I havent said that there is a right or a wrong way to ride or to do things.
All I have said is that a lighter bike is easier and lighter to handle - and especially when and if going offroad.

And using statistics for what? Justin Beaver sells a lot of records and concert tickets - so he must be a fantastic artist??? McDonalds sells more food than any other restaurant chain - thus using your way of "proving" things it must be the best restaurant with the best and healthiest food around...

About your examples - that guy you claim did 279 countries. Quite strange that there arent more than some approx - 190 countries in the world. You must not belive in all exaggeration you hear....
And without checking facts - I do belive a 1200 GS is lighter than a 1150 GS.
Anyhow - you can also run a marathon in army boots - its possible and might even have some advantages. But I would prefer doing it in something more suitable. And then we are back to the question of the TS of which bike is best suited for his needs. You can go around the world in anything you like of small and big bikes, 50 cc Vespas or 1800 cc Goldwings. But what are the best suited from an objective - or as objective as possible perspective?

Taking a big bike will actually limit one from going on some real off the beaten track. So why take a bike that limit your choices of where to go?
If youre only doing paved roads and a relatively smooth gravel road now and then - you can take any bike, big or small. But if youre heading where most people dont go - youre much better of with a lighter bike. These are facts wheter you like it or not. If youre a hell of a skilled rider you can get quite far with a big bike too - but most people are not. And especially thinking about persons who ask for advice and are uncertain about what bike to take.

There are as you say no right or no wrong way or wrong bike. But there are choices that makes it easier for an unexperienced rider.

Heres some reading from Walter Colbatch of the choiche of an adventure bike. He has been riding The Road of Bones and BAM in Siberia several times and is a quite experienced guy. I think the classic observation is in there somewhere where they met different guys doing those very hardcore offroad roads in Siberia. They met guys with Superteneres and GS/GSAs and they came through these roads with their bikes in the back of a truck. They just couldnt get through those roads on those huge bikes. Then they met some guys on single cylindered 650s - and those guys said that it was freaking hard but they were able ro get through after a lot of hard work. And at last they met some guys on 250s and they told that it was just awesome and completely fun....

http://www.sibirskyextreme.com/2013/...selection-101/

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....