new bike - your advice please?

[YogaforbikersTori]

Hi,

So I'm looking at buying something to go more off-road with and not sure what to get, and hoping you good people will share your wisdom and experience please?

I have 16+years experience, although not much off-road (lots of sports bike riding in the first 10 years of riding!) I'm reasonably fit and healthy, 5'6, relatively long legs (32" inner leg) but I do like the reassurance of being able to put my feet on the ground!

I'm looking for something I can go adventuring on - nothing too extreme just yet (so probably not full on dirt bike) but more than a tourer - it needs to be ok with off road, but also the motorways to get to the interesting roads! (some wind protection might be nice?)

I ride 1 up, and am happy with soft luggage, but potential for hard luggage might be handy.

I like to ride something relatively small and light - I've ridden 1100s and felt too much like they were in control - having ridden a 400cc sports bike for years I like something flickable! I can pick up a Tenere comfortably (but not ridden one).

I'm seeing a lot on here (and at HUUK meet) around XT600s, and DR650s, also some of the 400s - DRZ, and the XTZ... I think I'm more this camp than the BMWs, and africa twins just look enormous to me! I'd like something pretty sturdy, reliable and relatively easy to maintain/fix. Budget wise - around £2000 - £3000 (have to finish my tax return and see what's left!)

So - what would you suggest???

Thank you for your thoughts