There might be better bikes for what you plan, but I get the impression they're not available across the atlantic...
I'm thinking of the Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki range of Travel-Enduro-Style bikes...
Comfi, enough power, build high enough for the normal gravelroad, but enough room (at least for a bike) for 2 people and luggage...
Just to mentione some:
Suzuki DR 650 or BIG (800)/V-Strom (1000)
Kawasaki KLE/Tengai
Honda Varadero/Transalp/Africa Twin
http://www.varadero.de/
http://www.transalp.de/
http://www.africatwin.de/
http://www.geocities.com/deltabig/dr800_specs.html
http://www.happy-trail.com/vstrom_news!.htm
http://www.rawer.de/rainer/bike/teng_hai.html
So IF they're available I would think about these, but it seems to me, that the only options you have overseas are made by BMW - do you actually have the F 650 GS DAKAR???
My impression is, that you find Yamahas XT 600 range and Kawasakis KLR 650 almost anywhere on the planet where I got the impression BMW is limited to the roads and day-offroad trips - due to the necessity of a garage to maintain...
...but that is MY impression and opinion...
...especially in the americas it seemed to me lately (for me very odd) that BMW serves the semi-offroad market and RTW market better than the other companies - hereabouts known for their cheap, reliable, easy to maintain, easy to get parts and luggage-systems for, widely available and well constructed japanese bikes...
At least that's my impresion - and the only bike from BMW REALLY discussed for something alike RTW in the German forum I'm in is the F 650 GS...
...all other are mainly seen as pure road-bikes...
...but as I said - it might be different accross the atlantic!
For the other I'd go for Grants idea - take a bike that suits YOUR idea of driving and do some minor improvements...
[This message has been edited by onlycookie (edited 16 October 2002).]