Correction! Horsepower numbers were misquoted in this episode. Peak power for US models is 82.2 @ 8,500 rpm. Read more about the Transalp on Common Tread: rvz.la/480lvqW Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/3uNyMEV
First the I was going buy a Rebel 1100 because it was expected to have 94 hp but then turns out it only 82 hp. Then I want a Transalp expecting it will have 91 hp but it has 82 hp. COME ON HONDA, your killing me here
Low octaine petrol is the reason. In europe is much higher. Turbo charge engines - no problem, natural yes. For example my Subaru BRZ has 180kw at dyno, in US max 165.
Agree, and I'm waiting for and looking forward to every new review coming out. Show me the paper confirming Zack as numero uno, and I'll sign 🙂 There are a few other reviewers I use as a reference to bikes as well, but the daily rides are the ones I'm searching for first !
While watching this episode of Daily Rider once Zack backed it in, I said to my wife, this will be the #1 bike on the leader board. At the end of the episode I turned to my wife and said, That's my next bike. Thanks Zack for an awesome review.
@@MasterOfJackShizz gotta agree! The folks u mentioned have been my go to channels and this was a cherry on top of their reviews. I am going to get this bike before the spring.
I bought this as first motorcycle because of great content from @BigRockMoto and this review just solidified it. Thank you both for helping me choose my first ride!
Well your answer about the CB500x has me concerned. I have little experience (about 2k miles on a 200cc bike). It loves the gravel but struggles over 55mph on the road, although I’ve gotten it up to 70 when I have had to. That being said I was looking to upgrade to a CB500x but then I stumbled upon videos for this 750. It’s only 20lbs heavier and not much higher in the seat. I was gonna pull the trigger. Now I’m wondering if I should instead go back to the 500.
I agree I enjoy Zach's review he speaks to a lot of different people in his reviews. The only thing that I don't like is that he sometimes has me interested in getting a bike that I had no interest before watching! In this bike is one of them
i'm not so sure; his judgements are neither sharp nor strong; he's too OEM-marketing biased for my liking; and as far as price considerations go, since you don't know how or what anyone is budgeting for bikes, just don't bother to include that in your final judgement; let us do the price evaluations. Otoh, he's a swell chap, obviously very nice guy
@@Supernova12034 it's cuting edge compared to similar bikes at this price range. The T7 is pretty much completely barebones in terms of tech and is about $500 more.
I think it funny that Zack should accidently call it an "Africa Twin" at 8:33 , since that has always been the goal of the Transalp. To be the baby Africa Twin.
After owning one since release in the states it is definitely an amazing machine. Here's a few notes from an owners perspective; The stock dunlop tires are deceptively good on pavement but useless off-road. The 21 inch front wheel does not hinder the on road performance as it takes to a line with ease. Air box is in a tricky spot but fuses,ecu and battery are right under the seat. You 100% need a skid plate for off-road duty as the oil pan sticks under like a shark fin. Rear rack is worth its weight in gold. Windscreen is too short for riders 6ft 3 and over such as myself. So far it's been an awesome bike with zero issues, I look forward to many more miles in the saddle.
Interesting that you mention the windshield. I have talked to 3 different people that ride one and are about my height (6ft 2) and I got three different opinions: "definitely get the taller windshield", "standard is completely fine for your height" and "fine but slight turbulence at the top of the helmet" ... so I am still none the wiser :D
@Otto-AutoPilot Rear shock does squat a little bit when pushing it hard but I've thrown it into corners it has no business being on and it's handled nicely. It handles so well as a street bike that I can't justify spending the money for a rear shock upgrade.
@MrPavlyuchenko there's a bit of buffiting at higher speeds towards the top of my helmet but as soon as you crouch down a tiny bit it dissapears and it's quiet as can be.
This might be one of my favorite series on TH-cam. I have learned so much about motorcycles, even ones I have almost no interest in. Zach is a great host and you can tell he loves riding and motorcycles. I just wish I could pop wheelies like him.
Can’t agree more Zac, I’m into my second month of ownership with my white, Aussie spec bike. I’ve had every version of the Transalp, 600,650 and 700. This is by far the best yet and as a short legged person is eminently approachable on all fronts. I just did 100km with my wife on the back, first time with her as a pillion on this one and she loved it. Plenty of comfort, room to move, heaps of power and no issues with height. This will be in my garage for many years. Great review.
I own the 700 Transalp that I bought new 12 years ago and am keen to try the new one. What differences did you notice? I am happy with the power of my Transalp but would like better brakes if the brakes on the new one feel better? I have had a sit on the new one and it feels taller than mine but there is a low seat option I was told.
@@petercreagh8797 I think the main differences are in the way the bike feels. The 700 is very smooth with that understressed V twin. It’s much better at low speed than the new one from the point of view of engine character however the new 750 carries its weight better and is much more stable at walking pace. (Similar to the way the NC750x is so good at slow speeds) The 750 parallel twin is a bit jerky in the power delivery down low whereas the 700 is super smooth. One thing that always bugged me on the 700 was the heat coming from the engine. It would be very uncomfortable around town and at traffic lights on hot days. The 750, no issues at all with heat. I have a low seat ordered but it hasn’t arrived yet and I’m making do with the standard setup. To be honest, it really doesn’t worry me at all but it is a little higher than the old 700 although because it’s quite a narrow seat, it feels about the same to me.
