All good.

Good luck with your continuing recovery and PT (physical therapy). PT makes a HUGE difference to how you will end up the rest of your life living with your injuries. Work hard, will pay big dividends after a year or two more of work.

If you really intend to focus on OFF ROAD then light weight is important. Given your previous injuries, you'll need to protect those limbs best you can.
I have a large Ti plate along my Tibia (compound fracture) ... and a plate in
other ankle, so I get what you're saying. I nearly lost my leg.

You may even consider a 250cc dual sport. The latest CRF250L Honda is looking really good. Check out this Dutch couple, both riding CRF250's.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...anywhere-77588
If buying new, that Honda is one I'd consider.

But bike choice comes down to personal preference, experience and travel style. I've traveled on 250's and 400's in years past. I love light bikes (former AMA Enduro racer) but I also realize I spend about 85% of riding on paved roads.

My Suzuki DR650 can cruise easily all day at 70 mph and is really not bad off road or in deep sand. I've made many good mods to get it up to snuff, far better than standard DR650. It gets 50+ MPG, so not great but not bad. It's easy to load, can carry WAY more than I need. I like that. And ... it's comfortable!

Even at 66, I can still pick it up with ALL luggage on board. Since you're a young man and a Hiker, my guess is you're in twice the condition I am.
I'd think closely about what terrain you will mostly be riding and about how far afield into wilderness areas you want to go. There are hundreds of dirt options where a 650 class dual sport will do fine, even a R12GS could make it.

It's more remote areas where questions are raised. I've had to turn round at a few junctures ... no shame in that.

Anyway, keep us posted about what bike you choose.
All the best!