This post seems very helpful when thinking about the cost of a big trip. I am toying with a big trip down through South America then over to Africa and up the Eastern side.. The idea would be to make it to Europe where I could leave the Bike with friends, and return to the US. Work some more to save up the funds, to do a second trip toward the East. Maybe by then, Peace will break out in the Middle East and I could ride through there as well

"BMUU'S rarely break down" That's the biggest myth in motorcycling, the best marketing in the business has much to do with popularity. Off topic I know but if I had a dollar for every fully kitted out BMUU GSA I've seen obviously only purchased for the Image - I'd have that $20,000 bucks !!!!!

Ditto, I agree with the above - I'm 62. I certainly couldn't afford a Unimog based camper when I was 30!!! - I was driving a bare bones Landcruiser.
Interestingly, in an elapsed total of 8 months travelling around Australia (away from the usual haunts of Sydney, Cairns, Uluru) we met many many Australians of course, lots of Europeans - but not one single American!!

Charlie

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Unimog U500 w/Unicat

I think the hardest part about getting out there and traveling is getting out the door of your old life. I realized, much as the OP and many of the responders have, that you can either wait until you're older with a good paying job and lots of time off, or travel young and give up on the 'ideals' of home ownership, domestic partnership (unless you have a FANTASTIC significant other), and material goods.

I slowly started getting rid of crap as I moved through my second stint through college. Each spring and fall, I looked at the stuff I had and threw more and more of it away, gave it away, sold it, traded it, or whatever to just be rid of it and didn't replace it unless it turned out to be absolutely necessary. It took about three years, but as it stands now I can just about fit everything I own on my motorcycle or in a smallish box that gets USPS'd to whereever I determine my next destination to be. At around the same time, I got a summer job in Alaska... two weeks later that box was in the mail and the bike was packed, and I moved to Alaska from Maryland. I still have bills, I still have some debt, both of which should be settled by the end of summer I hope thanks to this job, but most importantly I have my freedom. At 28, 29 in three weeks, I'm finally doing exactly what I want to be doing: working to travel and live.

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2008 Yamaha WR250R