@@xtzoutback What are the brakes like on the new model compared to the old 700? From what you have said as I use my 700 mostly around town as opposed to being a tourer I may not necessarily like the low down power/torque of the 750? I am in Christchurch New Zealand and the fan does not come on that often in busy traffic so that does not bother me
@@petercreagh8797 morning Peter, the brakes are fine on both models, I wouldn’t say either has better brakes, in my experience, both are totally acceptable for the intended use. I used to take my wife on the back of my 700 quite regularly and never had need for more stopping power. I try to ride with plenty of space between me and the next car or bike so I don’t really ride the brakes. One thing I have noticed on the new one is the engine braking is really good and actually means you can reduce braking input quite considerably. To be honest, if your bike is more of an urban commuter, you may as well stick with it. The 750 comes into its own on fast flowing country roads but in town, I think I prefer the 700 or even the 650 for that matter. Envious of living in NZ. When we moved here from Scotland in 2003 a good friend did the same and went to Napier. I think I should have jumped out too. The heat here is not fun.🥵
@@xtzoutback The reason why I perhaps find the brakes lacking is I have a BMWR850R road bike that has incredible brakes in comparison. When I demoed an Africa Twin about 3 years ago I did not find its brakes as good as the BMW. The only reason why I stopped riding the BMW was because of the earthquake we had in Christchurch Feb 2011 and the BMW did not have the suspension travel to handle the earthquake damaged roads that still pot hole today after heavy rain. The council does not have a lot of money for road repair! I am certainly in no rush as I would be content to ride my 700 for another 12 years with the only issue being spare parts availability. I may even look at the BMW 850 or 700 GS if I like their brakes better. I have test ridden a 1200GS but the price and not so good handling around town is not justified. There is the Suzuki and many other brands of adventure bikes to look at too but while I am reasonably tall I would perhaps seek a bike with a lower seat height than my Transalp as I am 65.
There's no excuse for a bike with drive by wire not to have cruise, and its super frustrating. Its literally just adding a feature to the software, you dont even need to add a button, just mapping it in with the existing buttons would be all it needed, drive by wire gives it all the hardware needed for it. I genuinely dont get why some of the more downscale bikes arent coming with it, the additional cost of the extra bit of programming is absolutely negligible in the development cost.
just Honda being Honda I love the reliability of their vehicles but man, they give us such barebones features on their motorcycles and cars compared to other brands.
They did the same with the f6b.even after years of having a cruise on the Goldwyn,tjey released tje f6b with no cruise,just to add it later. Either they are very stupid or very smart,and will come out later with a "premium " pack with cruise
It’s like that with every vehicle, a base model polestar 2 has all equipment for adaptive cruise but it’s paywalled under the pilot package. I wish someone was able to jailbreak all cars to enable these features that are blocked because of software
I agree it's frustrating, my Triumph 850 doesn't get cruise, even as an option, while the 900...essentially the same bike...does. Zack even mentioned it in his review, just a couple lines of code to allow it. I guess they want you to pay thousands of $$$ more for the next level model.
I like that Zack's review is focused on the actual rider experience and not on the specs. Too many keyboard warriors obsess over specs and ignore the overall character of the bike.
I was ready to buy a BMW 800GS, and I sed to give a try to that "one more boring Honda" Transalp, with a "street motor". After half an hour, I find my self todo things like there is no tomorrow. That's it, it is perfect for me, I enjoy it every time, for commuting and weekend trips!
@@Bugoutnow589 the dr650 is cool but it just doesn’t compare to anything else these days. It’s heavy, bad suspension, and a pretty weak engine. It’s a legendary bike but I can’t agree with you calling it the goat.
@@Bugoutnow589 and don’t get me wrong, I love Suzuki and I am thrilled to see them finally trying something new, but the dr650 is a small scale example of how stagnant they have been for the last 15-20 years. Every bike they have made has been behind the competition in some meaningful way and they refused to make any updates to their best sellers.
Zack, This is a home run, both for Honda as an affordable offering in a competitive market, AND for you as an objective, informed, entertaining review rider. Although it's no surprise, by virtue of your years, now, of Daily Rider, it's admirable that you didn't sit on the fence in picking this as the "winner,"and, rather, simply, adeptly qualified your decision with facts. Bravo, my friend. Bravo.
I haven't tried any of it's competitors, I tried the transalp only as a curiosity.. and as you said, I was so surprised! It's way better, and way more, than I was expecting! I'm in love with it!!
It's interesting how polarizing this bike is. Some reviews are super effusive and really seem to love the bike, others are extremely meh. I personally am not surprised Zack loved it and it dominated the Daily Rider leaderboard. It was almost designed to dominate these rankings. People just get hung up that the T7 is supposedly better in the dirt. But who cares? This bike is fine in the dirt and it's a fantastic street bike! Well done Honda.
Yeap. To use an old saying "you can't see the forest for the trees" People get too hung up on fine details and numbers that they'll never really be happy with any bike for a decent amount of time.
As the owner of a mostly road princess Tenere (EU4 exhaust model) - it doesn't matter how good it is in the dirt of most of the miles are on pavement. I'm glad this mid-sized adventure market segment is getting saturated, now everyone can get exactly what they want and not make too many compromises for their money.
This kind of videos show what specs and most articles miss, wich is how a bike feels nad make you feel riding them. Maybe a bike on paper is underwhelming but when you really rude it in different situations it show's you it's real character and how well or not it is set up as a whole
That's what I spent the last ~10 months waiting for. As soon as Honda announced it'd only be available in that disgusting (to me, at least) matte black, I bought a T7 instead.
Another great year of rides. I'd be curious what all the past year leaderboards would look like if they were condensed into one at this point. Maybe an all-time top 10?
