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Rider comfort and peace-of-mind
All excellent and valid points that I agree with even if I didn't listen to this logic when I bought my ex-demo 1200GS in 2007... still going strong after 2.5 years and 60,000kms although the price tag was high.
I probably would have had a lot more peace-of-mind vis-a-vis insurance and replacement cost with a cheaper bike given that I never hand insurance (and still don't), but my thinking in chosing the bike 3.5years ago that would take me 1/2 way RTW was more like this:
"I want a bike that I feel confident riding in every situation, that is comfortable for long hard rides, that is capable and strong enough to handle 2up riding with luggage and that I enjoy to ride. I am no mechanic and will never be one so I want something that is reliable and easy enough to maintain for a pen-pushing, keyboard-tapping IT Geek."
For me at least I found the GS to inspire riding confidence and a good workhorse.
But XT, KLR, Transalp and Africa Twin are all just as capable. For me the most important thing was to get to know my bike before leaving. Whatever your decision, you are the one that needs to ride with it every day so keep that in mind. The $$$ (or ££££) is the first thing you forget so an extra £1000 for peace-of-mind is more important than any insurance IMHO.
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