Thanks all for your advice, (Bully and Davey - sorry you lost your bet...).
Went for the XChallenge - 3500 km and @ 07 model (yes really) just could not bring myself to buy a 30 year old designed bike and throw that much $ at it to make it usable. I had a bike like that and it was called the KLR.
Ridden the X for over 4000 km and at the the Flinders Classic and can say its suits my needs - its also lighter to pick it up and cheaper to repair that my other BMW's. So far happy with the choice but accept its early days in our relationship