Top ten motorcycles Currently available and in no particular order is indian scout 1200 version, harley softail standard, harley street glide, honda transalp, honda africa twin, honda trail 125, honda crf300l and rally version, kawasaki klx300, honda grom, yamaha tenere 700, yamaha mt09sp, kawasaki z900rs, honda cb1000r black edition, Kawasaki H2, suzuki 800de, gs8s. thats ten right there unless i can think of more top ten bikes im forgetting, that are currently available. Sasly harley doesnt gave their cool sportster or it would be on this list of top ten
@@jakewillits4678 Sadly true, I bought one of the last forty-eights earlier this year to hold onto. I think Zack might put bikes like the Multistrada, 1300GS, and of course Versys 650 near the top of the all time daily rider list.
Thanks so much for this video. As someone who was sitting on the fence over the 2024 Honda NX 500 and the Transalp, I purchased the Transalp. I’m in Canada so I won’t get to ride mine until April until the earliest. Until that time I will just have to settle for re watching this video. Thanks for your great reviews.
Zach, curious if this was the easiest bike for you to rank on the daily rider leaderboard? I've watched almost every episode in the series and it looks like your enthusiasm would suggest it was. Thanks for your review! Your video also confirms I made the right decision buying my TA. 👍
I was one of the first here in Seattle to get a new Transalp and been waiting for your review on this buddy! Pleasantly surprised by your review man! Can't believe you ranked it #1!! Keep up the good content and can't wait for the next adventure you and Ari get into!
I figured this would easily be top of the leader board after owning one for 6 months now. It's just so competent, and un-Honda-like in a lot of ways that it's damn near a perfect bike for most people.
Just rode the Transalp at the ABR here in the UK off road. The Honda guys put the bikes in sport mode for off road as it works way better. On that note, what a bike! Really enjoyed it and I can see me buying one
I love your reviews, I really appreciate the way you articulate your thoughts and opinions. I smile through the entire video. Please continue with reviews for years to come. I’m 66 years old and rode for 50 of those years and at the moment don’t really plan on getting a bike but I still love them and enjoy your well balanced and entertaining reviews. Thanks for the memories!
Zak you have nailed this bike. I just finished the 600 mile break in period and can say this is the most comfortable and enjoyable bike I've had in many years. I am always looking forward to the next ride. Excellent ride quality. A little hooligan engine. Too much fun in the corners. Perfect rider triangle, so no need for seat fix or different foot pegs or bar risers. No engine heat. Light weight, Self canceling turn signals. Pretty decent windshield. Affordable. It is a keeper. I also have a nc750x which the transalp is replacing. Why? The suspension on anything but a smooth road is just not very good. I like to sit upright and even with bar risers there is too much forward lean. Also even with lowered foot pegs they are too high and back for my taste. Finally even with a shimmed up Seat Concept seat there is too much forward slope. Miss the frunk though!
My dad just bought one of these and he totally loves it. It’s a great little modern bike - light, zippy, super planted. My brother has the AT and this is so much more approachable. It makes my 80s Super Tenere feel like a dinosaur.
I cant try before buying. Since I dont care about cruise control Im trying to talk myself into this even though its ugly to me. Trying to not spend multistrada money even though I could an coming from a 1600b and 1250gs wanting lighter. ❤
My 2000 Transalp still starts every first try, only thing i ever had to replace are the front suspension bearings. Good to know it has a capable reliable successor for when i finally have to replace it in another 20 years😁 💪Just a frugal Dutchie.
Great review Zack. Fully agree with your rant about lack of cruise control. I too don’t understand why when you already have fly by wire throttle and such that they can’t add it in. Seriously, how much would it really add to the cost? To Honda’s defence, it’s not the only manufacturer that keeps missing that boat. Otherwise, looked like a nice, fun bike.
Honda did put it on the Rebel 1100, which is actually a bit cheaper than this bike (US pricing). Also, the 2024 MT-09 base model will have it at near the same price. Hopefully this is the beginning of the dam breaking, so that in the near future CC will be a standard feature on all throttle-by-wire bikes.
I agree 100%. After having CC on my RT's I realized how great it is. It gives your right hand/wrist a rest. It kept me from having the speed creep up!! It allowed me to keep my eyes on the road more. When you are doing 1000 km days it becomes a must have feature.
I’m considering it as a first bike as well. I’m in Texas and the roads are dangerous due to high speed limits. How are you liking it? May I ask your height? I’m 6’7”.
Great bike it being a XL and knowing Hondas past models well hoping an XR version comes out soon!!!!!! Thanks Zach and Revzilla Daily Rider is a great resource of information!
@@KalJoao yes! Loving it more and more with all the riding done so far. I am trying to get the tires done so I can replace them with something that maybe a bit more 60-40 off road. Otherwise the bike has excellent power delivery and fun to ride.
What a fun video to watch as you obviously were having so much fun on that bike. Thank you for giving such a thorough and consistent review of all these bikes. And for making want to get back in the saddle. Merry Christmas and a safe new year.
As a owner of a CB500F and a NC700X, not to mention a lover of parallel twins, I was very interested in this bike. As someone who mainly rides day to day, the drop from 60mpg to 45mpg hurts the wallet a little but I guess if you’re comparing it to a truck then 45 is fantastic, mainly I hate to lose the fuel range that a higher mpg would offer. Personally my biggest “pass” on this one is the spoked wheels with tube tires and the 21” front wheel. I’ve ridden a lot of bikes with a 90/90-21 and I’ve never felt great in corners with so little front contact, and I hate having tubes in my tires cause then I can’t plug a tire and get back on the road. If they made this bike with a 19” front and mag wheels, I would strongly consider it at that point. However, the NC700/750X would have to not exist for me to pull that trigger still.
