No, you don't need a carnet. UK residents don't need a Visa, presume the same for Eire? Your own insurance company may provide you with a 'green card' insurance certificate which will cover your trip to Morocco for not too much expense. Otherwise insurance can be purchsed at the border. Be careful when organising travel insurance for yourselves, many companies won't cover 'motorcycle touring' : read the small print carefully.

Morocco is a great place for biking but IMHO it gets better away from the cities. People are more interested in you and less in your wallet. Chris Scott's book 'Sahara Overland' is the bible for riding down there. It has lots of awesome routes and great advice for riding in the region.

The XT - great bike for the trip. The only mods I'd consider would be: big tank (not vital). Luggage (obviously), hard if you are riding around towns (more secure), soft if you're mostly off-roading. Sump gaurd if doing lots of off-road (Dave Lambeth does a doozy). Would def. buy aftermarket handlebars, the standard ones are made of old cheese. Renthals are great.

Tyres- Continental Twinduros are a good compromise between on road and sand performance.

Accom: note that cheap hotels are not excessively more expensive than campsites. They vary greatly in quality though.

One tip to rule them all: RIDE LIGHT!

Have fun.

Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!