You are correct about how reliable the KTM 500EXC appears to be. But it's still early days with only a couple guys taking the 500 on RTW type rides. I'm sure more will follow ... and good luck to them.

We all travel in different ways with different priorities.

But its true, traveling on a race bike will mean you can likely extend service intervals out quite a bit, as traveling is usually not hard on the machine. If the basic bike is reliable then could be done. So, instead of 500 mile interval could be pushed up to maybe 2000 miles? More?

But is this ideal?
Most raced based bikes are not well set up for carrying luggage. Some don't have large fuel tanks available, unless you spend A LOT on money. Many carry Rotopax or Bladders ... I'm not a fan of either of these methods.

Rear sub frames may not exist or quite weak. So not idea for panniers weighing 30 kg. or so. ... plus a top bag and other crap travelers tend to pack.

Some travelers like to camp (to save money I guess?) and LOVE to pack up their bikes like the Beverly Hillbillies. Race based bikes may not be ideal for the perennial over packers so common in our world.

My worry would be if you get yourself into a location where you can't find top quality synthetic oil, as required for many high end race bikes like the KTM 500.

And in addition, the rider will need the skills and tools to do the maintenance on the road. The KTM is easy ... a good thing.

But some bikes are more complex to do self service ... and they are not even race based machines. (BMW GS's, Ducati Multistrada, KTM 1290) Most require dealership computers to plug in for diagnostics.

I like the looks of both the CRF250L and Rally. Weird? Not at all. It's just not that different from dual sport bikes 30 years ago. so, both good and bad.

full synthetic is nit required, I use same oil as for my xt660z tenere, motul semi synthetic. Regarding luggage and frame, motonomad guys used fully loaded caoyote giant loop bag with no problem