Have owned multiple 21 Front 18 rear bikes and have kept up with most in the corners/mountains... (although I do think the 19/17 is the sweet spot) - Also have yet to have a flat on tubed tires so not something I would worry about.
@@NorCalSaint I've ridden most of the bikes available with 21" fronts and maybe it's just me but haven't found the traction to be confidence inspiring. And I know many people that have never had a flat but I seem to be very good at finding sharp objects with my tires and I much prefer a plug to having to swap out a tube on the side of the road. I actually had one tire punctured by auto glass, plugged that, still had a leak so changed the tire, and found 3 finishing nails in it that I couldn't see from the outside.
The NC750x needs to be $7,500. It's much cheaper than the Transalp in the UK. The Transalp is an easy decision at only $500 more than the NC in the US.
Zack you do great work, this review is ending the season on a high note. All the reviews are great but you seemed to be having an absolute blast on this Honda. Over the years this series has stayed true to the target, this bike my be better for this, another bike may be faster, but what is the top daily rider. Bikes are small, own a few and always have a solid daily rider in the bunch.
I definitely enjoyed how much you enjoyed the Transalp, so thanks for the wonderful vicarious experience! Hopefully some day Honda will also share that engine with its US customers in the form of a Hornet. Loving my GSX 8S though but have to admit I'm a bit jealous of the Transalp/Hornet exhaust note.
@@chrishart8548 The 500X looks nice but are pretty boring to ride, you have to wring the neck out of it to get going. 500X=196kg, Transalp=208kg, so not much of a difference. 500X is much better on fuel, no doubt.
As a CB500X rider, I'm trying hard to NOT give a Transalp a whirl 😂 I know, with certainty, that once I ride a Transalp I'll have to sell my CB500X ASAP! I need to get a few more years use out of my 2022 CB500X, so every time I see someone riding a Transalp I'm going to keep my distance :-)
@torbenjensen6236 I was riding a Kawasaki Z900abs, but decide to give the CB500X a chance. My daily commute is 120km and I have to ride through all sort of terrains. I thought that CB500X would offer a boring but competent experience......but to my surprise the little bike is good fun. 😂
@@Blinducho Yes! it's the perfect commuter bike that also competently tackles touring and ADV stuff too. Like you said, despite its modest specs it's a fun bike because its balance is so nice in corners and it's so easy to ride. I have zero regrets buying a CB500X, but I will buy a Transalp (or something similar) within the next 3 years or so as a little more power, ground clearance, and suspension travel would be so nice to have and the Transalp seems to hit that sweet spot for my needs
P.s.- wow! You surprised me with placing this bike at the top of the list! I didn’t see THAT coming! Good on ya- decisive pre- wrap up ( Holiday pun?) to a great 2023 season of rides! Well played Sir! Take care!
Hell yeah, I absolutely loved this bike and I'm strongly considering trading my KTM 790 Adventure in for one!!! Just tryin' to hold out for a Rally model eventually. Crazy that yourself, Kyle Bradshaw and I all released a TransAlp video on the same morning, heh! I totally agree with your Daily Rider assessment, and that crackle!
@@mckerrowcity my only issue with KTM ownership have been trying to find a dealership worth a damn to do valve service maintenance. 4 of 5 dealers in South Florida have left my bike in worse shape than what I brought it to them in.
We have a new #1 DR!! I recently sold my 20' AT manual which was the best ADV bike I've owned, it was just too big for my needs, I tried the 500x, great bike but just too much of a step down from the AT, this one should hit the sweet spot for me, thanks Zack/Revzilla for another great review, I'll be buying soon!!
As a person who has never had or used cruise control, am I really missing out that much? I daily commute on the highway about 26 miles (110 fwy Pasadena, to 105 fwy LAX).
Cruise control and quick shifters are both things you don't need but really like once you have used them. I suffer from bad wrists and its great for giving your throttle hand a rest without slowing down or having to pull over and stop. I wouldn't go as far as to add them to my motorcycles that don't have either but are desirable options on future purchases. You cant miss what you never had though.
@@kingkire1556I try to keep myself away from such things because I think it will limit my choice of bikes. It sounds silly but the other month I had to drive a car without a reversing camera and I was shaken by how used I’ve gotten to that technology the past few years. I’ll stay with the manual shifts and the cramp buster for the motorbike for now.
Zack I didn’t hear you say anything about gearing but I guess when you mentioned about how it was at cruising on the highway as smooth city and it could absolutely do it all day at years on end pretty much covered that I suppose and that is also what I found so wonderful about this bike able to do everything anywhere quite well so much that my Tuareg 660 has been collecting dust and these are the factors I bought the Transalp 750 and agree with you completely on the review. Oh I did buy the KAOKO throttle stabilizer for a cruise control alternative that RevZilla sells on your website and works pretty darn good. But dang Honda no cruise control. Love the review Zack and I knew this Transalp 750 would be the RevZilla number one Daily Rider for 2023!
I wish they made the XL700V version too from back in the day. Those Honda v twin engines had so much character and a wonderful sound. Just something about a 52° Japanese V Twin that makes me happy. Miss them. 😢
Very nearly the perfect bike in my eyes. Add cruise control, remote preload, and tubeless tires. Funnily enough they used the 500X/F headlight assembly in this brand new bike, but next year the NX500 replaces the CB500X with a new stacked headlight design. Maybe the Transalp will get it in a quick refresh (along with CC)... it's hard to tell these days when vehicle features seem more about part availability than anything.
