Touring - looking for inexpensive loaded touring bike

I am looking to buy a loaded touring bike, but as I can spend only around US$600 for the bike. I must buy it either in Moscow (where I am now), or Amsterdam, London, Scotland, or Ireland.

I will ride this bike for two months while camping in Scotland/Ireland, and then for several months in China/SE Asia/Australia. I know nothing about bikes or bike touring, so any advice and suggestions will be grately appreciated. (The China trip will not be alone, but the first one will be.)

Right now my questions are: should I go with steel or aluminum, is it worth considering a fork with shocks, should I get 26" or 28" wheels, and in general how hard would it be to get a good bike if I just show up in London, for example?

Thanks in advance for your help!

How tall are you/what size bike do you need?
$600 is about £400, which wont buy you very much new bike, but will get you a very good used one.
Does that budget include the racks and luggage as well?

For touring in Asia, you are probably better off with 26" wheels.
Orbit and Thorn make very good expedition touring bikes in the UK.
There are some bike shops that have a goopd range of used touring bikes (Evans in London and SJScycles ,but they are quite a distance form London).
There are also lots of good touring bikes for sale in the pages of the Cyclists Touring Club magazine (I have the latest copy).

For $600, you certainly aren't going to find anything aluminum that is new. Even steel, for that price, will be very low-end, and probably not built for long-distance riding. Then, of course, you will need to buy all the needed accessories. If you want to buy new, figure a minimum of $1000.
As far as used bikes are concerned, well, condition makes all the difference. There are a lot of bike tourists on the continent, as well as in England. On the other hand, Russia is famous for being a clearing house of stolen merchandise from all around Europe, so maybe a bargain can be found there? Just be sure that the serial # isn't on a list with Interpol, though.

Welcome

Maybe just outside your range, but maybe not. This is a bike I thought of buying instead of getting my commuter refurbished

Edinburgh Country 02 (http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/)

Can't link to the exact page, but look at the Country 02

You might check the availability of 26 inch wheels where you are going. It could be that a 700C wheel would be a better choice.

John

maybe this will help

http://www.sjscycles.com/

I see we have all recommended tha same things - basically buy your bike in the UK, may cost a bit more, but you will get a good range of 2nd hand bike if you are prepared to hunt (forget new ones, you won't get anything worth getting for £400)

If you can get hold of Robin Thorn at SJSC bikes now and give him your measurements then I'm sure he could get hold of the best bike for the money, the advantage with SJSC is they will mail anywhere in the world for only a few pounds

Thank you all for your quick and useful replies. I have contacted the Edinburgh Cylce Co., and hope to get in touch with SJS cycles today. The concensus seems to be that it would be best to go to England and look for a good used bike there. I feel much more able to determine what I need and where to get it, after reading your advice on this sight and through proivate letter. If anyone has any more advice, (or a bike for sale for a woman with inseam 80cm), please write to me at ameliaoliver@yahoo.com.

Kind regards,
Amelia