Well... I beat up the bike pretty good, and I'm just getting started. Are your perceptions of the Transalp changing? Mine are! People said it was boring, not capable, not competitive off road. I think that's all totally wrong. In this series I'll try to prove it. 🏍TODAY’S GEAR: ⚡ Alpinestars Halo Glove: imp.i104546.net/21WgmQ ⚡ Klim Krios Pro Helmet : bit.ly/34ekJLL ⚡ MSR Adventure Boot: bit.ly/433bSVY ⚡ Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans: imp.i104546.net/BXa310 ⚡ Alpinestars Halo Jacket: imp.i104546.net/GmDVP6 ⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: bit.ly/3OiE5Ss ⚡ Foamerz Glasses: imp.i104546.net/DKQa9b ⚡GoPro Hero11: amzn.to/40VM1Oy ⚡PurplePanda Helmet Mic: amzn.to/3vkL7Ni ➕SUPPORT➕ [I may receive commissions which are invested back into the channel] ⚡ Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia ⚡ Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/33kgRIz ⚡ Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN ⚡ Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto ⚡ Pacific Powersports (Motoz Tires, Barkbusters): pacificpowersports.com/ USE CODE BRM2024 ⚡ 3D Cycle Parts: www.3dcycleparts.com/?aff=3 ⚡ Taco Moto : tacomoto.co/?ref=fi6gv640 ⚡ Cyclops Adventure Sports: tinyurl.com/2kaknpfn ⚡ Amazon: amzn.to/3viGZ0A ⚡ Merchandise: big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/
I would love to see you take a minimalist approach on mods particularly with the armor. It sounds like this might be a great lighter weight platform. Something I could downsize to from my Tiger 1200. From the looks of it, mounting a skid plate is going to be a challenge.
V Strom is an overall better bike which serves the purpose and better value for the money spent. By the way, how often do you use all the features and gimmicks you have paid for, unless you are an avid and hardcore adventure biker?
My perceptions have not changed. The sump design boggles the mind (probably the worst design I have seen in recent history). The things you turn off come back on when you turn off the key (even professional journalists that test bikes for a living had unplanned offs on previous Honda models with the same issue). To make matters worse despite deep pockets and massive resources Honda continues to have the worst off-road TC and ABS in the industry (which would be less annoying if things did not keep turning themselves back on every time you switch off the key). Nearly every other manufacturer has managed to figure out these last two points to some degree, I can find no logical reason that Honda cannot. What the Transalp is trying to be is not an Africa Twin (marketing and sales strategy win over giving the customer what they want yet again).
@@jkmayhem thanks for confirmation. I wonder if anywhere on the metric system actually uses metric drives on tools, or at least labels it 12.5mm, 9mm, etc.
Ian delivers again with what is going to be the best Transalp review on the internet. Can’t wait to see all the mods coming including off road tires, skid plates, crash bars, and improved suspension. This should be amazing!!!
I think this guy is the best bike reviewer out there including all the websites. I don’t ride ADVs so many of the bikes aren’t bikes I’m looking at buying but like that he doesn’t spend 95% of the reviews talking about electronic rider aids as though that makes up the whole bike and gives a real world view into the riding dynamics in very direct terms, ownership, and quality aspects of the bike without giving really vague takes on a bike that are often just a reviewers brand preference.
Nice. 2 must haves for me. Low engine heat and good wind management. My R1200GS has excellent wind management with the Aeroflow windscreen but it cooks my legs 75f and up.
Great review like seeing you put it through the paces. I'm on a '23 KLR and my wife has the '23 NC750x. I like the way the engine sounds on the Transalp.
Great first impression video! You always go into the deepest and most relevant details. I love this bike based on initial reviews but how I wish Honda would have brought the tri-color model over!
If Honda made the User settings not reset but instead made it default to "Standard" on key turn, then they could still claim "safety feature" while making riders happy.
Fantastic reviews! I held off of the Transalp purchase as I heard a lot of bad press.. I was waiting to hear your perspective and as I thought, I figured an honest review would show a decent ADV platform with room for upgrades/improvement (but probably OK for average riders who aren't going to push it). Ordered one at the weekend. :) Look forward to more Transalp videos.
Great video, your energy and effort are top notch. :-) I still say its just a street bike with spoke wheels. ;-) I was really wanting it to be a dirt bike that could travel. The issue with how Honda deals with TC and ABS when you cycle (27:50) the key is the ONLY thing I hated about my Africa Twin Adventure. I dropped the bike more than once because of that stupid TC reset.
It's weird how these sound great in some videos, like this one, but in other videos it just sounds ok. In the videos in which it sounds good, they're revving it to redline...that's probably why.
Great review, love the channel! I am Italian and I must admit I have been reading an awful ton of negative rants about this bike. The biggest ones are the rear shock, low exhaust and the impossibility of not deactivating the ABS. Two of them are easily solved so it's not really a big deal, is it? Bike is light - compared to competition - and very powerful... IMO a great bike. Greetings from London, keep up with the great reviews! :)
Bikes are so bloody good these days that the journalists need to find things to complain about to make content. Honestly, every single bike I've test rode has been great for whatever price they ask. All brands, even the chinese stuff is excellent. So they have to make rants about nothing or there's nothing to say. I look at long term reliability reviews and how good the dealers are for support these days and thats it
@@chrispekel5709 Yep, that is partly true. I was talking more about customers and their takes on the new Transalp. These days, most bikes are made in China but one thing is if they are made by Honda or BMW, another is if the brand is Chinese, like Kove or Voge. Do not get me wrobng, they are getting better but still behind major classic brands, I prefer reliable brand like Honda - also to easily source parts. Lastly, reviews are great as you need to hear all specs and features so you buy the one that is best for you. In my case, despite being very tall and almost 100kg, all bikes over 200-210kg are too big and heavy to my liking, as I do both tarmac and off road. Nice to have detailed reviews like the one above.
@@GCTO239 if you deactivate it and turn off - and then back on - the bike, ABS reactivates automatically and must be deactivated again. This has to be done every time you turn off the bike...
all the numbers on this bike is exactly what I am looking for. at 5'6 I cannot handle t7 or the de800. just too heavy and big of a bike for me. I put over 1800 miles on my 23' cb500x and I my 500x but the power is just not enough. hwy speed over 65 the bike vibrates too much. As much as I hate to sell my 500x. I need to see this transalp in person. thank you so much for purchasing and doing all the reviews. I cannot wait to see what mods your going to do with this bike! and one question, how would you get the 90 horses on this?
