Your report is very true of the XTR, yes its not the most lively or doesnt handle like rossi's bike in the rain but its just so much fun. Being young myself (21) i understand how you feel coming from a 125 (hair dryer on wheels for power) to something with this amount of torque/bhp.

As for safeyness its just experience/getting milage under your belt, you soon learn to understand whos watching the roads and whos not!! Also as kiethblade said liftsavers and generally keeping awear of whats around you and infront mainly is key to being safe/smooth/fast rider.

Off roading you shouldnt have too much bother as long as you stick to dryish paths or rocky paths as the traily tyres arent too good in mud/wet stuff.

Off roading tips are basically take it easy the first few times, stand up on the pegs, make sure you look at the surface your going to travel over and not around you etc etc.

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Plough on