Cheers for all the replies, both for and against. Just looking into luggage options now, looking difficult to find hard pannier frames for this so soft panniers with a top box for anything worth nicking is looking the likely option.

just do it, throw some soft luggage and a dry bag on with bungee cords, bring a front knobby with you and get a rear anywhere on the way, you won't need them for a while. Have fun and enjoy being the guy who didn't conform.

Remove as much plastic as you can ... fit it back after the dirt trip. Some wide bars, a little engine protection and you should be good to go .. slowly.

Long travel suspension helps when (if) you are caught out by a pot hole, jump up/down .. other than that does not make much difference for a tourer.

Tyres .. they actually don't make that much difference .. only a the limits and then you have probably gone too far for even the best tyres.

Given suspension and tyres .. travel slowly and you 'll be fine. Travel fast and you will fall off, and then remember the first part of this post - remove the plastics.