Very interested to see if you can find a work-around for the TCS/ABS resetting. I am looking to buy this, a T7 or V-strom 800, and the fact that the T7 doesnt have traction and the V-strom is on-the-fly switchable and remembers the setting (I believe) is the reason I would buy one of those over the Transalp.
Your channel ie among the best and I follow your every work and respect your opinion. Despite the fact that you covered all the shortcomings, I think you were "too mild" in your assessment..probably becouse it's a Honda!? I gave up on the purchase precisely because of the mentioned shortcomings and bought a KTM 890 adventure S , based again on most of your views, as a replacement for my GS 1200 adventure. Best regards
Have you noticed wobbling sound in range of 60-63mph? I don't know if it's from wheels or the drivetrain but I found it really annoying during test ride on Karoos.
It's what I keep telling people... too much focus on cruise control and lack of extras. Sure, the lack of protections (bash guards, hand guards, etc.) hurts. You need to shell out for them, it's very barebones. But you're not paying for those when you buy a bike, really. You pay for the engine and frame. And the Transalp is a LOT of engine on a good bike. You can add the extras on your own, and it won't be that expensive in the end since the bike starts at a lower price point that some of the competition.
Some reviewers say the gas tank is a pain to fill as it is like it is slip in 2 pieces. Have to fill 1 side then lift the gas filling nozzle up and over to the other side. How did you find it?
I hate to admit it but im looking forward to seeing how the Enfield Himalayan 452 pans out. For me im looking for a powerful enough, light enough, fast enough do it all bike. Closest thing ive come to that seemed pretty damned good all around was a suzuki dr650 and dr350. Just need somehing a little in between. Unfortunately with emissions etc its almost inpossible to make somethihg relatively lightweight and practical anymore so i find im drawn to the dinosaurs. I enjoyed my cb500x that had full level 3 rally raid kit in it, it was close, but still a bit too heavy. Bought a klx300 but still almost a bit too light and a bit too underpowered. Id say 350-400lbs for a do it all light adv/dual sport would be ideal for me.
I said I was looking forward to this series and here with episode 2 you are definitely not disappointing 👍 Already you are testing this bike far more thoroughly than any other tester I’ve seen and in doing so are really giving me the information I want before laying my money down…. Looking forward to the remainder of the series
Aside from Ian just being really good at what he does, he actually buys these bikes which affords him utter autonomy in how far he will go to prove a bike. Most content here comes from folks with loaner bikes and they have to be returned in good condition. You won’t see them doing drop tests.
Ian I love how you really go deep on these videos, to the point of even dropping them to see what we can expect. These are things we can’t expect from a content creator who only does demo rides.
Great first ride and test, thank you Ian! You have already pushed the limits way further than I have in 4000 km on mine. Further than I am ever likely too, so that is really appreciated. The new Transalp is the best bike I have ever owned or ridden in 50 years of riding, so Honda has made this old man very happy.
That would be awesome Ian to hear your thoughts vs the Tuareg. Your Tuareg review is why I bought one and given the list of items the Transalp would need I would suspect pricing would be very close to
These are the kind of reviews we need. Most reviews never go into this ammount of detail or actually show us the bikes capapbilities in real time. This review style is a breath of fresh air and really gives potential buyers a realistic idea of how the bike really is before riding one themselves. Great content!
Thank You Ian. I rewatched Your video on the Vstrom 800 and I think the Transalp may be a better option. Mainly because of the light weight, center of gravity, manouverability and power. Not to mention that it is a Honda. Cheers from Norway.
I have a 2001. Transalp 650 and the only thing I am complaining about it is that is top heavy. Really like that new version has that problem solved. Transalp has always been smaller ROAD biased version of Africa Twin. Purpose of this bike is and always been, not an off-road bike but small Touring bike with option to go on gravel and forest roads and that's it. Also, I don't understand why everybody complains about tubed tires, I have a sealant spray in my bike with me all the time. If you have a puncture, just use a spray until you reach a shop where you can change a tube which also I have a spare. Btw. really like your reviews. Greetings from Croatia!
The only reason to have tubed tyres is for serious off roading, so that if the rim gets dented, the tyre doesn’t deflate. The tube adds significant unsprung weight and not everyone wants to fill their rim with sealant gunk to get off the roadside. Tubed rims have zero benefit for this bike’s intended purpose - light road touring. Honda put tubed rims on the Transalp purely because they’re cheaper and because they wanted the spoked rim look. As Ian states in the review - the bottom end of the bike is definitely not suited for serious off-roading. I’d even argue that the 21” wheel is a superfluous on this bike and compromises the road handling - but again it’s there for looks rather than function.
It's a sport touring bike, plain and simple. Ian, tell us which you would choose for true ADV riding. Transalp, 800DE, or T7 and let's put this argument to bed. Don't add a bunch of mods the Transalp then tell us how good it is. Put a skid plate and crash bars on it and give us an honest comparison of the three. I want to know the stock bike to stock bike choice for middle weight adventure riding, not touring. I have the 800DE, a touring bike, dirtbike, and dual sport.
@@BigRockMoto The cool thing about the 3 is it reminds me of the XL, DR, and KLR feud lol. Where we make our choice and shit talk the other two to justify our purchase. lol again.
150 miles on mine and loving it. I bought it for what it is, knowing the things I would need to upgrade like skid plate, crash bars, etc. But I am pleasantly surprised that it's so comfortable, light feeling compared to my 17 AT, and the motor is a character for sure. Not a powerhouse, it likes being run through the revs, but it's a great bike that will be used for 90 percent work commuting and weekend back roads.
No bash plate and with that unicorn horn sticking out of the bottom no way is that going to compete with the t7 nice-looking Transportation bike though and some light fire roads or cow Trails but that Underside would drive me crazy😮
My wife has one & I have the Africa Twin. I honestly think if you upgraded the suspension it’d be a much better all rounder for most people. It’s so light in comparison & much more fun to ride.
Ian, you make the content other creators wish they could make. Never change. Do you reckon someone is going to make a tune that will "unlock" the missing ponies? Do you think ECU manipulation can change the "forget the setting" for TC and ABS? Thanks!
