly new one came up around the £600-£800 mark (fully comp)before I had the accident. Cheapest MT-03 I can find are around the £3k (or slightly under) mark and I want to spend around £2k with my insurance on top. When I get a bit more experience riding (and I know that passing the test doesn't make me a good rider) I'll look again at getting a MT-03 or perhaps a new Diversion as these took my fancy recently. I'm so fickle

Working on it Not something I'd like to do on the YBR, especially as hubby has himself a nearly new CBF600 to go with me! Should be great craic either way.

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but I have just booked a cottage outside of Hillsborough for a week for me and the oh to go home and see my family. Coincidentally this falls over the NW200 weekend so we'll be going to that. Taking the bikes over on Friday 15th Holyhead to Dun laoghaire, although we can't book just yet as I don't have a bike registration to use in the booking (as I don't have a bike yet).

Thanks Jim, will do a wee bit of phoning next week. I have seen a 1999 Fazer which I intend getting a p/x price on, but am afraid he'll quote me silly money so would like to keep my options open

Not going myself, but sounds great, especially as a Honeymoon! Gotta laugh about the "doing the nuptials" comment though

Just curious as I'm selling my YBR125 at the moment and have advertised it in a few places. However, I was wondering if a dealer would buy it even if I wasn't trying to buy one off them? I realise they'd only offer me crappy trade prices but this may give me more flexibility to buy a bike privately since there are much better deals out there to be made on private sales at the mo (if buying used).

Doesn't make you bad, no. It makes you a seriously cool mum. Well done you!