Geez, all we need here in the Abilene area is another ex/retired military person cluttering up the landscape. When will it end?
...obviously I'm kidding, and welcome aboard. Yeah, it's Texas, and there is little to no public land like out west...just got back from 3 weeks in New Mexico riding my XR650. However, I make it a point to go twice a year to the Big Bend area which surprisingly has a ton of good riding.
As to the Ross Creek Trail Riders...Texana Ranch...I'm one of the original members of that group since 1979...even got a lifetime membership classification. Unfortunately I haven't been out there for awhile now. Yes, it does require a membership, and it requires a certain level of time commitment to work some of the events that occur out there...Texas enduro circuit event, Baja style racing events, Raptor Run, etc. I'll say this...as far as motorcycle use, this is a true off road venue. There are about 100 miles of singletrack when all of it is ridden, and a good bit of it can be pretty tough. We've had two national enduro events out there, and even those guys said it was one of the tougher venues they've ridden. So, if you want to ride a motorcycle at Texana, it better be a real, honest dirt bike.
As to riding around the Abilene area, there are some great pavement rides to the east and south where all the "hills" are located. There are interesting dirt roads scattered around too. OP, if you haven't been to the Big Bend area, you are in for a treat. Myself and many on this site have probably ridden just about every venue in that area and will be a wealth of information...Big Bend NP, Big Bend Ranch SP, Terlingua Ranch, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, and some points around the Presidio, TX area.
OP, this is not a hot bed of off road or adventure riding around the Abilene area, but there are a few of us who are serious off road and dirt guys who go out west and do the Big Bend thing on a regular basis. My neighbor riding buddy now has a 2023 KTM690 enduro. Late last year I switched to an old school option of a Honda XR650L with lots of modifications. I think your current stable is probably to big for Texana Ranch, but the 790 should do well in a lot of the Big Bend area.
As far as motorcycle shops go, there are basically only two, though the newly formed Lone Star Powersports will be taking on Indian...but that's not really much of a dirt platform. Crown Powersports used to be Max's Cycles which was/is really the most motorcycle oriented shop here. I worked part time as a mechanic there for many years outside of my normal career field to pay for my many bad habits, especially when I was racing the enduro circuit. Kent's has mainly been considered a Harley shop, but in reality over the last few years they've branched out with their Honda line of ADV and dirt bikes. To be honest, the big sellers in this part of the country are ATV's and UTV's. That's where the money is.
Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! 
Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to 
& enjoy!
