There's always been a strong case for simple and rugged bikes for long distance travelling. But equally there's also a case for using more modern bikes that aren't (or shouldn't be!) prone to old age/wear-out failures on the road. If they made DR650s today I'd be there like a rat up a drainpipe, but they don't, and I don't want to start a 30,000 mile trip on a bike that's already got 30,000 on the clock, however reliable they're claimed to be.
So for most of us it's still going to come down to selecting the best from a large field of suitable new or recent offerings, with spares backup and a dealer network. The "modern classics" will be left to hardcore economy travellers who are happy changing gearbox bearings at the roadside, short distance gravel roaders and pre-installed street cred buyers.
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