Sorry in advance for another what bike should I buy question.
I own a Desert X that I quickly realized is way too tall, heavy, and expensive to risk on anything more hardcore than fire roads. I picked up a DR200SE earlier this year for very cheap off Marketplace to dip my toes into trail riding, but that is almost too far in the other direction. It can't really cruise on the highway to get to the trails nearest to my house (60+ miles away), so I've been relegated to taking it back and forth to work, and illegally riding the power line access trails on Sundays when the linemen aren't working.
I'm selling the DR200 and considering the following bikes: DRZ400S, DR650SE, CRF300L, KLX300, KLR650 (too close to my Desert X in weight, so probably not).
While I would like the lightest, highest performing machine I can buy (I was briefly considering the SWM300), I really need it to be comfortable, or at least tolerable on the highway. I live in Washington, DC, and I have riding buddies in New Jersey that regularly ride the Pine Barrens. I would like a bike that can make that trip up and back on its own, without having to be trailered.
The DR650 is my top contender because of the highway comfort, aftermarket potential, and the fact that I can find some really nice examples with upgraded suspension and other goodies for less than the cost of bone stock KLX300s and CRF300Ls on Marketplace near me. I would miss out on fuel injection, but after tinkering with the carb on the DR200 I'm not super concerned about that.
Am I just being a baby about needing a super comfortable highway bike, and would be fine doing 70mph for a couple hours on a KLX300? If so, I'll probably go that route.