advrider.com if you're not already there.... welcome to the addiction....
There are so many options when it comes to dual sports its insane. I have owned several ducatis and thought an XR650R (big difference from the L) would be the best dual sport for me. Cool bike, but when it comes to build quality, riding feel, etc, if you are used to Euro bikes, Jap bikes feel like pieces of crap.
If you plan on taking it out of the country though, I would get something basically disposable. If you seize a tranny, etc, fly back and leave it there.
Be realistic with yourself on how the bike will be used. Its easy to get carried away planning awesome long term trips or really gnarly single track runs, but then you end up with a bike that never really gets used for what you set it up to do.
I started riding offroad a lot with guys that ride the smaller KTMs (450s being the biggest), and the 650 became a real chore. I sold my XR and bought a KTM 250SX for the dirt, but will be looking for a 530EXC, 690E, 950SE
or TE610 when I get back into dual sports. Aside from the weight and maintenance issues, the real problem with dual sports is tire choice. Tires that are good off road suck on road and vice versa. I was running Michelin T63 and they seemed to be a good mix, but suffer on both terrains.
