From a guy who is still married to the lady he was sweet on in high school I'd say it's all about compromise. Something both successful nuptials & bikes require.
Well said.
If I were a multiple bike kind of guy, I'd also start a cult and get 3 wives.
My DS bike list is limited, but VERY applicable here
KTM 520- Don't even waste your time, and especially $$
Drz400 E- supermoto conversion, (could swap dirt wheels).. This was a pretty cool bike. With the sumo stuff, and gearing I had on those wheels, I could cruise 65 all day. Ohh my god it FEELS heavy and cumbersome, but that relative.
Klx300- such a weak bike. It feels like you're riding a toy. There's nothing exciting about it, other than it weighs what an MX 250/2 does, but has really flexy forks. Also, I think the motors are garbage, like most Suzuki/kawi mash up bikes. The intake valves mushroom out at an ALARMINGLY high rate of speed, and any klx300/250 you get will most likely need a valve job. All the new 250 guys put 300 cylinders on thses bikes, and there is such a tiny sliver of aftermarket replacement parts.
(Its a great wife/buddy bike/tight single track)
Xr400- I traded up from the KLX for this. Sitting on it makes the KLX feel obsolete, in regards to durability. I've fallen in love with this bike and still haven't even rode it much. The aftermarket is HUGE, but the stock bike is plenty. Everything is so easy to access, well thought out, nothing underdone, and just the right amount overdone. There are comrade machines with adaptable parts. If say you trash a head, a new one is $350 off eBay. They respond well to a few affordable mods, and like many other higher-end bikes, can be built for raw power. They're air cooled, reliable, and make great power exactly where you want/need it.
IMHO, it is the closest thing to a do all dual sport that I've thrown a leg over.
The drz 400 is cool, right up until you've gotta push it, anywhere. As previousky stated, the transmission sucks, SO BAD. you wrap out fifth, and will be looking for sixth, but its not there. Split the cases and throw in an ACT wide ratio trans, and have the drum cut.... $600. If you get an E model, you may as well have an air cooled bike, as there's no radiator fan. If you gwt the S/SM model, you may as well have a stupudly heavy klx300. The battery is WAY too small, and adding a bigger one is tough. They will run the battery down after a spill, still not start, and leave you wondering how you're gonna start it, or should I say, which hill you're gonna use to roll start it. My E model had the 434 big bore kit, yosh cams, nice open exhaust, and the FCR which I had tuned on a dyno. My freshly built xr400 with 10.5:1 piston, head porting, exhaust, and pumper carb FEELS like its got way more power to play with. Maybe because its over 60lbs lighter..
The only other bike I'd consider replacing it with would be a 650l. Better manners on long rides