@@ws8080 The TFT display and headlight refresh are the main ones. I'm not sure what else is to be expected of it as Honda will probably keep refining that engine for a while yet and not change much. I'd like to see the suspension upgraded more than anything.
The cruise control omission is egregious by itself, but the real trans(pun)gression is Honda deciding that the American market wouldn't want the signature white/blue/red color scheme. I so badly wanted the Transalp upon announcement, but even for all its merits, I can't ignore those two things.
Like the Africa Twin, you will probably get a different paint scheme next year. It’s annoying, but it’s part of the for the course with Honda to only offer limited paint schemes for the first year.
I’ve watched probably 25 plus reviews on the trans alp and the common observations are; it’s a great bike with a great engine and comfortable seating position. It could do with a higher windscreen at high speeds for taller riders (an option cost about £450) and could do with cruise control (not available as an option but some other after market options are available). I think someone buying one of these new wouldn’t have an issue paying for cruise control if it was available from the dealer so not sure what Honda were thinking there. Interesting observation on the TFT screen - as most buyers are that bit older manufacturers should give consideration to bigger screens!
I got a test ride on 2023 model. My daily is CB500X, Transalp is obviously stronger and more capable but it didn't impress me to the point I wanted to have it. It felt more like bigger 500 than smaller Africa Twin (which I also tested) and maybe that was too similar. On that day at Honda's dealer I also tested Hornet 750 and Rebel 1100 and these two were mroe fun so maybe I'm just looking for something entirely different to what I'm already having than an upgrade. We will see with next bike I guess. On that note, I hope we will see Hypermotard Mono on the Daily Rider in 2024!
Could be worth giving the 8s Suzuki a try it's not huge horsepower but it has a real kick of torque down low that beats most of the competition off the line. And it's not to heavy because its not an adventure bike
2014 VStrom 1000 rider. I won't buy a road bike with tubed tires. I want a middle weight ADV bike with tubeless tires/wheels. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki... cricket noises. Triumph, KTM, BMW, Ducati, Aprilia... Over here! Bring money. And keep it coming.
Great video as always Zack! If Honda was charging an extra $1000-$1,500 and gave me the same bike with tubeless tires and cruise control, I would buy it all day long. 🙂
I agree, but no bike is perfect. I can overlook tubed wheels and CC is just a "nice to have" feature for me, rather than a must have. If I hadn't bought a 2022 CB500X recently, I would buy a Transalp right now. But for now I'm going to enjoy my CB500X, improve my off pavement riding skills on it, then get a Transalp in a few years from now. Or maybe a V-Strom 800DE, if Suzuki puts it on a weight loss program :-)
I just want a mid range adv with factory cruise and heated grips, road biased 17 inch wheels. When will the trendiness of 21 inch fronts give way to how most people use their bikes?
i totally agree with most of your opinions here. however vstrom comes with a quickshifter, usb port, handguards and engineguard (last 2 are plastic cheapos but still, they're there.) also i heard lots of complaints about transalp's gravel mode. i think when those elements come into play it makes vstrom a better bang for your buck. or maybe head to head with the transalp. great review sir!
Very surprised he didn't even mention the tubed tires on the transalp. The street version vstrom is going to be way better. It will be 10,500 with tubeless tires and rear luggage.
Man, thats high praise for the transalp. From your various videos, I've come to realize I have similar taste to you. SV650 and NC750 are by fav daily riders. I'd be tempted to move to transalp in the future, mainly because NC doesn't feel as playful on the daily.
Definitely agree about the headlight! I LOVE the look of the dual headlights on the Africa Twin and feel that something like that would fit a lot better than the more sporty looking headlight the Transalp has now. Coming from a CB500x owner I am heavily considering this as my next motorcycle. I loved the first question and your answer to it. The CB500x is fantastic but I find myself wanting more potential all around.
Correction! Horsepower numbers were misquoted in this episode. Peak power for US models is 82.2 @ 8,500 rpm.
Read more about the Transalp on Common Tread: rvz.la/480lvqW
Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/3uNyMEV
How did Honda lose 9hp compared to the Euro version? Or are you quoting a rwhp from a dyno?
That’s weird, 9hp down on the bike you get in the UK. WTF
I thought American horses were bred for more torque, but it seems they have more power.
First the I was going buy a Rebel 1100 because it was expected to have 94 hp but then turns out it only 82 hp. Then I want a Transalp expecting it will have 91 hp but it has 82 hp. COME ON HONDA, your killing me here
Low octaine petrol is the reason. In europe is much higher. Turbo charge engines - no problem, natural yes. For example my Subaru BRZ has 180kw at dyno, in US max 165.
THE ABSOLUTE BEST REVIEWER IN THE INDUSTRY.
👍 TO MAKE SURE REVZILLA KNOWS.
Period.
Yes
Agree, and I'm waiting for and looking forward to every new review coming out. Show me the paper confirming Zack as numero uno, and I'll sign 🙂 There are a few other reviewers I use as a reference to bikes as well, but the daily rides are the ones I'm searching for first !
While watching this episode of Daily Rider once Zack backed it in, I said to my wife, this will be the #1 bike on the leader board.
At the end of the episode I turned to my wife and said, That's my next bike. Thanks Zack for an awesome review.
Do you have it? Do you love it? Im trying to talk myself into it over the AT or 800DE for my commutes!
@@KalJoaofrom what I’ve heard people sing the praises of the 800DE much more than the AT.
It’s my next, as soon as I can trade this BMW. This is a lot simpler and cheaper.
I knew you'd like it! It has definitely exceeded my expectations as well.
Between this review, you and Dork in the Road, this will be my next bike. Seeing everyone's expectations exceeded has been so refreshing.
