Then why does KTM make lots of light bikes? (just not this one)

Speaking as an able bodied and reasonably strong male, I have to say weight does matter - or at least, where it's carried. I've picked up a KTM 790 a few times without too much difficulty, but recently couldn't manage an XT660Z that had fallen over downhill on tarmac. That bugs me, because I'm looking for handle-ability (KTM) in a relatively simple bike (Yamaha) but not something of few ccs as I value that for the road miles.

So for me a heavy, electronics-laden bike lacking punch doesn't ring any bells.

Weight matters A LOT when the roads get rough and tough! The difference riding a 250 kilo bike like a GSA/GS or Africa Twin or similar versus a 150-160 kilo bike like a Crf250/300 Rally or a Dr650 through a rough stretch of road is GIGANTIC! Those who disagree are bloody liars!

The difference of the new KTM 390 with an anticipated weight of 180 kilos versus a 150-160 kilo bike is of course not that huge but still quite noticable and a disadvantage for the new 390 versus lighter bikes.

As the Youtuber Big Rock Moto said about some other models but still very true and valid: «The new Transalp is a much better offroad bike then the Africa Twin simply because its much lighter»

On my first expedition with an XT660Z in 2009 I used soft luggage. I dropped the bike in a gorge near Cirque de Jaffar in Morocco and like you, the bike was downhill with the seat lower than the wheels. I found I couldn't lift it, even with the luggage removed. I sat back and waited as there's always someone along, and a couple of hours later a group of silver-haired French walkers came by who helped me.

The problem was that there's limited lifting places on the Tenere. Once I had pannier rails fitted for aluminium panniers, lifting was dead easy.

As for weight distribution, I quite like a top-heavy bike. Weighting the pegs to turn when you are on something like a 1200GS doesn't have much effect and you carry straight on, whilst the top-heavy XT660Z is inherently unstable (as is a Eurofighter) which means it is quick and easy to turn.