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That green looks superb IRL. Wire spokes are great too but gold rims are a bit too strong a look for my taste...

... a month later I've gotten the tank stripped. Awful progress but better than none at least...

Just picked this up from a service for DGR this weekend. Anyone else partaking?

Ah what a trip! You did much better in the sand than we did but I suppose actual grown up bikes are a help!

The heat is actually OK as long as you cover up and keep moving but it's serious stuff when you stop alright!

Would be keen for forum Maroc trip in future if others fancied it?

Looks sick! Enjoy it!

Yeah I think the tank could be a little bit bigger without looking disproportionate and then have some extra capacity under seat.
Wouldn't need huge volume but enough to not just spend days riding from one petrol station to the next...

Correct, a discrete front mudguard wouldn't go astray either to be honest... while we're at it more than an eggcupful of petrol would be useful too but aside from that just look at it 🥹

I know what you mean... a 1200 Sportster might make as much sense but they're annoyingly pricy here in Ireland...

I quite like how aggressive it looks with the KTM actually!

Sounds like Copart are best avoided then to be honest... Unless you're trying to bag a bargain on something very new and expensive the amount you'll be saving probably isn't worth the potential grief on bikes...

Have been quite keen on the idea of finding a LC8 engined KTM for a street tracker build... The frame and suspension package on those bikes seems to lend itself to a moderately low effort transformation!

Something like this with some lights and a numberplate looks like a lot of fun.
To be honest an LC8 is probably overkill but would like that twin sound rather than a single... a super cheap LC4 would probably change my mind I guess.

Has anyone bought a bike off Copart before? Seems like some great bargain project bike potential?

Any other recommendations for insurance write off bike auctions in UK also?

That's absolutely fantastic and unreal value!

Multistrada and Desert X both look lush.

@Soul would a Yamaha Ténéré / Aprilia Tuareg be too small, they both look like a lot of fun?

Speaking of VFRs my mate is selling this lovely 1997 one if anyone is keen?
43095 miles
Stainless braided hoses
Wilbers fork internals and upgraded shock

I'm extremely envious. You'll have the best time ever. That route looks fantastic too, it's quite nearby to a lot of the riding we did but also none of the same roads exactly.

If I remember correctly the route you're planning on Day 6 is one we discussed with the hotel manager of the place we stayed in Tamtetoucht and he advised us against it as it's an absolute humdinger (keep in mind we were on Monkey bikes though so should be ok on proper bikes...)

Take lots of photos / let us know where we can see them!

I was here about a year ago and got slightly carried away and bought an engine swapped XTZ750...

Shortlist was V-Strom 650XT for something newer or Transalp XL600V for something older... Africa Twin would be great too (RD03 is the one but RD04 probably a bit more accessible)

Love this Trail Découverte Concept V-Strom...

Might take a punt on it in that case... hilariously the Transitions photochromic visor for it will probably end up costing more than the helmet itself.

That's what I was thinking to be honest... I'm completely resolved to the argument of cheap head - cheap helmet but also conscious that if it's still in the box and never been used it surely can't have deteriorated to an unusable state as quick as that...
Also aware there's benefit to the manufacturer to tell us that we should be changing them regularly so it's just understanding the balance of reality vs marketing to make a decision on whether a bargain helmet is worth a punt for a few years vs a newer one which will "only last" a few years more?

What's the general consensus on helmet shelf life?
I was looking at getting another lid and shopping around online for a deal. I'm quite keen on a Bell Race Star and came across a whopper bargain from Helmet City for a Star in white (my preferred colour)... my only concern is I'm almost certain the Star in white is discontinued and I'm not sure how long it's been since Bell made one... the spiel on the Helmet City website mentions that it's a 2016 model but that's obviously the year they released that specific model.

Do retailers in the UK have a maximum age of helmet they're allowed to sell and are there actually legitimate concerns over buying a helmet that's never been opened from the box and stored in a warehouse for a few years?

I appreciate it's a ridiculous deal because it's stock they've not been able to sell but should I skip it and spend a bit more for a helmet that's more likely to be fresher and the wrong colour?

Yeah they're amazing value for money. I think they sold in relatively big numbers so lots about but most 90s / 00s sports bikes aren't terribly desirable these days so good value now!

Yeah that's a shame if he's not likely to get hands on with it but being so lazy as to refuse to shift your own gears is inexcusable 😂

I'd say best bet is something like a Mutt 125 that will look the part and make him want to get out and ride it without having to get his hands dirty... if it sticks he'll be looking to size up and do his own projects in no time but if he starts into a project and never finishes it he won't get as far as the good bit of riding it...

In fact would he consider going for a 250? If he's 27 now and anymore than a slip of a thing he'd probably enjoy the extra CCs when he's back on British roads?

Anecdotal argument in favour of Chinese motors...

A lot of the local hire shops have started using Chinese motors for generators, chainsaws etc.
I asked how they were and they said they're cheaper and they're having to service them less than they did the Husqvarna / Honda equivalents...
Chinese stuff is waaay better than the lingering reputation would have you believe...

That being said as @jackbepablo mentioned if aesthetics are coming into it the likes of Mutt are quite cool, CFMoto look great if you want something more modern and my buddy just bought one to go alongside his all-bells-and-whistles R1250GSA and he's ridden the CFMoto more since he got it!

My TU250GB I sold a while ago would have been perfect for him...

What's his vibe in terms of aesthetics?

Good point on the courier... there's a guy in Ireland who's really well known and regarded for bike collections in Europe and I suspect he would actually be quite helpful in that regard...

I'm not entirely fixed on wanting a specific bike to be honest, more that I just want a cheap bike that's not absolute scrap and the thing is a <€3k bike in Ireland is likely to have lived outside year round, not taken good care of and hooned... seems like the same bike in Germany will have been garaged and TÜV tested so likely to be in much better condition!

Has anyone here bought a bike from a private seller in Europe sight-unseen?
I'm still planning to pick up a super cheap (€3,000 max incl. shipping) 750 or 1000 sports bike for summer fun and I've been ogling bikes for sale in basically any part of Europe within shouting distance of a ferry from Ireland (predominantly France and Germany though). My logic being that Euro-bikers put their bikes away for the winter (and German's have TÜV) so by and large they should be in better condition than what's available in Ireland on the cheap end of the scale...

As appealing as it is to have a little roadtrip and pick it up myself, the way this summer is shaping up it's going to make more sense for me to have it curried home if I do buy one abroad... which means buying a bike that I haven't actually seen in person.
I do have a mate in Paris who's a biker so I could ask him to take a look if it happened to be a reasonable distance away but otherwise am I absolutely cracked to be considering it?

There is also the dealer abroad route which has a good few nice examples in budget too but I suppose I want to just discount private as a bad idea first before I commit to dealer only as the private seller bikes are (visually) in nicer condition for the price...

Par example...
€2600 in France

€2000 in Germany

€2400 in Germany

That's an utter cock and balls. At this stage I'd find a good local metal worker and get them to make you one that solves the problem...

I kind of love this. I'm harbouring plans to pickup a 2000s luxo-barge SUV and get rid of the Kona Electric as soon as the opportunity presents itself for the right one.

Any mods or upgrades planned for Cayenne? Agreed on the clear windows also. Club Fishbowl for life.