I think the "Transalp is boring" crowd wanted a T7 competitor in terms of offroad design/ability. It seems like this bike would be an excellent lightweight touring option filling in the niche between the CB500x and the Africa Twin. The unfortunate reality is that Yamaha doesn't really produce an offroad marketed big adventure bike like the AT or the GS. The supertenere exists but is mostly marketed as a tourer. Yamaha doesn't have to worry about the T7 undercutting the sales of a flagship machine, because there really is no flagship machine to undercut. However, if Honda made this bike really offroad capable out of the box, they probably wouldn't sell as many Africa Twins. Just like you said when you did the spin turn, you probably wouldn't do things on an Africa Twin that you would be willing to do on this bike. I think that's true for almost everyone except the most competent riders. Big bikes are extremely capable offroad, but it takes more skill to use them offroad. As much as I want a hypothetical 450l Rally from Honda or an XR650 refresh, it'll probably never happen.
Well said. This bike didn’t compete in the market that is thriving in competition. It’s an underwhelming addition to the touring market. Probably great for what it is, but not what the people wanted 👍🏻
It still does not make sense to put tubed tires and no cruise control on a touring bike in 2023. It seems like Honda can not decide who should by an Africa Twin and who should by the Transalp.
I love the real world review, Ian. If I were looking at an adv bike, it would be between that and the VStrom800DE. For me the Vstrom beats the Honda out on a lot of points (suspension, ground clearance, electronics stay set when the bike is turned off, light feeling) except the golden one: weight. Tough call. Would love to see a comparo...🙂
The roll on pull in 6th gear feels less torquey because it's more overdrive than any bike out there to date because it's overall 6th gear ratio is 4.69 to 1 where the Tuareg is a tad over 6.00 to 1 ratio and your 890 Adventure is 5.17 to 1 ratio in 6th gear, so if you went down one tooth on the front sprocket to a 15 teeth it would be about 16.00 to 1 in 1st gear and close to 5.00 to 1 in 6th gear and the Transalp will have a lower 1st gear and taller 6th gear than the 890 Adventure, that to me is true adventure bike gearing and I see a lot of potential for the Honda to come. I own all of these bikes and I have done my homework with sprocket changes and the this Transalp revs in the motor real good. Great review!
Honda obviously geared the bike towards road riding and low rpm in top gear. As the engine is in a higher tuning state it won't suit a wide ratio gearbox as its not a wide ratio engine. But you can never have it all. Drop a tooth on the front will definitely improve things off road.
Really good review, i have a feeling that the Transalp will take all the beating with a smile. I hope you make some comparison to the KTM790/890 S bike.
Great review. I really appreciate how you treat your bike just to inform the viewers. The biggest rival in my opinion is 2023 ktm 790 adventure. It would be nice to hear your thoughts about this comparison.
I was playing with an idea of trading in my Africa twin for this after a short test ride, but I was not sure. Now, this episode was all I needed to drop my last doubts. And I know I am gonna be happier with transalp. I love my Africa Twins engine. I am a bit short and small guy but I have got used to AT weight and size. And I have no problem handeling it. But sure I can not enjoy it that much off-road, you know, because of the lack of my skills. But I can imagine transalp will allow me to get a bit more fun out of the woods. :) Amazing work with all your videos I am watching your reviews a lot and they are one of the best I could find. If not the best. Super excited for transalp series. And I am going to sell my AT right now.... Good times. Better times ahead. :) Thanks!
i used the transalp eu version for 1h and it handles very well.. the hp are more than needed.. but this , even if it has 21inch front wheel, is a touring bike.. not an offroad bike.. in my opinion..
With over 7,000 miles now on my Vstrom 800, I must say so far, your review of the Transalp has not induced TransAlp envy for me. Great review as usual Ian.
As of right now I think the Suzuki is a much better starting point. As far as I can tell the only thing better on the Honda is the wind protection and mirrors? Those are relatively cheap and easy to fix with aftermarket stuff.
First thing i noticed is how little wind buffeting there is on the original windscreen. I was a little worried about that since i had to pick mine up 400km away from home as they where one of the only one that had one left in the shop at the time in june. Others where more to double the distance. I remember how surprized i was how effortless it is to ride. I only took one break on that trip because i got hungry, Norwegian roads so no super high speeds. I do like that throaty sound. Gives me a smile sometimes hehe. I am averaging 0.38. on mine I agree if you are going to take it offroad. A suspension mod is pretty obvious on allmost all bikes. Stock springs on honda seem a little on the lighter side when it comes to rider weight. Not a huge problem so far. But i am prob going to buy a new shock and cartrigde for the front fork if i keep mine. As i do like suspension modding. Regardless of bikes. My experience with the T7 was beyond dissapointing. And i did not understand the hype at all. It did not feel good in any way. Very top heavy. Suspension platform is not any good. And reading people saying the transalp is not comparable to the T7 in any way. You all are wrong. If you dont believe me. Ride one. I am not saying T7 is garbage. Far from it. It has quality written all over. But out of the box the T7 needs to much mods to become great. When you look at the price on the two and what you actually get.
Lol….Lots of induction noise but the most the speedo increased was 30 mph…No power to top of the rev range. Besides Ian no one drives like this every day because they will be dead or have no license. I understand you chugged a Rockstar after having six coffees but your energy seems desperate to sell us on the Transalp (CB750X). My guess is the Suzuki was sold out like it is everywhere and the tax year is coming to an end and all after all.
Did you notice any vibrations through the bars and footpegs? I test rode one and the vibrations were awful and I wanted to get off it immediately. I rode to the test ride on my CRF300l and I couldn't wait to get back on it. I'm starting to think I got a dodgy demo bike as the one I rode is the worst bike I've ever ridden
Okay when a review video starts out with him dogging the crap out of it and basically throwing it on its side just to get back on it and dog on it some more is rather satisfying. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us when I say that we are sometimes afraid to get a little rough and heavy with our toys because they are expensive and we don't want them to break. Seeing someone else beat on something harder than we would and seeing it survive is peace of mind in a sense because it tells some of us that we are not near the limits yet. Thank you for this.
