I'd have to say any Kawasaki EX is a decent choice. I've owned both an EX-250 and an EX-500: I found them both to be very reliable, low maintenance machines. As that one post above shows, people have used them to ride some pretty long distances - and two-up as well. Is it a dualie? No, but you can take off the lower bodywork and have a decent amount of clearance, better than a lot of other street bikes.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Oh! I didn't make it clear. I'm picking a bike to drive to Costa Rica, the long way, over the course of a month. Then let it sit for a couple months while I continue on foot to South America. Then come back to it, and drive it back. (I already have someone in Costa Rica that will let me leave it with their mother-in-law in the garage.)

Those bikes are still out of my pric range; that ninja is almost $3000, which would make it most of the cost of my trip. :\

That dirtbike isn't street legal, and is also beyond the top end range of my budget; modifying it to make it street legal sounds like it would take some paperwork and money and time, as well. And I do want to be comfortable on this trip.

What kind of things might disastrously go wrong on something like that on a long trip? All the trips I've read here have never had anything go wrong other than needing tires--one person before crossing the border had a spoke break.

I do appreciate the advice, but I had kind of gotten attached to the idea of an old bike. Which is probably bad. My Uncle, a rider with plenty of experience who leans more towards cruisers, and a used car salesman, told me that for the money I should just stay away from something that old, I could do better. I can't help but feel sad, though. The look of an older touring bike, with a mostly straight, long seat, and simple handlebars, is bar far the most appealing bike style to me. I don't see anything modern like that today. Ninjas just look tacky to me, like something an 18 year old wants to show off. Like they all wear flip flops and t-shirts while riding home from a college drinking party. (Obviously not true, but... not obviously untrue for a lot of cases). And then I can't help but feel like I look like a cocky sonofabitch riding in something like a Honda Shadow, or anything with a reclined seating position. I just want a neutral bike.

For the record, I don't judge the people that own them; my cousin who I'm close to owns a small ninja, and my uncle rides a $20,000 Harley. Those bikes fit both of them--my uncle has his gray hair and just looks wise and confident riding his Harley (though I'd never touch one myself), and my cousin *is* young, and probably doesn't wear his gear (except helmet)--but he's a good kid. It's just wanting a bike that fits me.

But I should really get over it, I guess. *sigh*

Lastly, I don't plan on shipping it anywhere, or selling, just for the record.

For south and central america either the xr250 honda or the dr200 suzuki would the best choices. They got em every where parts everywhere they are cheap to run, durable and reliable.
I had really good luck with the KLR 650 except for the rear tire size isn't the norm and sprockets and oil filter were something you might have to order ahead. I went with the KLR because I already had it from a previous trip.
If I was starting from scratch I'd pick the little Suzuki or Honda.
Down in Ecuador you can buy brand new china enduros for 1200usd. Which is a good quality knockoff of the dr200.
I liked having the little extra power of the KLR.

out the old bikes you listed I like the old. Suzuki GS850G best they were really well made and its shaft drive. Chains are a messy hassle.

And there's much to be said for riding a cool older bike. I met a young guy making the trip from AK on a 1976 honda cb500t. I remember buying one new back in 1976 when I was 20 years old! You will meet plenty of local folks down there who are still nursing along those older bikes.

Me too, and the GS850/1000G shafty has a good reputation here in the UK as well.

Fintip,
When I read your first post I kind of thought you had already made up your mind and were kind of looking for confirmation of that, rather than for any real alternatives; anyway, whatever the case, go with your heart - you will enjoy it far more!

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Dave