Originally Posted by nicola_a

At this stage I'm considering starting in Cork, Ireland where a gentleman on the HUBB (alias 'Wheatwacker') offers a service where he assists riders in buying a bike and sorting out the papers and providing an address at which the bike can be registered. Failing that, just picking one up myself in Ireland... Ireland seems more straightforward than the UK and I'm also an Irish citizen (which doesn't make much difference actually). There are some issues with me finishing the ride in Nepal as I can't leave the bike there, or sell it, so I might need to ship it somewhere (home?).

At the moment I'm thinking a 250cc dual purpose something. A Yam TTR250 (rare as hens teeth in Europe) or XT250 or Honda XR125/250 or a Yam WR250R.... something like that. I want something comfortable that doesn't write off the possibility of offroading.

Interesting to hear of your gadgets!! I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible in that regard but of course it's difficult. Also a photographer I'd like to take my old D40. Going to try and take only a tiny laptop and my iPhone to double as a GPS.

I am a broke long-term-student-come-Arts-worker. The less things that can break on me, the better!!!

Can't wait to hear how your trip goes in 2013. Sometimes 2014 seems so far away but I know it will come up quickly.