Motorcycling in Europe

[rockydog]

yep, it's true..heading over sometime in late May, doing Isle of Mann, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Cornwall, etc., prolly 5-6 months. Maybe a quick ferry to France?
Dealing with Martin(Wheatwacker) was straightforward, easy and better for me than shipping my Alp over. I emailed him with the size, money parameters, etc., he found this bike on the moto sales site

http://www.donedeal.ie

I did a money transfer that morning, he drove 250 odd miles to inspect, when he got there he sent me pics from his phone to confirm, called me, I said it's a go, and the bike is now in storage near Cork. Included in transaction was a reasonable pickup fee. Had a few conversations on the phone but it was the usual Adv transaction, never met the seller or Martin before but here's $2000, go for it.

Flying to Dublin is a lot cheaper that Heathrow, inexpensive bus or train connections direct from airport to Cork. I bought a transalp cause I own an 89, that bike is a 96, tools and spares already sorted. I can make a jiffy-pop rack for soft luggage here, take that and my spare sprockets and new chain-ready to go.

Thanks, Martin

[Mike1234]

Originally Posted by rockydog

yep, it's true..heading over sometime in May, doing Isle of Mann, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Cornwall, etc., prolly 5-6 months. Maybe a quick ferry to France?
Dealing with Martin(Wheatwacker) was straightforward, easy and better for me than shipping my Alp over. I emailed him with the size, money parameters, etc., he found this bike on the moto sales site

http://www.donedeal.ie

I did a money transfer that morning, he drove 250 odd miles to inspect, when he got there he sent me pics from his phone to confirm, called me, I said it's a go, and the bike is now in storage near Cork. Included in transaction was a reasonable pickup fee. Had a few conversations on the phone but it was the usual Adv transaction, never met the seller or Martin before but here's $2000, go for it.

Flying to Dublin is a lot cheaper that Heathrow, inexpensive bus or train connections direct from airport to Cork. I bought a transalp cause I own an 89, that bike is a 96, tools and spares already sorted. I can make a jiffy-pop rack for soft luggage here, take that and my spare sprockets and new chain-ready to go.

Thanks, Martin

Excellent! Enjoy.

[WOLVERINE]

This is something my wife and I have been discussing for a few months now. We were thinking of buying and shipping a Varadero over from Canada but this may be a better option. Won't be this year but 2014/15 is a definite. We want to spend a few years touring Europe 2up so will be keeping the bike for at least 3-5 years.
I will be getting in touch when we are ready to make this happen....

Awesome!

Any chance you can PM me a ballpark $$$ on what a used Varadero 1000 would cost in Ireland preferably with luggage?

[Ross1969]

Just to add what "Forde" said about SORN in the UK - notification to the DVLA (National vehicle Registration office) can be done on line, so if you live in Timbuktoo with a bike in the UK no need to think about postal notification. Unlike Northern Ireland, the annual Ministry of Transport (MOT) Inspection/Test in England takes a bit longer than 5 minutes, as the bike and rider are weighed on a rolling road, and the brakes are tested on the same rolling road. A Beam setter is also used to check beam dip. The rest is mainly checking the engine/chassis number, wheel alignment, lights, switches, chain, tyres, etc, etc - the sort of thing you want to be 100% sure of if you are going to ride in a foreign country.
@Rockydog - if you come over from Cork into South Wales and on into SW England I live on the English side of the Old Severn Bridge - I have a spare toom, and happy to take time out to show you a bit of this area.

[Ken Fritz]

Just keep looking for the bike you want. Buy it early if you have to - give Wheatwacker and his buddy Elton time to ride it and get it sorted and serviced before you arrive. They put on new tires, rear brake pads and changed the oil - all done before I got there. Sweet - just arrive and pay for the service and ride away. Easier than buying a bike in the states from a dealer. Kinsale, where they live, is amazing.
We stayed at the Sunshine B&B - great place, very nice people and a terrific value. http://www.sunrisebandb.ie/ Ask for the big room overlooking the front meadow - perfect for a couple.

