I know it's completely subjective, but the "correct" bike just doesn't exist.

Why can't we have a strong, light, SIMPLE, motorcycle weighing under 400lbs? a smooth engine. About 60 hp. I believe one could be built.....if we're willing to pay for it.
Until then, you buy something not quite what you want and spend a couple thousand $ to change it.:confused1:

Or a 1960's Triumph

Your best bet is to build it yourself. There are lots of parts that can be made interchangeable or are interchangeable on bikes so you can build yourself a mutt bike as I like to call them.

I think its pretty clear if you are travelling solo then you don't need anything more than a 650 cc or maybe even a 400 cc, depending on what you plan on carrying and what you want your cruising speed to be on good highways.

You have to make yourself a list of what you want in a bike, and then see if you can put the parts together to make one. If you stay with a chain driven bike it will be easier. You want to aim for having things as simple as possible, so parts are not a problem. Stay with standard tire sizes and so on.

I've followed ride reports on a fellow that has made a sportster into a dual purpose bike and travelled extensively in Russia, and the middle east. So it can be done.

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1971 BMW R75 project,
2013 Suzuki DL650A

What´s the problem? The Africa Twin is as close to your description as it comes with 205 kg. What´s the issue of 20 pound more or less if the bike is virtually indestructible?

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I suspect the OP is in the USA:
Importing an Africa Twin into the USA

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Getting an AT to the USA is not impossible but will cost a lot of money.
A nice used one will cost 3-4K euro
Shipping will cost at "least" 500 so your already into it for at least 4000 euro (US$5000)
Next, pick a state and tell them you bought the bike in a barn sale and have no paperwork.

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Like you say ... it's subjective. Really depends what you intend to do with your bike. What sort of experience have you had traveling on bikes? What sort of travel? What sort of roads? Racer or Traveler? RTW or Starbuck's Queen? Short trip? Long trip? It all matters.

There are a few sub 400 lbs. bikes with 60 HP out there ... the KTM 690 Enduro comes to mind. But is it a good travel bike? Some think so. Do you have $10K USD floating around? Good mechanical/maintenance skills?

I see more budget travelers flying in somewhere, buying a local import bike and hitting the road. This works well in India, works in Latin America too. Lots of Chinese and Indian bikes out there now for cheap-ish.
They get better and more reliable every year. Works for some, not for all.

Once you've done some trips over a good period of time on various bikes ... maybe then you'll come up with "your" perfect bike? Any bike you come up with will need modifications to suit you. No OEM can anticipate everything you may require. But basic quality is what is (IMO) important.

After about 50 bikes I still like my 50,000 mile Suzuki DR650. 324 lbs. dry weight. (more when loaded up of course) Only 40 HP ... but will easily cruise comfortably at a true 75 MPH all day long. Good, new-ish used ones can be had (in the US) for $3500 to $4000 range. Close to maintenance free as any bike I've owned.
Simple, tough, dead reliable, easy to work on ... and very good off road. Excellent aftermarket owner group support.

While living in Europe, I have sworn to a HD Sportster for many years. Moving into Asia, I changed my view. I have used several little cruisers (one Yamaha Virago 125cc, two Bajaj Avenger, 180cc, and one Honda Phantom, 200c) for most of my travels.
On other trips I just rented.
And to be honest, my favorite rental has been a 125cc Honda Dream. I think it weighs about 100 kg. I loaded it with a saddle bag, tent and sleeping bag, and a 4 liter jerrycan with extra petrol. Cruising speed about 70-80 km/h, pretty much the maximum you need in SE Asia, behaved well on paved and unpaved roads, can even be fixed with pretty knobby tires too. Got stuck in the mud? Just pull it out. While it might be a bit light to cross the Himalayas, it served its purpose well in all countries that I used it. And literally EVERY technician can fix it, as it is (together with its sister-Hondas like Cub or Wave) the ubiquitous bike found everywhere. And fixing it is a rare occasion, as it is virtually indestructible.
My advice for Asia (at least the southern part): the lighter, the better.

Good post above! That is good Asia advice, IMO. I did Thailand, Cambodia and a bit of Vietnam on rental bikes. Light is right .. so true about the mud!
I had a ball, cost was very reasonable. Short distances, slow speeds.

Other parts of the world require a different bike, different approach. In Latin America if you stay off dirt roads ... then most street bikes would be OK.

One up or Two up? That is another consideration. A 125cc Dream would not be great in the high Andes (in the 70's I spent time on a borrowed Vespa 150 in Peru' and Bolivia.) Not ideal!

But roads are much better now and so are bikes. I'd pick something in the 400cc to 650cc range for most of Latin America. But I'm sure guys on Harley Sportsters or BMW GS Adventures could make it OK too. Distances are great with WILD weather variances.

For the EU things change again. Most all paved roads ... road bike best?

For Africa? Yet again, different world. Big distances, rough terrain where bikes take a beating. Pick your continent, now pick your bike!