I got a T7 earlier this year, loved your reviews on that bike. Now my riding buddy is looking into a Transalp… I hope he gets one! We’re both locked into this test series. Thank you for the quality videos! We live in the Redlands area so we love to ride around Idyllwild and big bear 🤙🏻
I really love the T7 but it's just annoying how tall they made it and how expensive the accessories are. And if you want the white one, you HAVE to go with the rally edition with a bunch of stuff you don't necessarily want like the even taller seat. I wish they had just gone the Honda way: make all colors available and let people spec as they want...
Good work Ian. An honest review. I left my AT behind and been on my TA for just on 2 weeks now. Yes it has it's faults but overall I'm way too happy with it to let them get me down. I've done SW Motech crash bars and skid plate, Barkbusters and tyres so far sooooo good. Looking forward to Episode 3. Plus we get the full 90HP down here in NZ.
Brilliant review Ian. Your comments have persuaded me to really consider the Transalp. Engine sounds awesome, I'm glad I'm on Euroland with the more powerful engine.
So it’s a faster CB500X with tubes and larger wheels. Honda purposely made this bike not to compete with their African Twins sales. Gravel road princess 👸…No off road mode, no Bluetooth in North American etc…. Would you not be better off buying a base model African Twin and leaving it stock then buy this (CB750X) and sinking thousands into mods to trying to make it work? Great video buddy even though I’m going with the Suzuki.
Honda blew it! Tubed tires. Why?!? Pain to repair and tire choice is frighteningly limited. Check for yourself. No cruise control. 😢 This is an asphalt biased bike so my gripes are on target. I was ready to consider but not anymore 😢. And I'm a Honda fan boy (7) 😅
That unprotected undercarriage scares the crap out of me. With the gouges and scrapes in my T7s skid plate I can only imagine how many new headers or oil pans I would have needed by now.
big rock moto is more a sales channel than anything else, i owned a couple of reviewed bikes and all reviews were overly optimistic and blatantly ignoring well known shortcomings.
Ian, I am new to riding. I just started January 2023 with my 2023 KLX 300. Your reviews are excellent & you never miss a thing. You have answered all the questions I have had thus far In your video series on the Honda Transalp. Thank you for your time & In depth reviews on different machines. To a new rider that helps alot. Especially in my next motorcycle purchase. [Note, cannot believe you dropped a new bike on proupus. Your the motorcycle review bar setter,wow]!
Get a better seat and a windscreen on that bike and you really don't need anything else provided you don't do a lot of highway miles. I upgraded and wasted money several times before realising less is more (and leaves money for better things)
Ian… really like the content and look forward to the transalp series. I really liked your Suzuki V Strom 800DE videos so much, that I bought one. I get the feeling from this video that you are trying to convince yourself that the Transalp is a great bike, and I think we all do a little bit of that when we make our purchases. For me, I think the stock 800DE has the advantage. Keep up the great content!
Thank you for addressing the preload stiff/soft thing. Lots of confusion around how that works. I will say however that increasing preload CAN in some cases help prevent bottoming, although by a fairly small amount. If you are riding higher in the stroke, there is more potential bounce travel available, but this is at the expense of rebound travel. At best, it's a bandaid if used for this purpose. Always appreciate your reviews. Real world experience, not read from a spec sheet.
Great review! IMO That’s a bike that should have been made without traction control and the ABS should have had a simple designated on/off switch or button. The oil sump and exhaust routing underneath the engine also sucks for the more adventurous riders. Other then that, Honda nailed it IMO.
Most important feature its that's a HONDA, other bikes might be more "capable" but that wan't help you when they break down or you can't find anyone to work on it when you are in a remote location..
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
Well... I beat up the bike pretty good, and I'm just getting started. Are your perceptions of the Transalp changing? Mine are! People said it was boring, not capable, not competitive off road. I think that's all totally wrong. In this series I'll try to prove it.
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You laid to rest my fear of this being a boring bike.
I would love to see you take a minimalist approach on mods particularly with the armor. It sounds like this might be a great lighter weight platform. Something I could downsize to from my Tiger 1200. From the looks of it, mounting a skid plate is going to be a challenge.
V Strom is an overall better bike which serves the purpose and better value for the money spent. By the way, how often do you use all the features and gimmicks you have paid for, unless you are an avid and hardcore adventure biker?
Nah boring AF
My perceptions have not changed. The sump design boggles the mind (probably the worst design I have seen in recent history). The things you turn off come back on when you turn off the key (even professional journalists that test bikes for a living had unplanned offs on previous Honda models with the same issue). To make matters worse despite deep pockets and massive resources Honda continues to have the worst off-road TC and ABS in the industry (which would be less annoying if things did not keep turning themselves back on every time you switch off the key). Nearly every other manufacturer has managed to figure out these last two points to some degree, I can find no logical reason that Honda cannot. What the Transalp is trying to be is not an Africa Twin (marketing and sales strategy win over giving the customer what they want yet again).
I love that you started using metric units for all your non-us viewers. Thanks for that
Are they still selling metric sockets with standard drives like 1/2, 3/8, 1/4"?
@@bendeleted9155 Atleast where i am from the 10mm has a for example a 1/4" tool attatchment. And so forth. Weird why that blend is used hehe.
The UK is non-US and we don't use metric. In fact we invented Imperial measurements.
@@jkmayhem thanks for confirmation. I wonder if anywhere on the metric system actually uses metric drives on tools, or at least labels it 12.5mm, 9mm, etc.
How many nanometers tall are you
Ian delivers again with what is going to be the best Transalp review on the internet. Can’t wait to see all the mods coming including off road tires, skid plates, crash bars, and improved suspension. This should be amazing!!!
You are fortunate to have all of these wonderful roads and trails near you.
I think this guy is the best bike reviewer out there including all the websites. I don’t ride ADVs so many of the bikes aren’t bikes I’m looking at buying but like that he doesn’t spend 95% of the reviews talking about electronic rider aids as though that makes up the whole bike and gives a real world view into the riding dynamics in very direct terms, ownership, and quality aspects of the bike without giving really vague takes on a bike that are often just a reviewers brand preference.
Nice. 2 must haves for me. Low engine heat and good wind management. My R1200GS has excellent wind management with the Aeroflow windscreen but it cooks my legs 75f and up.
Great review like seeing you put it through the paces. I'm on a '23 KLR and my wife has the '23 NC750x. I like the way the engine sounds on the Transalp.
