Maxwel, thanks for those tips as well. I was planning to do some off road training, but because everything was unsure until the beginning of this week I did not get round to booking today. The training is full now.... Bummer.
I'll be sure to take things very easy. I'm getting in as many kilometers as I can right now, even highway experience is at least some kind of experience. It will be very different than riding my 1985 XJ900! (do love that beasty too though, it's got a certain 'class' )