Hi!
I looked at all the options as you are before I chose our bike. We had basically the same needs as yours but we are riding two-up.
I am a BMW addict, I still own a R80G/S (collector, 61000 kms from new), a K1100LT and I owned 6 1200 GS Adventure, one 1200 GS and one 1200 RT during the last years.
For our RTW trip we chose to ride a '95 Africa Twin. And now if I had to chose again I would make the same choice. It's just insane what this bike has endured during the last 5 months : crossing Karakoum desert, all the Pamir Highway, Gobi desert, China, 5 mountain passes over 5000 m in Tibet, bad indian roads and lastly a crazy crossing of Myanmar to reach Thailand. Two-up with 60 kgs of luggage.
This bike is old, so you can have it repaired everywhere if you have a problem. We had the rear subrame welded and reinforced in Kathmandu and found easily a solution for the fuel pump in Myanmar. We will keep on riding, cross Oz, South America and maybe Africa on the same bike and are very confident. Nothing important can happen.
If I was looking for a bike to ride solo, I would look to the same kind of bike a bit lighter. It would probably be a XR650L or a Dommie. Maybe a single 650gs.
Guillaume

The single GS.. like the Dakar is still nearly a 200 kilo bike.

Fully fuelled and with all other liquids it's just a few kg under 200kg.

You can save some weight by dropping the dual exhausts and cat for an aftermarket exhaust, but that's about it.

The good news it that it'll sit at 80mph all day if needed and in comfort, meaning you can actually get the areas you want to play without getting sore, or bored.

It's much lighter than the Africa twin, Transalp, Vstrom 650. A little lighter than the XT660Z, and a little heavier than the X Challenge, and KTM690.

EDIT: What you really want is a Highland Outback with better fuel economy

That is a very impressive resume' ... truly fitting of a "Dream Bike"!
Merci'

We can find many similar reports starring the Africa Twin all over Adventure World. Not many other bikes are as good two up, loaded for RTW travel. A real shame Honda gave up on the AT. Imagine what it would be today if Honda had continued R & D and done up grades every 3 to 5 years?

A-T's are very rare and expensive in the USA ... and from what I saw in the UK and EU ... becoming more collectable and expensive there too. (I test rode an old rusted out one at a dealer's in Oxford! ... they wanted £3000 for it!!)

Seems to me the Africa Twin would be a very worthwhile project to take on as a project, completely refurbish and set it up for two up travel. A collectable Classic that can still DO THE JOB!

On this side of the pond the Suzuki DL650 VStrom is filling the shoes of the Africa Twin ... and doing pretty well. Is it as tough or as indestructible as the A-T? Dunno, read the Vstrom reports and decide for yourself. IMO, it's the ultimate "Walter Mitty" bike. Nearly invisible.

F650 Funduro, GS, Dakar and G650 series BMW singles are roughly 50 to 60 lbs. (22 to 27 kgs) heavier than bikes like the Suzuki DR650SE, Honda XR650L or KLR650 (1st version).

Those Japanese singles are BETTER off road than F series 650, generally more reliable, easier to work on (no ABS, CANbus or faulty water pumps or bunk electrical systems)

.... and all can cruise comfortably at 75 mph ... all day. The Suzuki is exceedingly SMOOTH with it's double counter balancer. Here in the USA all are cheaper than BMW singles of similar age/kms. Parts readily available worldwide. All of them can take a severe beating and survive. The BMW's? Some great travel tales ... but many include a few breakdowns and delays.