Thanks Arlina.
I now have a northern hemisphere bike - to replace my Oz East coast bike which was stolen! - it's a 16valve K100 which I purchased off eBay uk for £1500 (the kind gentleman included a good helmet, leather jacket and leather pants for an extra £80!).
I'd flown in from Australia and taken the train down to Taunton to see the bike - above meant I could get on and ride it back to Oxford (to a mate's place - before doing any checks involving tools), so I reckon I got really lucky. Within two days, the Mate (on his Honda cfr800) headed off for a 5 day tour of Wales - gorgeous place, could have done with 50 days! Next I headed across to Munich - great to have the independence to visit other friends en route (eg - a wonderful older couple who we met in Exmouth when they were doing a round Oz trip, 2 up, on a '96 R100GS that they had shipped out from Germany).
My Starnberg mate had organised a R1150 GS, for me to ride on a two week Northern Italy, alpine camping holiday. This bike, with full kit was two heavy for me and I had THREE stationary roll over events. I managed to crunch my foot between cylinder protection bar and the ground, on the second one!
It was the last evening of the Alps tour, so didn't detract much but I couldn't get a boot on the foot for nearly a week! Fortunately I could get a leather shoe on instead because I still had to ride the K across to Amsterdam for family wedding, and back to Cornwall where I've left the bike with my brother.
Eindhoven next time!
Let us know if you ever get to visit Australia's South West corner. We can get you on a K and it might help encourage my wife, Sal.
Cheers