Great first impression video! You always go into the deepest and most relevant details. I love this bike based on initial reviews but how I wish Honda would have brought the tri-color model over!
Another great job, Ian.
Your reviews keep getting better and better.
Ian good comparison. You have opened my eyes to this bike. Seems to have some impressive features.
If Honda made the User settings not reset but instead made it default to "Standard" on key turn, then they could still claim "safety feature" while making riders happy.
Fantastic reviews! I held off of the Transalp purchase as I heard a lot of bad press.. I was waiting to hear your perspective and as I thought, I figured an honest review would show a decent ADV platform with room for upgrades/improvement (but probably OK for average riders who aren't going to push it). Ordered one at the weekend. :) Look forward to more Transalp videos.
I was thinking this was going to compete with the T7, but with a heavy road bias. I was not expecting to be impressed. I can admit I was wrong.
Good video here! You’re working hard for us. Thx!.
Might be the best sounding stock Honda.
Great video, your energy and effort are top notch. :-) I still say its just a street bike with spoke wheels. ;-) I was really wanting it to be a dirt bike that could travel. The issue with how Honda deals with TC and ABS when you cycle (27:50) the key is the ONLY thing I hated about my Africa Twin Adventure. I dropped the bike more than once because of that stupid TC reset.
It's weird how these sound great in some videos, like this one, but in other videos it just sounds ok. In the videos in which it sounds good, they're revving it to redline...that's probably why.
Great first ride! Thank you.
Great review, love the channel! I am Italian and I must admit I have been reading an awful ton of negative rants about this bike. The biggest ones are the rear shock, low exhaust and the impossibility of not deactivating the ABS. Two of them are easily solved so it's not really a big deal, is it? Bike is light - compared to competition - and very powerful... IMO a great bike. Greetings from London, keep up with the great reviews! :)
Bikes are so bloody good these days that the journalists need to find things to complain about to make content. Honestly, every single bike I've test rode has been great for whatever price they ask. All brands, even the chinese stuff is excellent. So they have to make rants about nothing or there's nothing to say. I look at long term reliability reviews and how good the dealers are for support these days and thats it
@@chrispekel5709 Yep, that is partly true. I was talking more about customers and their takes on the new Transalp. These days, most bikes are made in China but one thing is if they are made by Honda or BMW, another is if the brand is Chinese, like Kove or Voge. Do not get me wrobng, they are getting better but still behind major classic brands, I prefer reliable brand like Honda - also to easily source parts. Lastly, reviews are great as you need to hear all specs and features so you buy the one that is best for you. In my case, despite being very tall and almost 100kg, all bikes over 200-210kg are too big and heavy to my liking, as I do both tarmac and off road. Nice to have detailed reviews like the one above.
You can deactivate the ABS
@@GCTO239 if you deactivate it and turn off - and then back on - the bike, ABS reactivates automatically and must be deactivated again. This has to be done every time you turn off the bike...
Well I was finally convinced to go ahead and buy the Transalp, that is until I found out that it takes an hour or more to change the air filter.
This cb750x is not boring. I am waiting the nx750 😊
This bike is awesome , when is getting my nc750x hopped on it .
A little bit taller than the nc , I loved the one sound as well
Yup. That's the bike for me.
I just sold my 500x... Maybe have to get one of those in the future...
Between this and the 800de, it's going to be a good time to buy a gently used T7 next spring.
I agree finally some competition. Prices should come down for second hands teneres
One thing that bugs me is that the TA is advertised everywhere with 91hp. Even on Honda's US website.
It’s like a copy of the Tuareg, engine wise. How’s it ride compared to the Tuareg?
Your comment made me lol. You are right. Thank you.
all the numbers on this bike is exactly what I am looking for. at 5'6 I cannot handle t7 or the de800. just too heavy and big of a bike for me. I put over 1800 miles on my 23' cb500x and I my 500x but the power is just not enough. hwy speed over 65 the bike vibrates too much. As much as I hate to sell my 500x. I need to see this transalp in person. thank you so much for purchasing and doing all the reviews. I cannot wait to see what mods your going to do with this bike! and one question, how would you get the 90 horses on this?
I would love a 19 inch version
Very interested to see if you can find a work-around for the TCS/ABS resetting. I am looking to buy this, a T7 or V-strom 800, and the fact that the T7 doesnt have traction and the V-strom is on-the-fly switchable and remembers the setting (I believe) is the reason I would buy one of those over the Transalp.
The abs setting on the vstrom resets. Traction control preference doesn't reset
O Wow, look Honda CB750X, said no one ever.
Lol “Feels exactly as a CB500X with just more power” 😂
Perfect analogy because it’s the same frame…..lol
Your channel ie among the best and I follow your every work and respect your opinion. Despite the fact that you covered all the shortcomings, I think you were "too mild" in your assessment..probably becouse it's a Honda!? I gave up on the purchase precisely because of the mentioned shortcomings and bought a KTM 890 adventure S , based again on most of your views, as a replacement for my GS 1200 adventure. Best regards
Have you noticed wobbling sound in range of 60-63mph? I don't know if it's from wheels or the drivetrain but I found it really annoying during test ride on Karoos.
It's what I keep telling people... too much focus on cruise control and lack of extras. Sure, the lack of protections (bash guards, hand guards, etc.) hurts. You need to shell out for them, it's very barebones.
But you're not paying for those when you buy a bike, really. You pay for the engine and frame. And the Transalp is a LOT of engine on a good bike. You can add the extras on your own, and it won't be that expensive in the end since the bike starts at a lower price point that some of the competition.
Ian, great video! Any easy mods to overcome lack of cruise control? Thank you!
Some reviewers say the gas tank is a pain to fill as it is like it is slip in 2 pieces. Have to fill 1 side then lift the gas filling nozzle up and over to the other side.
How did you find it?
I hate to admit it but im looking forward to seeing how the Enfield Himalayan 452 pans out. For me im looking for a powerful enough, light enough, fast enough do it all bike. Closest thing ive come to that seemed pretty damned good all around was a suzuki dr650 and dr350. Just need somehing a little in between. Unfortunately with emissions etc its almost inpossible to make somethihg relatively lightweight and practical anymore so i find im drawn to the dinosaurs. I enjoyed my cb500x that had full level 3 rally raid kit in it, it was close, but still a bit too heavy. Bought a klx300 but still almost a bit too light and a bit too underpowered. Id say 350-400lbs for a do it all light adv/dual sport would be ideal for me.
