I actually think the new (to me) KTM makes it more likely I'll go lower power rather than higher. The KTM scratches an itch I haven't been able to reach for a long time. I again have snappy response and wheelie-abillty. That reduces the need for me to have to roll all of that into my long distance bike.
I've had super fast before (FZ1). 0 to 90MPH in about 3 seconds in 1st gear. Blindingly fast, and the most boring bike I've ever owned. Not doing that again. I have to keep my license. And it's dull to ride a bike that doesn't need 2nd gear.
I both agree, and disagree.
I totally get the first paragraph and that makes a lot of sense in the context of what you've been saying in this thread. And I hear you about a bike that doesn't need second gear too. But I also owned a FZ1 and I toured on that, including Alaska. It was a price point purchase for me after buying my first house and I got a smoking deal on it as a left over model when the new models had been out for a couple of months. The dealer wanted to dump it, and I beat him up a little more on the price too.
The FZ1 was an easy bike to ride well. Very good ergos for me, one of the few bikes I've ever sat on and everything just FIT. And yes, realizing it would wheelie in second gear on throttle alone was a wake up call. (The nice officer was laughing so hard after our talk that he gave me a warning) But I didn't buy it as a thrill machine, I bought it as a tool to take me places. Eventually I moved to the FJR to get better weather protection, hard luggage and shaft drive. The bonus of a 5 speed trans and all that torque was nice too, no more rowing up and down the gears as I came into small towns with 25-30 mph speed limits.
One of the most helpful comments made to me when I had the FZ1 and was trying to decide if I should get the FJR or just pimp out the FZ1 was "Don't try and make it into something it's not."
Will you be happy with a lower displacement "travel bike" that lacks some of the things the Super Ten does so well? In terms of bike to bike movement and how it feels or adjustment period we notice, I get that. Moving from the Super Ten to the WeeStrom was like WTF, no brakes! And No Power!
But then you get used to it and ride it differently to adjust to what it has. I'm riding a FZ6 now and it's lighter and I can flat foot the thing w/o issues, but it's still a 100 hp bike, just inline four characteristics. No power to miss, coming from the S10, and brakes are good, but I don't miss the weight and bulk of the S10. I'm not doing the same kind of riding I used to either, so haven't missed the weather protection and luggage too much. (oddly, I miss the hydration system the most, so am making a smaller one up for the Fizzy.)
We're all different. I've ridden the older F650GS twin (798cc), many times and while it's ok, it never spoke to me and always was lacking on brakes. Fully kited out it weighed as nearly as much as the S10 did in equal trim and didn't carry it as well. Much more of a difference stripped to fully loaded than I felt with the S10.
Take the 750GS out for a long day. At least 300 miles. Stop and write down the things you notice that you like and don't like every now and then. Write a little summary at the end of the ride about you're over all feelings about riding it, compared to riding the S10. Then forget about that stuff for a couple of days, ride the KTM, etc. Now sit down and read over what you wrote about the GS and that might give you the perspective you need to decide.