As you mentioned, a huge difference in your riding ability from when you started out with your mentor back when. Those wet, slippery clay roads looked frightening to me but you were flying along. There’s probably not a big difference in weight between the GS and the Tenere however the extra power especially for travelling distances must be welcome.
I think you phrased it as to what this ride is. It is touring and dirt = Dirt Touring. My definition of adventure riding, is dirt touring, with reasonable amounts of I am unsure if this road actually is passable, so you ride down to find out.
Great adventure and video tracking the action. The roads didn’t look that bad so do you think a 19” front with adventure tyres could do this trek? Such as triumph tiger xrt. I am short so can’t ride the tall bikes but used to carve through the Watigans on my old VStrom 650 - ha.
Arguably, almost all motorcyclist will refer to their vehicle as the “bike” in the same way you likely don't refer to it as your “cycle”. So the term is just as relevant to each, to amend expectations.
