First Euro Trip

[JamboFett22]

Hi all!
Ive been skulking around the forums for a while nów.
I have been travelling around Europe for nearly a year backpacking and surviving solely on the money i get from busking. The time has arrived when my companion and i seperate and i shall do the motorcycle tour this was intended to be.
Ive pretty much set on a bmw f650 for the reliability and cost. Im impartial to whether its a GS or not,but Ive seen many funduros go for <£1000 since Ive been searching so it will likely be an original f650.
I have a few questions though if anybody could shed some light?
1. Can you attach soft panniers to an f650 without a luggage rack? There is a bike for sale atm which comes with soft panniers but There isnt a rack, just the grab rails (which Look sufficient to me?)
2. Would anybody buy a bike with this description:
"the bike can sometimes jump outnof second Gear at 3000rpm included in sale is a gearbox been told its the fork selector" and (when asked about the problems severity):
"its okay if you ride it carefully changing gears correctly, only seems to drop into neutral when you give it some beans other than that great bike"
3.am i a complete idiot to consider flying back to buy a bike i cant inspect until then (big waste of money on flights)?
Thanks!