I’m is the process of choosing a bike 80/20 on road/off-road. Between the BMW 750gs Suzuki 800de or this transalp, what would you recommend?
I said I was looking forward to this series and here with episode 2 you are definitely not disappointing 👍 Already you are testing this bike far more thoroughly than any other tester I’ve seen and in doing so are really giving me the information I want before laying my money down…. Looking forward to the remainder of the series
thanks
Aside from Ian just being really good at what he does, he actually buys these bikes which affords him utter autonomy in how far he will go to prove a bike. Most content here comes from folks with loaner bikes and they have to be returned in good condition. You won’t see them doing drop tests.
@@TerraMagnus agree entirely, which is why I trust his reviews. He is always open and honest about what he finds, good and bad 👍
@@BigRockMoto P.S. I like the look of the new neighbourhood and garage 👍
@@reinmansmith ok so I wasn’t imagining that Ian moved.
Ian I love how you really go deep on these videos, to the point of even dropping them to see what we can expect. These are things we can’t expect from a content creator who only does demo rides.
I love this video. Everyone reviewing adventure bikes should do a drop test. This should be mandatory. 👍🏻 kudos.
Thank you! 👍
But will it blend? @@BigRockMoto
not when the bike is borrowed, in this case he is the owner so he can do whatever he wants to it, and it was painful to watch, lol
I give you permission to skip drop tests on new motorbikes until you install crash guards 😄
Great first ride and test, thank you Ian! You have already pushed the limits way further than I have in 4000 km on mine. Further than I am ever likely too, so that is really appreciated. The new Transalp is the best bike I have ever owned or ridden in 50 years of riding, so Honda has made this old man very happy.
Would love to get your opinion on the Tuareg 660 vs the Transalp. Primarily road but also off.
Agreed!
That would be awesome Ian to hear your thoughts vs the Tuareg. Your Tuareg review is why I bought one and given the list of items the Transalp would need I would suspect pricing would be very close to
The Tuareg would slay the Transalp.
Yes I would love to see that comparison too
@@mrjay4000not on the power departament though
These are the kind of reviews we need. Most reviews never go into this ammount of detail or actually show us the bikes capapbilities in real time. This review style is a breath of fresh air and really gives potential buyers a realistic idea of how the bike really is before riding one themselves. Great content!
It seems to be exactly what I am looking for my longer distance rides. I pick mine up on Halloween. Can’t wait now, thanks Ian.
Glad I could help!
How can it be an off-roader with that weird pointy sump just waiting to be hit by a rock ?
The energy in this video is outstanding. Absolutely perfect job Ian.
For a true adventure bike drop test you should drop it on the pavement outside starbucks which is about as far as 98% of adventure bikes actually go
Don't give me ideas I might just do it
😂
In detail: drop it opposite Starbucks - where most park their adventure bike - so they can watch people looking at it in all its macho glory 😜😂😂
Cannot tell you how much I appreciate the metric system numbers you put up on the screen. Thank you!
Question: Why does the U.S. version have less HP than the European version?
Thank You Ian. I rewatched Your video on the Vstrom 800 and I think the Transalp may be a better option. Mainly because of the light weight, center of gravity, manouverability and power. Not to mention that it is a Honda. Cheers from Norway.
Can't go wrong with either bike, but I'd personally take the V-Strom for its off road abilities and smooth suspension.
I don’t think you can just bolt on a shallower oil pan. The pump and pickup- I’m sure are in the low area.
I have a 2001. Transalp 650 and the only thing I am complaining about it is that is top heavy. Really like that new version has that problem solved. Transalp has always been smaller ROAD biased version of Africa Twin. Purpose of this bike is and always been, not an off-road bike but small Touring bike with option to go on gravel and forest roads and that's it. Also, I don't understand why everybody complains about tubed tires, I have a sealant spray in my bike with me all the time. If you have a puncture, just use a spray until you reach a shop where you can change a tube which also I have a spare. Btw. really like your reviews. Greetings from Croatia!
I think they shouldn't have tuned the engine so high in this new version the transalp was never a sports bike but this thing now has 91hp
Exactly
The only reason to have tubed tyres is for serious off roading, so that if the rim gets dented, the tyre doesn’t deflate. The tube adds significant unsprung weight and not everyone wants to fill their rim with sealant gunk to get off the roadside. Tubed rims have zero benefit for this bike’s intended purpose - light road touring. Honda put tubed rims on the Transalp purely because they’re cheaper and because they wanted the spoked rim look. As Ian states in the review - the bottom end of the bike is definitely not suited for serious off-roading. I’d even argue that the 21” wheel is a superfluous on this bike and compromises the road handling - but again it’s there for looks rather than function.
@@MH-xd2nd 100% correct.
It's a sport touring bike, plain and simple. Ian, tell us which you would choose for true ADV riding. Transalp, 800DE, or T7 and let's put this argument to bed. Don't add a bunch of mods the Transalp then tell us how good it is. Put a skid plate and crash bars on it and give us an honest comparison of the three. I want to know the stock bike to stock bike choice for middle weight adventure riding, not touring. I have the 800DE, a touring bike, dirtbike, and dual sport.
That's the plan. The TA ends up more on the road side of things than a T7 due to suspension.
@@BigRockMoto The cool thing about the 3 is it reminds me of the XL, DR, and KLR feud lol. Where we make our choice and shit talk the other two to justify our purchase. lol again.
150 miles on mine and loving it. I bought it for what it is, knowing the things I would need to upgrade like skid plate, crash bars, etc. But I am pleasantly surprised that it's so comfortable, light feeling compared to my 17 AT, and the motor is a character for sure. Not a powerhouse, it likes being run through the revs, but it's a great bike that will be used for 90 percent work commuting and weekend back roads.
I do hate that TC doesn't have a dedicated button or stay off after key off.