[BethandIrish]

Greetings Wheat Whacker,
I hope this finds you happy and healthy, my wife and I just joined ADVrider yesterday, been using HUBB for years, and this morning we find your thread. We are landing in Dublin May 4th and starting our Cork to Cape adventure, Ireland to South Africa. We are in the process of selling all our worldly possessions to fund the trip and lighten our load. If you are established over there yet we'd love to meet up and talk bikes. We our shipping our bikes from San Francisco mid-March. I am originally from the North, Co Tyrone, so we plan to meander our way up the West coast arriving in time for the NorthWest 200 final weekend. Then it's off to the HUBB gathering in the UK at the start of June. Do you know if we have to make a change to our headlights on a bike coming from the US?
Happy Trails
Irish

[HerrFritz]

WheatWacker
I did not expect to start in Ireland, but seems that is my karma. I want to ride to Mongolia and Vladivostok via the Stans starting May 2014. My plan is to buy a bike, register it in a jurisdiction of convenience, ride it like it is stolen, and bring it back to the USA or sell it in Russia Far East. So I am not looking for a buyback deal.

But- I sure could use some help buying a bike. My preferrence is a BMW F650 GS single cylinder, Dakar if I can find one. My reason is that I already own one and know how to fix it. I took the F650 to Tierra Del Fuego and back to the USA in 2009. Second choice would be a smaller lighter bike.

What do you think? You see lots more global travelers than I do.

Fritz

[wheatwhacker]

Originally Posted by HerrFritz

WheatWacker
I did not expect to start in Ireland, but seems that is my karma. I want to ride to Mongolia and Vladivostok via the Stans starting May 2014. My plan is to buy a bike, register it in a jurisdiction of convenience, ride it like it is stolen, and bring it back to the USA or sell it in Russia Far East. So I am not looking for a buyback deal.

But- I sure could use some help buying a bike. My preferrence is a BMW F650 GS single cylinder, Dakar if I can find one. My reason is that I already own one and know how to fix it. I took the F650 to Tierra Del Fuego and back to the USA in 2009. Second choice would be a smaller lighter bike.

What do you think? You see lots more global travelers than I do.

Fritz

What do I think? I think I want to come with you :)
Anyway, like I said before, buying the bike is no problem. Keep looking on www.donedeal.ie and if you see something you like, let me know. You can paypal me the money or wire it direct to the seller.
Please stay as close to Cork as possible as transporting bikes is expensive and time consuming.
I'll register the bike in your name using my address.

[grumpybear]

PM sent

[Ken Fritz]

That sounds like a great trip.

Wheatwhacker did a good buy on a Varadero and got it serviced for me. I'm lovin' it. I stored it with a friend Paris after riding Ireland, France, Spain, Andorra. Going back to Paris to ride France, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Switzerland and leave it in Paris again.

ALL thanks to Wheatwhacker's help.

[Motor 1]

Hi ya WW, I shipped my '07 DR650 to England last year (2012), rode around Europe a bit and left the bike with a friend in Yorkshire. Anyway, I'll be back in Yorks the end of May 2013 and will ride in the Pyrenees until end of June '13. I fly back to the states the 2nd of July '13. I'm thinking of selling the bike there and saw ur thread. It's a 2007 DR650s with about 8,000 miles on it, there is no lien on it and I have all the correct paperwork, ie., title, etc. The bike has tons of add-ons (I can list later) and truly would be a very dependable bike for someone traveling over there. Please e-mail me as I can post pic's and such via e-mails easier than here (I'm a bit of a techie idiot).

rick@thedragonsend.com

regards, Rick

[wheatwhacker]

Originally Posted by Motor 1

Hi ya WW, I shipped my '07 DR650 to England last year (2012), rode around Europe a bit and left the bike with a friend in Yorkshire. Anyway, I'll be back in Yorks the end of May 2013 and will ride in the Pyrenees until end of June '13. I fly back to the states the 2nd of July '13. I'm thinking of selling the bike there and saw ur thread. It's a 2007 DR650s with about 8,000 miles on it, there is no lien on it and I have all the correct paperwork, ie., title, etc. The bike has tons of add-ons (I can list later) and truly would be a very dependable bike for someone traveling over there. Please e-mail me as I can post pic's and such via e-mails easier than here (I'm a bit of a techie idiot).

rick@thedragonsend.com

regards, Rick

The best solution is sell it here on ADV, or possibly horizons unlimited. Do the transfer of title in your home state. If they are not in the same state as you, just put their name and use your address for the title.
I can store the bike for the new owner.
Otherwise, I can get it sold here but, the price will be low due to the cost of getting it titled in Ireland. I'll look into it.