@@MasterOfJackShizz gotta agree! The folks u mentioned have been my go to channels and this was a cherry on top of their reviews. I am going to get this bike before the spring.
I bought this as first motorcycle because of great content from @BigRockMoto and this review just solidified it. Thank you both for helping me choose my first ride!
Well your answer about the CB500x has me concerned.
I have little experience (about 2k miles on a 200cc bike). It loves the gravel but struggles over 55mph on the road, although I’ve gotten it up to 70 when I have had to.
That being said I was looking to upgrade to a CB500x but then I stumbled upon videos for this 750. It’s only 20lbs heavier and not much higher in the seat. I was gonna pull the trigger. Now I’m wondering if I should instead go back to the 500.
Your videos on this bike are brilliant 👌🏻
Zach is the best bike reviewer in the game! Thanks Zach 👍🏼
He's good, but Big Rock Moto can't be beat.
Zach is more entertainer and Big Rock is more informative I watch both of them. 😅😅 @@alozborne
I agree I enjoy Zach's review he speaks to a lot of different people in his reviews. The only thing that I don't like is that he sometimes has me interested in getting a bike that I had no interest before watching! In this bike is one of them
i'm not so sure; his judgements are neither sharp nor strong; he's too OEM-marketing biased for my liking; and as far as price considerations go, since you don't know how or what anyone is budgeting for bikes, just don't bother to include that in your final judgement; let us do the price evaluations. Otoh, he's a swell chap, obviously very nice guy
Zach is a really good reviewer. One of the best out there. USA , Europe, Australia or anywhere else.
Gotta hand it to the Japanese bike manufacturers! Cutting edge tech, great prices, broad market reach! Great review, Zach!
Cutting edge 😂
This tech is all old for the most part. What's cutting edge? Must have missed it.
Wat
Relax guys, hes a harley guy, he thinks fuel injection and abs is cutting edge
@@Supernova12034 it's cuting edge compared to similar bikes at this price range. The T7 is pretty much completely barebones in terms of tech and is about $500 more.
I’m 6’1” and have had my 2024 Transalp for about a month now and love it.
What's your weight? I'm 6ft 1 as well. Sitting right around 255-260lbs. Just curious if it would be okay for my weight
@@codykeegan1848 200lbs here, but I would think you’d be fine. Just my .02.
My headline: "Honda Transalp: Surprisingly Un-Honda in every exciting way, and Honda in every way it should be." Great video.
I think it funny that Zack should accidently call it an "Africa Twin" at 8:33 , since that has always been the goal of the Transalp. To be the baby Africa Twin.
@@confuzionn4843 I enjoyed the "Halfrika Twin" comment in the beginning
After owning one since release in the states it is definitely an amazing machine.
Here's a few notes from an owners perspective;
The stock dunlop tires are deceptively good on pavement but useless off-road.
The 21 inch front wheel does not hinder the on road performance as it takes to a line with ease.
Air box is in a tricky spot but fuses,ecu and battery are right under the seat.
You 100% need a skid plate for off-road duty as the oil pan sticks under like a shark fin.
Rear rack is worth its weight in gold.
Windscreen is too short for riders 6ft 3 and over such as myself.
So far it's been an awesome bike with zero issues, I look forward to many more miles in the saddle.
Some report the rear shock is not up to the job - how do you find the ride and handling?
Interesting that you mention the windshield. I have talked to 3 different people that ride one and are about my height (6ft 2) and I got three different opinions: "definitely get the taller windshield", "standard is completely fine for your height" and "fine but slight turbulence at the top of the helmet" ... so I am still none the wiser :D
Dunlop OEM tyres are always garbage tbh. The second the surface isn’t pristine dry tarmac they be dancing.
@Otto-AutoPilot Rear shock does squat a little bit when pushing it hard but I've thrown it into corners it has no business being on and it's handled nicely. It handles so well as a street bike that I can't justify spending the money for a rear shock upgrade.
@MrPavlyuchenko there's a bit of buffiting at higher speeds towards the top of my helmet but as soon as you crouch down a tiny bit it dissapears and it's quiet as can be.
This might be one of my favorite series on TH-cam. I have learned so much about motorcycles, even ones I have almost no interest in. Zach is a great host and you can tell he loves riding and motorcycles. I just wish I could pop wheelies like him.
Can’t agree more Zac, I’m into my second month of ownership with my white, Aussie spec bike. I’ve had every version of the Transalp, 600,650 and 700. This is by far the best yet and as a short legged person is eminently approachable on all fronts. I just did 100km with my wife on the back, first time with her as a pillion on this one and she loved it. Plenty of comfort, room to move, heaps of power and no issues with height. This will be in my garage for many years. Great review.
I own the 700 Transalp that I bought new 12 years ago and am keen to try the new one. What differences did you notice? I am happy with the power of my Transalp but would like better brakes if the brakes on the new one feel better? I have had a sit on the new one and it feels taller than mine but there is a low seat option I was told.
@@petercreagh8797 I think the main differences are in the way the bike feels. The 700 is very smooth with that understressed V twin. It’s much better at low speed than the new one from the point of view of engine character however the new 750 carries its weight better and is much more stable at walking pace. (Similar to the way the NC750x is so good at slow speeds) The 750 parallel twin is a bit jerky in the power delivery down low whereas the 700 is super smooth. One thing that always bugged me on the 700 was the heat coming from the engine. It would be very uncomfortable around town and at traffic lights on hot days. The 750, no issues at all with heat.
I have a low seat ordered but it hasn’t arrived yet and I’m making do with the standard setup. To be honest, it really doesn’t worry me at all but it is a little higher than the old 700 although because it’s quite a narrow seat, it feels about the same to me.
