Anyone Been To The NW200?.

[ZX-7R]

Thinking of going next year so was wondering if anyone could recommend places to stay,viewing points at the race etc..

Will be flying over so don't need to be concerned about safe parking for the bike.

Thanks in advance.
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Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R

[robertw95]

Go to the Ulster instead
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04

[arry]

Wotcha.

I did it back in 2014. We drove over (ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, and drove up from there) so it meant we had the car over there, and could carry the camping equipment we needed as we were doing it on the cheap.

Stayed in Bushmills - lovely little site, I'd have to dig out the name of it if you were interested as I can't really remember, but they were pretty friendly and it was relatively cheap.

Problem we found is that you do need to have some transportation as everything is far apart and the public transport isn't the greatest - especially do expect not to be able to get a cab anywhere at all; it's as if they'll hear an English voice and suddenly all drivers are busy.

As for viewing places - we booked the start / finish grandstand and I have to say that was a mistake; I wouldn't do that again. It was better on the road - we also watched from Metropole (pay to sit on a raised bank) which was good, and from behind the barriers on the coast road (right on the coast itself) which was interesting from a speed point of view, but the best place on the road we found was just out the other side of York before Mill Road Roundabout. There's a number of side streets there (in fact, we parked in one of them) which you can effectively stand behind the barrier and be right up to the circuit. Limited view, of course, but the speed they wizz by at is nonetheless impressive.

IMO though, going without the bike was a mistake. The Giants Causeway Coast roads are lovely and although I had fun driving them in my big diesel estate, I'd have loved to have been in some of the groups out riding.

[sgtcalle]

I went last year. Was really lucky with the weather, it was blue skies every day, which is very unusual apparently as normally its miserable.

I watched from Black Hill, in the front yard of my mates house. Bikes were going passed about 5 yards from where I was sat, which was incredible. Unfortunately I also witnessed the death of a young rider which was a pretty horrific sight to witness. It also curtailed the racing for the day.

Despite that, I would recommend black hill as a viewing spot due to the proximity of the bikes. You would probably have to go to the top end of the hill though as at the bottom its just peoples front gardens.

We watched one day from down near the finish line, which was OK. There is a chicane before the start finish straight now, which was added to slow the bikes down. It does mean you get a good view of the bikes going slow round the chicane prior to blasting out. If you could get in the grandstand I'd recommend it, as the viewing areas nearby are quite restricted view with all the fencing in the way.

You're probably onto a winner not going on a bike, the roads were rammed when I went, lots of police etc, so I was glad I wasn't on the bike.

Make sure you get into Portrush one evening, as the pubs are overflowing, with a great atmosphere. There's a pub down on the harbour which serves the best Guinness in Ireland too, can't remember the name of it though!

Edit: Just noticed the comment above. I was stopping with a mate who had a car, so wasn't too bad from a transport POV - agree the public transport links aren't fantastic, but I mainly stayed in the Portrush area anyway.
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[arry]

[ZX-7R]

Cheers fellas,some helpful info there.

I would probably be better off hiring a car at the airport by the sound of it.But still have plenty of time to plan things to make the most of the trip.
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Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R

[howfastdoesit...]

Sounds like it's changed a bit since I went... 2004/2005 I think.

Worth a visit but was a bit of shock to me, my first road race and with a team and riders mrs. Serious stuff if it goes bad.

We went to Mondello Park first to shake down and I think all the teams were there... then up North if I recall correctly.

If I remember right they were trying to do 200mph though the speed trap that year and there and there was some money for anyone who did?

I/we stayed in the paddock about 10 meters from where Guy Martin was parked... lorry parked on hardcore. He gave us a lift to the Nightclub in his van after I asked him in a pub, because he was drinking tea.

I think he came in to Kelly's in Port Rush, but I was a bit distracted.

Guy asked me how I was next the day, when he was sitting on the bike on the grid, which seemed a bit strange and ... I felt like crap from over indulging.

I walked back to the paddock at silly am from the club, trying to chat girls up in the car park and found out, some of the locals don't like the racing....

Went to Joey Dunlops pub, worth a visit. Weather was damp...

Was invited to the TT with the same team in 2009 but never went as I had my own things on, apparently much better for the atmosphere?...

Although Macau would be my choice,
I've heard plenty stories about all these places...

[Bonnie Lad]

Was there last year

Weather was amazing, great atmosphere about the place, racing was top notch albeit with a bit of a downer at the end with the young lad dying

Flew over and picked up a rental car as we were with a mate who's in a cabbage rack from a bike smash. Like the bloke above I regretted not being on the bike the whole time I was there, roads are amazing up there.

We stayed in Derry and drove over to the course each morning. Much more availability in terms of hotels and much cheaper too, although you miss some of the race weekend atmosphere in the evenings. There's some beaut little towns and villages around the area too which all have nice pubs to sample outside of race times.

[Diggs]

Did it a few years back via ferry from Hollyhead. It proper pissed it down for 4 days solid, so we ended up riding to a mate's dad's hotel on the West coast for a couple of days of drinking...
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...