hi all

I'm plannig a rtw trip with my fiance in about two years time (pretty much eveywhere but southern Africa), I have been intensively reseaching bikes (as you do when you can't actually go anywhere) and didn't intend to purchase for a while yet, however we now need a second car, so a trip bike will have to be bought early!

I've narrowed it down to the Dakar and the KTM, but am having trouble deciding.
I was thinking about GS adv initially but they are a little too big for my fiancee and I can see alot of merit in taking too identical bikes. (would love a big GS though)
Which leads to my question:
I expect to do in the region of 1oo,ooo kms a lot of which will obviously be on sealed roads, although some of the dirt sections we intend to tackle maybe quite difficult, and thats just getting out of Oz!
So, how long do KTM engines tend to last? Who's got the highest mileage out there? and how are people finding them on the long haul? the really, really long haul?
I like the comfort factor of the BMW and from research, speaking to mechanics etc, the motors tend to be fairly long lived, anyone got any good info on this?
However beefing up the Dakar for decent off road work (suspension, tanks etc) makes me think about buying the KTM.
Thers no chance of me getting a day test ride on either and I not entirely confident a basic test ride will answer ny concerns.
I don't really like the idea of multiple engine rebuilds mid trip, but I don't really like the idea of spending big dollars to make a BMW into a KTM when it already costs the same new. Also the KTM is close to 15kgs lighter as standard, and strokes a male ego by looking the business?

So ladies and gentlemen, opinions please!

thanks in advance
Luke
PS I just wanted to say how useful I've found this site to be!