Are the Cork ferries not an option for you? The Cork-Roscoff service looks like it would be a good one.

Don't know whereabouts you are in NI but Belfast-Cork is about 7 hours according to Mr Google[tm].

Regards, Mike

Hmmmmm the santander ferry used to go to cork on one of it's other routes and pick up 'proper' guiness.

I was one of the Customs Officer to "greet" travellers if they were coming back from Santander to Plymouth.

 

People doing that 24 hour from Northern Spain to the UK ie crossing the Bay of Biscay in mid Spring or mid Autumn can be very rough and I have seen people come off the ferry saying "Never Again".  A Force 8 or 9 definately tests one's sea legs!  

I went twice and it was smooth both times, but I know what you mean about the northern tip of France and the bay of biscay being rough as I've been on a yacht down that coast. Pass me the sick bag.....

I went twice and it was smooth both times, but I know what you mean about the northern tip of France and the bay of biscay being rough as I've been on a yacht down that coast. Pass me the sick bag.....

 

 

Been out in the Western Approaches in a Customs Cutter, built for speed but at least a 35 metre boat, would not want to do in a boat less than 20 metres.

 

Previously, crossing the Atlantic in a 900 foot merchant ship and the waves were big enough to lift the propeller, usually centre lined about 10m below the waterline, enough out of the water to let it over-speed and trip out.

 

Remember the MSC Napoli braking up in the channel with all those BMW bikes on board?   Good Cornwall/Devon tradition plundering wrecks.  I was Receiver of Wreck for a while for customs in the SW, please put that back !

 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/jan/23/pollution.uknews

 

Yes I remember that making the news watching the locals pushing bikes on the beach wondering how they thought they'd get away with it and what they intended to do with a brand new unregistered nicked bike.

Yes I remember that making the news watching the locals pushing bikes on the beach wondering how they thought they'd get away with it and what they intended to do with a brand new unregistered nicked bike.

I'd think in parts they would be pretty profitable and hard to trace. 

I'd think in parts they would be pretty profitable and hard to trace.

Exactly what i thought mate.

By profitable, if you sell it for anything at all, its profit. So it wouldnt take much to make it worth while.

Exactly what i thought mate.

By profitable, if you sell it for anything at all, its profit. So it wouldnt take much to make it worth while.

Agreed they would but their 'plan' had a flaw because at that time there wasn't a big market for nicked spares for beeners as the owners were middle aged old farts like me who all had fully comp insurance so any accident damage usually went through the insurers unlike jap superbikes that had younger blokes riding them on 3rd party insurance on the road or wanted bits for their track bikes. Those were the days.....

Agreed they would but their 'plan' had a flaw because at that time there wasn't a big market for nicked spares for beeners as the owners were middle aged old farts like me who all had fully comp insurance so any accident damage usually went through the insurers unlike jap superbikes that had younger blokes riding them on 3rd party insurance on the road or wanted bits for their track bikes. Those were the days.....

Ah thats true mate.

My dad has his 12 plate GS Adventure insured fully comp for less than i can insure a 50cc ped.

Having said that. Even my vfr 800 is £240 and im 22.

So fully comp is a no brainer for both of us, (well, obviously he wouldnt use anything less, and nore would i. Id of bought a slower bike if it came to that) however im sure theres exceptions

What dya think of the sprint ST mate?

Considering one of these to replace my VFR 800 at some point in the future, maybe

 

The 1050 is a perfect bike for me, comfy for touring with the hard panniers and Givi top box (couldn't fit a lid in the Triumph Top box) and still sporty for a Sunday blact round the back roads.

 

Thoroughly recommend one

Went out for a wee ride today as the weather is set to turn sour for the weekend :( 21.5Deg C = kevlar mesh time  

 

How to tell if you have drifted across the border into the Republic of Ireland:

 

First clue:

 

Second clue the road ending in the Atlantic ocean.

The 1050 is a perfect bike for me, comfy for touring with the hard panniers and Givi top box (couldn't fit a lid in the Triumph Top box) and still sporty for a Sunday blact round the back roads.

Thoroughly recommend one

Finding it reliable?

Only saying, cos i stopped the other day n gave a lad a hand that had a poorly 675 Daytona at the side of the road. Reckoned he'd had nothing but problems with it

Finding it reliable?

Only saying, cos i stopped the other day n gave a lad a hand that had a poorly 675 Daytona at the side of the road. Reckoned he'd had nothing but problems with it

I've had mines 2 years now and it's never missed a beat, mines has 33k on the clock, I bought it from a triumph dealer in York via eBay as it was traded in but they just wanted to clear it so got it for a good price.

My mate had a 675 Daytona for 3 years and didn't have an issue with it bar sore wrists if out for more tha. 30 minutes on it. Hrs since traded it in for a 1050 ST too.

If I was changing it would be for an Explorer

I've had mines 2 years now and it's never missed a beat, mines has 33k on the clock, I bought it from a triumph dealer in York via eBay as it was traded in but they just wanted to clear it so got it for a good price.

My mate had a 675 Daytona for 3 years and didn't have an issue with it bar sore wrists if out for more tha. 30 minutes on it. Hrs since traded it in for a 1050 ST too.

If I was changing it would be for an Explorer

Thats good to hear (: getting more tempted for one i must say .

My mates got a 675 Daytona too and that hasnt missed a beat either, hes not a wuss in the slightest, rides speedway n falls off for a laugh, but does moan after a few hundred miles on the Daytona. Loves it too much to get rid, just gonna run a Multistrada alongside it.