To be honest ive test ridden the Honda trans Suzuki 800 cf moto 800 and i still prefer my V-strom 650 for touring
Same here, but add T7 to the list. I'm still not 100% certain I'd be getting a compelling reason to part with the $ over my '17 DR ... 🤷🤷🤭🤭
No bash plate and with that unicorn horn sticking out of the bottom no way is that going to compete with the t7 nice-looking Transportation bike though and some light fire roads or cow Trails but that Underside would drive me crazy😮
My wife has one & I have the Africa Twin. I honestly think if you upgraded the suspension it’d be a much better all rounder for most people. It’s so light in comparison & much more fun to ride.
Great review. Try to somehow bypass the horsepower limitor. It sucks to pay the same price as Europe and get less bike.
Ian, you make the content other creators wish they could make. Never change.
Do you reckon someone is going to make a tune that will "unlock" the missing ponies? Do you think ECU manipulation can change the "forget the setting" for TC and ABS?
Thanks!
I think the "Transalp is boring" crowd wanted a T7 competitor in terms of offroad design/ability. It seems like this bike would be an excellent lightweight touring option filling in the niche between the CB500x and the Africa Twin. The unfortunate reality is that Yamaha doesn't really produce an offroad marketed big adventure bike like the AT or the GS. The supertenere exists but is mostly marketed as a tourer. Yamaha doesn't have to worry about the T7 undercutting the sales of a flagship machine, because there really is no flagship machine to undercut.
However, if Honda made this bike really offroad capable out of the box, they probably wouldn't sell as many Africa Twins. Just like you said when you did the spin turn, you probably wouldn't do things on an Africa Twin that you would be willing to do on this bike. I think that's true for almost everyone except the most competent riders. Big bikes are extremely capable offroad, but it takes more skill to use them offroad. As much as I want a hypothetical 450l Rally from Honda or an XR650 refresh, it'll probably never happen.
Well said. This bike didn’t compete in the market that is thriving in competition. It’s an underwhelming addition to the touring market. Probably great for what it is, but not what the people wanted 👍🏻
I can only hope you are wrong.
It still does not make sense to put tubed tires and no cruise control on a touring bike in 2023. It seems like Honda can not decide who should by an Africa Twin and who should by the Transalp.
I love the real world review, Ian. If I were looking at an adv bike, it would be between that and the VStrom800DE. For me the Vstrom beats the Honda out on a lot of points (suspension, ground clearance, electronics stay set when the bike is turned off, light feeling) except the golden one: weight. Tough call. Would love to see a comparo...🙂
800DE
The roll on pull in 6th gear feels less torquey because it's more overdrive than any bike out there to date because it's overall 6th gear ratio is 4.69 to 1 where the Tuareg is a tad over 6.00 to 1 ratio and your 890 Adventure is 5.17 to 1 ratio in 6th gear, so if you went down one tooth on the front sprocket to a 15 teeth it would be about 16.00 to 1 in 1st gear and close to 5.00 to 1 in 6th gear and the Transalp will have a lower 1st gear and taller 6th gear than the 890 Adventure, that to me is true adventure bike gearing and I see a lot of potential for the Honda to come. I own all of these bikes and I have done my homework with sprocket changes and the this Transalp revs in the motor real good. Great review!
Honda obviously geared the bike towards road riding and low rpm in top gear. As the engine is in a higher tuning state it won't suit a wide ratio gearbox as its not a wide ratio engine. But you can never have it all. Drop a tooth on the front will definitely improve things off road.
Interesting 👍I never would have guessed that there’d be that big of a difference between these bikes. I know gearing makes a difference.
Hey Confidence Inspiring is my catch phrase! 😂😂😂
Really good review, i have a feeling that the Transalp will take all the beating with a smile. I hope you make some comparison to the KTM790/890 S bike.
Great review. I really appreciate how you treat your bike just to inform the viewers. The biggest rival in my opinion is 2023 ktm 790 adventure. It would be nice to hear your thoughts about this comparison.
I was playing with an idea of trading in my Africa twin for this after a short test ride, but I was not sure. Now, this episode was all I needed to drop my last doubts. And I know I am gonna be happier with transalp. I love my Africa Twins engine. I am a bit short and small guy but I have got used to AT weight and size. And I have no problem handeling it. But sure I can not enjoy it that much off-road, you know, because of the lack of my skills. But I can imagine transalp will allow me to get a bit more fun out of the woods. :) Amazing work with all your videos I am watching your reviews a lot and they are one of the best I could find. If not the best. Super excited for transalp series. And I am going to sell my AT right now.... Good times. Better times ahead. :) Thanks!
i used the transalp eu version for 1h and it handles very well.. the hp are more than needed.. but this , even if it has 21inch front wheel, is a touring bike.. not an offroad bike.. in my opinion..
The fact that it doesn't generate a ton of engine heat might just raise it to the top of the list for me. Strong review, a lot of compelling points.
With over 7,000 miles now on my Vstrom 800, I must say so far, your review of the Transalp has not induced TransAlp envy for me. Great review as usual Ian.
I’d 100% take the new V Strom over the Transalp
800 DE every time!
I wish there was a tenere 850/1000 but I don’t think it will ever happen.
The V-strom certainly costs less per pound.
As of right now I think the Suzuki is a much better starting point. As far as I can tell the only thing better on the Honda is the wind protection and mirrors? Those are relatively cheap and easy to fix with aftermarket stuff.
First thing i noticed is how little wind buffeting there is on the original windscreen. I was a little worried about that since i had to pick mine up 400km away from home as they where one of the only one that had one left in the shop at the time in june. Others where more to double the distance. I remember how surprized i was how effortless it is to ride. I only took one break on that trip because i got hungry, Norwegian roads so no super high speeds. I do like that throaty sound. Gives me a smile sometimes hehe. I am averaging 0.38. on mine I agree if you are going to take it offroad. A suspension mod is pretty obvious on allmost all bikes. Stock springs on honda seem a little on the lighter side when it comes to rider weight. Not a huge problem so far. But i am prob going to buy a new shock and cartrigde for the front fork if i keep mine. As i do like suspension modding. Regardless of bikes. My experience with the T7 was beyond dissapointing. And i did not understand the hype at all. It did not feel good in any way. Very top heavy. Suspension platform is not any good. And reading people saying the transalp is not comparable to the T7 in any way. You all are wrong. If you dont believe me. Ride one. I am not saying T7 is garbage. Far from it. It has quality written all over. But out of the box the T7 needs to much mods to become great. When you look at the price on the two and what you actually get.
