This helps a lot because I am also concerned about the size cc bike we should be looking for . So, a 650 will carry 2 with bags, if we do the hostel/hotel/Airbnb route.

Yes, the power is usually adequate for 2 up. But, the seating and comfort varies greatly.

For instance the Vstrom has plenty of room and is comfortable (we're not large people), but my Suzuki DR650 is excellent for one, but definitely not roomy enough for the two of us to ride on.



...........shu

How long do you want to spend in what region and what time of the year?

Room or camping for 230 days, big difference if you pay 20-30 euros for campingsite or 50-150 for a room. Based on two per site/room.

In the more expensive countries you will find a lot of campsites, in southeast europe less but then cheap rooms.

In generell, the more north you go, money will lead to camping.

My advice, spend more money on a bigger bike, 1000cc up, so you can take more load.
Two panniers, go for the 40l, bag on the panniers for stuff that's light but has volume, then a big bag on a rack in the back.
That is what I saw others do who travel two-up...

cheers sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

Yes, I am concerned about the cost adding up, but I don't have experience on the bigger bikes, so have to consider my options: Costs vs experience.

Okay, so camping is a lot lot cheaper than hotels or air b&b - which, as someone mentioned has gone through the roof. You have to take into consideration food - camping you cook for yourselves which saves a fortune and if you like a glass of wine in the evening ……. The price of wine in a restaurant

Long before the advent of adventure biking and survival, lightweight camping my wife and I would spend a month every summer 2 up travelling around Europe. Of course there was no internet to tell us what bike we needed or what gear to get so we went on camping holidays on a motorcycle.

We loaded the bike up to the gunnels with everything we needed and a few things we didn’t. We cruised around Europe from campsite to campsite. We would simply set up our camp then tour around the area on an unloaded bike.

When one is travelling for a decent amount of time one can take this approach so I suggest you think of doing the same.

We still pretty much do the same thing today, only on 2 bikes.

8 months is a fantastic amount of time - enough time for you to take too much kit, get rid of some, buy a bit more and have a good laugh at it all.
My wife and I have done 1, 9 month trip and the memories we have are of the trip itself - not the bikes or the gear.

Have a great trip