@@xtzoutback What are the brakes like on the new model compared to the old 700? From what you have said as I use my 700 mostly around town as opposed to being a tourer I may not necessarily like the low down power/torque of the 750? I am in Christchurch New Zealand and the fan does not come on that often in busy traffic so that does not bother me
@@petercreagh8797 morning Peter, the brakes are fine on both models, I wouldn’t say either has better brakes, in my experience, both are totally acceptable for the intended use. I used to take my wife on the back of my 700 quite regularly and never had need for more stopping power. I try to ride with plenty of space between me and the next car or bike so I don’t really ride the brakes. One thing I have noticed on the new one is the engine braking is really good and actually means you can reduce braking input quite considerably. To be honest, if your bike is more of an urban commuter, you may as well stick with it. The 750 comes into its own on fast flowing country roads but in town, I think I prefer the 700 or even the 650 for that matter. Envious of living in NZ. When we moved here from Scotland in 2003 a good friend did the same and went to Napier. I think I should have jumped out too. The heat here is not fun.🥵
@@xtzoutback The reason why I perhaps find the brakes lacking is I have a BMWR850R road bike that has incredible brakes in comparison. When I demoed an Africa Twin about 3 years ago I did not find its brakes as good as the BMW. The only reason why I stopped riding the BMW was because of the earthquake we had in Christchurch Feb 2011 and the BMW did not have the suspension travel to handle the earthquake damaged roads that still pot hole today after heavy rain. The council does not have a lot of money for road repair! I am certainly in no rush as I would be content to ride my 700 for another 12 years with the only issue being spare parts availability. I may even look at the BMW 850 or 700 GS if I like their brakes better. I have test ridden a 1200GS but the price and not so good handling around town is not justified. There is the Suzuki and many other brands of adventure bikes to look at too but while I am reasonably tall I would perhaps seek a bike with a lower seat height than my Transalp as I am 65.
There's no excuse for a bike with drive by wire not to have cruise, and its super frustrating. Its literally just adding a feature to the software, you dont even need to add a button, just mapping it in with the existing buttons would be all it needed, drive by wire gives it all the hardware needed for it. I genuinely dont get why some of the more downscale bikes arent coming with it, the additional cost of the extra bit of programming is absolutely negligible in the development cost.
just Honda being Honda
I love the reliability of their vehicles but man, they give us such barebones features on their motorcycles and cars compared to other brands.
Kind of today trends subscription pay to use
They did the same with the f6b.even after years of having a cruise on the Goldwyn,tjey released tje f6b with no cruise,just to add it later. Either they are very stupid or very smart,and will come out later with a "premium " pack with cruise
It’s like that with every vehicle, a base model polestar 2 has all equipment for adaptive cruise but it’s paywalled under the pilot package. I wish someone was able to jailbreak all cars to enable these features that are blocked because of software
I agree it's frustrating, my Triumph 850 doesn't get cruise, even as an option, while the 900...essentially the same bike...does. Zack even mentioned it in his review, just a couple lines of code to allow it. I guess they want you to pay thousands of $$$ more for the next level model.
I like that Zack's review is focused on the actual rider experience and not on the specs. Too many keyboard warriors obsess over specs and ignore the overall character of the bike.
You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
I was ready to buy a BMW 800GS, and I sed to give a try to that "one more boring Honda" Transalp, with a "street motor". After half an hour, I find my self todo things like there is no tomorrow. That's it, it is perfect for me, I enjoy it every time, for commuting and weekend trips!
Did you snag one? Im having the same dillema at what to grab for my next bike.
@KalJoao , yes and I am very happy. I chose it because it is light, fast, comfortable, easy to ride, low consumption, and low maintenance.
@@nickosbagios all great things!!!
I thought Suzuki was going to sweep the podium this year but here comes Honda with a photo finish!
Suzuki is better imo. Power and tork curve are at lower rpm compared to honda
Photo finish in second as it were.
I'm still thinking the 800DE is the king of this class of bike. After all these years though the DR650 is still the G.O.A.T of motorcycles.
@@Bugoutnow589 the dr650 is cool but it just doesn’t compare to anything else these days. It’s heavy, bad suspension, and a pretty weak engine. It’s a legendary bike but I can’t agree with you calling it the goat.
@@Bugoutnow589 and don’t get me wrong, I love Suzuki and I am thrilled to see them finally trying something new, but the dr650 is a small scale example of how stagnant they have been for the last 15-20 years. Every bike they have made has been behind the competition in some meaningful way and they refused to make any updates to their best sellers.
Zack, This is a home run, both for Honda as an affordable offering in a competitive market, AND for you as an objective, informed, entertaining review rider. Although it's no surprise, by virtue of your years, now, of Daily Rider, it's admirable that you didn't sit on the fence in picking this as the "winner,"and, rather, simply, adeptly qualified your decision with facts. Bravo, my friend. Bravo.
It's always good to get Zach's thoughts. There are so many Johnny Come Lately reviews out there, appreciate hearing from an experienced motorcyclist.
I haven't tried any of it's competitors, I tried the transalp only as a curiosity.. and as you said, I was so surprised! It's way better, and way more, than I was expecting! I'm in love with it!!
It's interesting how polarizing this bike is. Some reviews are super effusive and really seem to love the bike, others are extremely meh. I personally am not surprised Zack loved it and it dominated the Daily Rider leaderboard. It was almost designed to dominate these rankings. People just get hung up that the T7 is supposedly better in the dirt. But who cares? This bike is fine in the dirt and it's a fantastic street bike! Well done Honda.