Lol….Lots of induction noise but the most the speedo increased was 30 mph…No power to top of the rev range.
Besides Ian no one drives like this every day because they will be dead or have no license.
I understand you chugged a Rockstar after having six coffees but your energy seems desperate to sell us on the Transalp (CB750X). My guess is the Suzuki was sold out like it is everywhere and the tax year is coming to an end and all after all.
Dude! I totally love your smack-back-talking intro! I really appreciate your real world perspective.
Steering me towards the v strom with how annoying those electronics are..
The design of that sump is crazy. Might be this bike's achilles heel but it will be interesting to see how things work out with the skid plate.
That ridiculous sump is the cheap way instead of using a semi dry sump like BMW has used with their twin starting with the 650/800 series
BMW is known for reliability too lol
Did you notice any vibrations through the bars and footpegs? I test rode one and the vibrations were awful and I wanted to get off it immediately. I rode to the test ride on my CRF300l and I couldn't wait to get back on it. I'm starting to think I got a dodgy demo bike as the one I rode is the worst bike I've ever ridden
Okay when a review video starts out with him dogging the crap out of it and basically throwing it on its side just to get back on it and dog on it some more is rather satisfying. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us when I say that we are sometimes afraid to get a little rough and heavy with our toys because they are expensive and we don't want them to break. Seeing someone else beat on something harder than we would and seeing it survive is peace of mind in a sense because it tells some of us that we are not near the limits yet. Thank you for this.
I got a T7 earlier this year, loved your reviews on that bike. Now my riding buddy is looking into a Transalp… I hope he gets one! We’re both locked into this test series. Thank you for the quality videos! We live in the Redlands area so we love to ride around Idyllwild and big bear 🤙🏻
Good review, thank you sir. You may have convinced me to replace my old Transalp.
I really love the T7 but it's just annoying how tall they made it and how expensive the accessories are. And if you want the white one, you HAVE to go with the rally edition with a bunch of stuff you don't necessarily want like the even taller seat. I wish they had just gone the Honda way: make all colors available and let people spec as they want...
Good work Ian. An honest review. I left my AT behind and been on my TA for just on 2 weeks now. Yes it has it's faults but overall I'm way too happy with it to let them get me down. I've done SW Motech crash bars and skid plate, Barkbusters and tyres so far sooooo good. Looking forward to Episode 3. Plus we get the full 90HP down here in NZ.
Why get this vs a 500x for all the extra $$? It doesn't look significantly better offroad wise
Brilliant review Ian. Your comments have persuaded me to really consider the Transalp. Engine sounds awesome, I'm glad I'm on Euroland with the more powerful engine.
So it’s a faster CB500X with tubes and larger wheels. Honda purposely made this bike not to compete with their African Twins sales. Gravel road princess 👸…No off road mode, no Bluetooth in North American etc…. Would you not be better off buying a base model African Twin and leaving it stock then buy this (CB750X) and sinking thousands into mods to trying to make it work? Great video buddy even though I’m going with the Suzuki.
Yes!
I’m really looking forward to a comparison against the BMW 900GS (or even the new 800GS). If the price difference is worth it.
Honda blew it! Tubed tires. Why?!? Pain to repair and tire choice is frighteningly limited. Check for yourself. No cruise control. 😢 This is an asphalt biased bike so my gripes are on target. I was ready to consider but not anymore 😢. And I'm a Honda fan boy (7) 😅
That unprotected undercarriage scares the crap out of me. With the gouges and scrapes in my T7s skid plate I can only imagine how many new headers or oil pans I would have needed by now.
Yes, it's the bikes biggest flaw, along with spongy suspension
@@BigRockMotoand that air filter placement!
big rock moto is more a sales channel than anything else, i owned a couple of reviewed bikes and all reviews were overly optimistic and blatantly ignoring well known shortcomings.
There have been so many youtubers reviewing the Transalp right now.
Yours is the only one I know I can fully trust.
Ian, I am new to riding. I just started January 2023 with my 2023 KLX 300. Your reviews are excellent & you never miss a thing. You have answered all the questions I have had thus far In your video series on the Honda Transalp. Thank you for your time & In depth reviews on different machines. To a new rider that helps alot. Especially in my next motorcycle purchase. [Note, cannot believe you dropped a new bike on proupus. Your the motorcycle review bar setter,wow]!
Get a better seat and a windscreen on that bike and you really don't need anything else provided you don't do a lot of highway miles. I upgraded and wasted money several times before realising less is more (and leaves money for better things)
Great review. I don't know about "just" replacing the suspension, etc. I mean that's a F-ing expensive fix to someone looking for an affordable bike.
Ian… really like the content and look forward to the transalp series. I really liked your Suzuki V Strom 800DE videos so much, that I bought one. I get the feeling from this video that you are trying to convince yourself that the Transalp is a great bike, and I think we all do a little bit of that when we make our purchases. For me, I think the stock 800DE has the advantage. Keep up the great content!
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself the 50 lbs extra was worth the extra 1.5k
Real world reviews ! Thank you for a great job once again !
My pleasure!
Thank you for addressing the preload stiff/soft thing. Lots of confusion around how that works. I will say however that increasing preload CAN in some cases help prevent bottoming, although by a fairly small amount. If you are riding higher in the stroke, there is more potential bounce travel available, but this is at the expense of rebound travel. At best, it's a bandaid if used for this purpose. Always appreciate your reviews. Real world experience, not read from a spec sheet.
Near perfect middleweight adventure bike(65 road :35 off ). Tubeless spokes wheels and cruise control will make it perfect . Nice video ♥️♥️♥️
Still riding on my trusty XL600V from 92. Built to last,,this new one looks pretty darn good though :)
I cry tears of blood in memory of my XL600 that I sold in 1997 after 12 delightful years .... I getya!! 😢😢
Great review!
IMO That’s a bike that should have been made without traction control and the ABS should have had a simple designated on/off switch or button. The oil sump and exhaust routing underneath the engine also sucks for the more adventurous riders. Other then that, Honda nailed it IMO.
One of your best videos yet, and that's saying something.
Especially loved the intro 👍
Awesome! Thank you!
Most important feature its that's a HONDA, other bikes might be more "capable" but that wan't help you when they break down or you can't find anyone to work on it when you are in a remote location..