Hi guys - just made a correction to the original post as it was unclear about the budget.... the $2000 didn't include insurance, just all the paperwork stuff. I don't know how it works in the UK but in Aus whenever you buy a bike privately there are always other fees attached (transfer of registration, registration itself, stamp duty, admin fees blah blah blah)..

Thanks for the tips so far. I've been researching more and it seems that my biggest issue is not going to be actually finding a bike to buy, but the insuring of the bike & myself.

Hi Nicola

Sent you a PM re the bike insurance issue, but forgot to mention personal medical/cancellation/effects/etc insurance. The number of aussie companies that will cover you if riding a bike over 250cc seems to be shrinking but HBF and Travelworld still do.

Cheers

John

Your biggest Issue when buying a bike in Europe now is being able to register it in your name as you are non-resident.( Your EU passport is not sufficient, you need a provable residential address- perhaps you already have one you can use). If you can't register it in your name, then technically you can't insure it in your name.

A lot of people have tried using things like a cell phone bill registered to a European address as proof of residence, it doesn't work anymore. The European transport system ( registration/insurance/certs of roadworthiness is highly computerised and increasingly linked all over Europe, and addresses are checked against electoral and other registers. Some people have used Hostel and Hotel addresses, Box numbers at private postal addresses etc, but these doesn't work anymore, because they are only temporary addresses.

I know an Australian who has recently completed a three month scooter tour of Europe, but she found it impossible to register a scoot she bought in the U.K. due to non resident status. She eventually did a deal with a resident friend, who registered it in his name, and then borrowed it from him ( with a letter of approval). She also had a very difficult time finding someone who would insure her for her Euro trip.

I wish you luck, and if you have an EU passport, it is possible you have friends in the EU who might be able to help you (as above). It is highly unlikely that an Insurer will cover you outside the EU, you would have to make other arrangements.

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

That'd be me.

The registration was not a problem as the scoot was always in my friends name - never in mine. I just needed insurance as an "additional rider"
I eventually found a solution to this problem.
read this

This company has a wide selection of bikes and prices..
::Arjan Brouwer Motor Trading Putten
Cheers