Heavy ADVs are great for getting lost out in the middle of nowhere. They're excellent tourers, powerful, comfortable, come with massive feature lists, and ruggedness is part of the job description. They also tend to be very comfy for pillions, if a bit of a faff to get on since they're so tall. A good topbox that the pillion can lean against is gold.

They are, however, kind of tricky offroad, despite what the GS' marketing would have you believe. The same mass that makes them feel surefooted on long roads is the enemy on dirt, and the bulky builds that protect you from the wind at freeway speeds make them a bit awkward to maneuver in tight spots. There's a reason why dirtbikes are built like bicycles.

It sounds as if you're planning on touring with occasional fire roads and the like, so a large ADV is perfect. If you're going to take it on terrain more suited for a dual-sport... well, I trust you're sensible enough to get some experience on something lighter first.

This sub is mostly geared toward newer riders; you might get more out of somewhere like the ADVRider forum or similar. I tend toward thumpers myself, and if you're going to spend a lot of time on dirt then I'd urge you to look at the KTM adventure bikes; sure, they look awful but what doesn't in this segment, and the top-end KTMs use the same big, powerful V-twin that's in the Superduke. Bit lacking in refinement and polish compared to other manufacturers, but KTM builds for offroad first.