I currently ride a versys x 300, found a great deal with one that was fully set up with armor and bags etc.
Didn't get on a cb500x because it was yet another 50-70lbs of weight and down pipes. My xt225 was a superior trail bike, easy to maintain, but wouldn't ever be able to hack extended highway use.
I did own a 2015 duke 690, talked myself out of it because after an hour of riding my hands were numb, but in hindsight i could have tried bar end vibration dampeners and rubber bar mounts to kill that, as it was the only place the vibes were troublesome, seat and feet were fine (the ergonomics of that bike were excellent, prefect seat out of the bikes i've ridden). Should have played with adjusting the power mapping, so much power and used very little throttle, so cruising at 60-65mph was always right on the edge out the cut off with the fly by wire throttle, as that was another reason i let go of it.
Would have had to kit it out some more, arrow exhaust to get rid of the dangling cat, radiator guard and skid plate, wind screen. Hind sight... Also seriously looked at the duke390 and the honda cb300r to convert to scramblers, Was very tempted to pursue the Duke390 conversion because they actually have the header routed right for off road work. But all projects and little time at the moment.
If the Norden 501 or 401 can come in a similar weight range as the duke 690 (350lbs wet) or less

that would be incredible and really bring something new to the adv segment. Also route those headers somewhere other than straight down the front! Because they already got the looks nailed, now we must wait on specs.