I think the Triumphs are fairly reliable and what problems they have had with the Tiger Explorer they have addressed very well.  What is a problem is that the finish on the bike is not up to the standard on some of the fittings.  OK I admit I am not the best at cleaning the bike because I would rather ride it but fastenings have rust on them and the bike isn't two years old yet.

I think the Triumphs are fairly reliable and what problems they have had with the Tiger Explorer they have addressed very well. What is a problem is that the finish on the bike is not up to the standard on some of the fittings. OK I admit I am not the best at cleaning the bike because I would rather ride it but fastenings have rust on them and the bike isn't two years old yet.

Hmm. Dont expect that dya.

Then again, the latest vfr isnt up to standard either apparently. Corrosion and putting after 1 winter

I'm back!

 

Been away since thursday on the bike, more on that shortly but just a quick delayed post to Thank CFB (Clive) for the tank bag and chat last sunday. Top bloke, nice to meet a fellow brisky biker, it's made me want to get a little meet arranged even more now!  :sun:

Here are a few ideas for somewhere to meet up for a butty.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.402866,-1.579064,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1sz3ei6DwatUAg.kjD82KC3MiSM

 

Bike friendly cafe's & bunkhouses.

Good write up, it always catches you out how long it really takes when out on the bike..

 

The toll road is "interesting" I did it a couple of years ago, in torrential rain.

 

I always loved the Katana, and think that is why I fell for the Xtra.

 

 

 

 

 

Have even parked next to one to compare old n new.

Edited 24 April, 201511 yr by Miz

*Waves*
 

'97 Carb'd Blackbird rider here.

*Waves*

'97 Carb'd Blackbird rider here.

Welcome!

Hows the bike? Had it long? Like it?

Lovely bike.

Had for 5-6 years (replaced a Mk1 Fazer)

Love the effortless power and its proper-sized, doesn't make me feel like a rhino shagging a bmx.

The fact it can give far more than I need to ask of it stops me craving a replacement.

Recent service and  suspension overhaul from JAWS (Blackbird specialist in Norfolk) will keep me happy with it for some time.

*Waves*

 

'97 Carb'd Blackbird rider here.

More carbs!!!!  

 

 

Had for 5-6 years (replaced a Mk1 Fazer)

Love the effortless power and its proper-sized, doesn't make me feel like a rhino shagging a bmx.

The fact it can give far more than I need to ask of it stops me craving a replacement.

Recent service and  suspension overhaul from JAWS (Blackbird specialist in Norfolk) will keep me happy with it for some time.

 

 

That's good going, it's great to find a bike that's a keeper! 

 

I have a history with the 80's disco retro Fazer 

 

post from the past

 

Right the Fazer incident:

A mate in old work had a old gold one and I had my ZZR600 a lighter higher revving bike with more bhp (but less torque) and in the scheme of things more modern/sporty. Despite this obviously the Fazer especially in semi rough condition was the best, more powerful, agile and best styled bike of all time....... I had no real ill feelings towards the Fazer initially I had considered one but liked the ZZR more (tested both). The then knocking my bike as if it was some sort of moped became too much after the 2569784th time so I hatched a plan   . (also at time his ultimate upgrade was going to be a GSXR600.

He was on holiday for a couple of weeks and I bought my GSXR1000 which he didn't know, was the daddy of all bikes at work much loved by all and was immaculate. Of course my mate didn't know I had bought this and I had been chatting to him and said, I have secretly been jealous of the "Golden Bullet" (as it was named) and had seen a Fazer just like his that I likes and was thinking of trading in. Then asked some BS questions about the bikes to draw him in and it worked. He was so pleased and decided to state on FB that we were going to be "Fazer Friends   " ....... I also said the one I was after was same year in black but with gold wheels and hinted towards him fulfilling his ultimate dream of having not black but GOLD rims on his if we swapped, we discussed the tyres on them and tread left and seemed set......

I found a random pic of a black Fazer on google and showed him it 

Meanwhile the 'Fazer' was parked in work waiting for him to return, at this point over 140 people in work all knew EXACTLY what was going on and couldn't wait to see his face. When he returned he was overly excited to see it and I had it parked up with a big sheet over it with some polly under it to break up the lines make it look "80's disco retro" and pointed him in the direction and said, "its over there go on I will be over in 2 seconds have to make a quick call". I was actually thinking he could be REALLY peeved off at this as lots of people had been saying that I had got it and it was mint etc from work.

He went over and ripped the sheet off to find this: (post it on seat said "Fazer Friends For Life!"

From then on no comments were passed on my ride   and the quote "AWWWWW Fazer Fwiends" was used liberally.

He took it fantastically he was so lost for words a mixture of swearing and laughing initially as it all set in and how more people would have been in on it, what he had been saying etc.... He called his missus immediately making little sense telling her what I had done and that he wanted a GSXR1000.

Felt slightly bad for a few seconds but that was about it  :p

 

Wish mine was carbed.

Would probably lose some of the responsiveness though i guess.

Glad you're enjoying the blackbird, they are nice. Never ridden one but maybe one day

Blackbird + down steep alpine passes + full luggage + pillion = very sore arms and back.

It's still a damn good bike though.

M13 has just uploaded some footage of his crash 6 months ago, that he is still recovering from minus some body parts. :(

 

One suggestion he makes as to why/how it happened was he may have fallen asleep! :O

 

Not a nice thing to watch, but may be worth it in some way.