Of those listed, I'd probably go with the XT250, unless I wanted to do a lot of mods. In that case, I'd go with the CRF.

If you are willing to expand your possibilities, a previous gen DRZ400 in dual sport (or super moto) trim would allow you to buy cheap AND mod the heck out of it if you were so inclined. A little heavier than your listed options but also more hp.

 

Today is an excellent time for dual sports!!! So many options...

1) Not to get personal, but how much do you weigh? Some bikes are sprung soft
2) What is your budget?
3) What is your off road experience?
4) Do you like to go fast or slow off - road? Some bikes have a 'tractor factor' and some do not

 

Good questions!

1. Fat! (260lb) with short legs (28" inseam).
2. Not looking to spend much over $6000
3. No off-road experience on 2-wheel vehicles, plenty of time on quads though
4. Slow is fine, just trying to get around in the woods, not go fast. I was actually first considering the TW200 before I decided on a touch more power for a semi-steep hill I need to get up. But I do need to maintain 60mph on the highway.

 

I don't have any experience with the bikes you mentioned, but my old 1979 Yamaha DT 250 would've fit the bill nicely.

It was basically a dirtbike that had turn signals mirrors and a license plate.
It was lightweight--250 or so pounds.
I could easily wrestle it through obstacles and even pick up either end of it and lift it over a fallen log if I needed to.

If I had a lowside and the thing landed on my leg it didn't hurt --at least not as much as my body hitting the ground.

Although the Internet tells me that the engine on this only produce something like 12 HP, that was enough to ride the trails,
and out on the street it could maintain 65 miles an hour even on rolling hills, and at the time I used this bike I weighed about 210-220 pounds.

 

I had a 1978 DT175 this same color. Rode the wheels off it. Then when I turned 16 passed my motorcycle endorsement class and rode it a LOT more.

 

Biker who broke leg in crash in north Georgia mountains survived on creek water for 8 days

In those eight days in the woods, he endured storms and shivered through below-freezing nights.

www.wsbtv.com

This guy had a Suzuki V Strom 650 an adventure /street bike that was more than capable of handling the Jeep trail that he was on, but when he tried to do a turn where there was a mud puddle the bike slipped and it dumped itself on his leg breaking it.

He spent eight days alone in the woods before being found and rescued.

His bike only weighed 460 something pounds but that was too much on this particular day.

He lives near me and he was my guest who spoke at a meeting of my motorcycle riding group about a year ago. He was a very experienced motorcyclist having owned a dozen bikes going back for decades and he estimates he's ridden about 400,000 miles in his lifetime on two wheels.

 

If you're going highway speeds, the XT does not offer ABS. The KLX offers it and least expensive, but is the tallest. The Honda does as well, but is the most expensive. I'd say if you're not bothered by the extra cost, the Honda would be my pick, but go sit on them all to see what works for you. Sometimes it ends up differently than you thought going it.