Yeap. To use an old saying "you can't see the forest for the trees" People get too hung up on fine details and numbers that they'll never really be happy with any bike for a decent amount of time.
As the owner of a mostly road princess Tenere (EU4 exhaust model) - it doesn't matter how good it is in the dirt of most of the miles are on pavement. I'm glad this mid-sized adventure market segment is getting saturated, now everyone can get exactly what they want and not make too many compromises for their money.
You are excellent at your work because you make it easy to understand comparisons between bikes and your fun to listen to!
This kind of videos show what specs and most articles miss, wich is how a bike feels nad make you feel riding them. Maybe a bike on paper is underwhelming but when you really rude it in different situations it show's you it's real character and how well or not it is set up as a whole
I bought my xl750 in the beginning of October . Your review validates everything I've said about it. Badass machine Honda did good 👍
Watching my Bro, Zack swooning over this bike makes me very interested in the Transalp
Would have liked to see it in the HRC red/wh/blue colours. A blast from the past.
It is in UK
We have it in Singapore
That's what I spent the last ~10 months waiting for. As soon as Honda announced it'd only be available in that disgusting (to me, at least) matte black, I bought a T7 instead.
@@SteveUTubesucks there's always wraps
yup...blandsville
Another great year of rides. I'd be curious what all the past year leaderboards would look like if they were condensed into one at this point. Maybe an all-time top 10?
That'd be awesome.
Top ten motorcycles Currently available and in no particular order is indian scout 1200 version, harley softail standard, harley street glide, honda transalp, honda africa twin, honda trail 125, honda crf300l and rally version, kawasaki klx300, honda grom, yamaha tenere 700, yamaha mt09sp, kawasaki z900rs, honda cb1000r black edition, Kawasaki H2, suzuki 800de, gs8s. thats ten right there unless i can think of more top ten bikes im forgetting, that are currently available. Sasly harley doesnt gave their cool sportster or it would be on this list of top ten
@@jakewillits4678 Sadly true, I bought one of the last forty-eights earlier this year to hold onto. I think Zack might put bikes like the Multistrada, 1300GS, and of course Versys 650 near the top of the all time daily rider list.
Thanks so much for this video. As someone who was sitting on the fence over the 2024 Honda NX 500 and the Transalp, I purchased the Transalp. I’m in Canada so I won’t get to ride mine until April until the earliest. Until that time I will just have to settle for re watching this video. Thanks for your great reviews.
Zach, curious if this was the easiest bike for you to rank on the daily rider leaderboard? I've watched almost every episode in the series and it looks like your enthusiasm would suggest it was. Thanks for your review! Your video also confirms I made the right decision buying my TA. 👍
I saw more than enthusiasm in his eyes!
I was one of the first here in Seattle to get a new Transalp and been waiting for your review on this buddy! Pleasantly surprised by your review man! Can't believe you ranked it #1!! Keep up the good content and can't wait for the next adventure you and Ari get into!
I figured this would easily be top of the leader board after owning one for 6 months now. It's just so competent, and un-Honda-like in a lot of ways that it's damn near a perfect bike for most people.
Just rode the Transalp at the ABR here in the UK off road. The Honda guys put the bikes in sport mode for off road as it works way better.
On that note, what a bike! Really enjoyed it and I can see me buying one
I love your reviews, I really appreciate the way you articulate your thoughts and opinions. I smile through the entire video. Please continue with reviews for years to come. I’m 66 years old and rode for 50 of those years and at the moment don’t really plan on getting a bike but I still love them and enjoy your well balanced and entertaining reviews. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks to the editors for leaving in some of the interesting bits we also love at the end. Appreciate it
Finally, Honda made a top of the line Not boring but capable bike...well done Honda 🎉
Zak you have nailed this bike. I just finished the 600 mile break in period and can say this is the most comfortable and enjoyable bike I've had in many years. I am always looking forward to the next ride. Excellent ride quality. A little hooligan engine. Too much fun in the corners. Perfect rider triangle, so no need for seat fix or different foot pegs or bar risers. No engine heat. Light weight, Self canceling turn signals. Pretty decent windshield. Affordable. It is a keeper. I also have a nc750x which the transalp is replacing. Why? The suspension on anything but a smooth road is just not very good. I like to sit upright and even with bar risers there is too much forward lean. Also even with lowered foot pegs they are too high and back for my taste. Finally even with a shimmed up Seat Concept seat there is too much forward slope. Miss the frunk though!
Thanks for this! I’m on the fence for these two bikes.
My dad just bought one of these and he totally loves it. It’s a great little modern bike - light, zippy, super planted. My brother has the AT and this is so much more approachable.
It makes my 80s Super Tenere feel like a dinosaur.
I cant try before buying. Since I dont care about cruise control Im trying to talk myself into this even though its ugly to me. Trying to not spend multistrada money even though I could an coming from a 1600b and 1250gs wanting lighter. ❤
@@KalJoao It’s a wonderful bike. I’ve never sat on a bike before and right away first time felt comfy and great. Just a delight.
A great episode and a great daily rider. Isn’t it great when a bike hits that sweet spot, but isn’t it even better when it comes as a surprise.
My 2000 Transalp still starts every first try, only thing i ever had to replace are the front suspension bearings.
Good to know it has a capable reliable successor for when i finally have to replace it in another 20 years😁
💪Just a frugal Dutchie.
Great review Zack.
Fully agree with your rant about lack of cruise control. I too don’t understand why when you already have fly by wire throttle and such that they can’t add it in. Seriously, how much would it really add to the cost? To Honda’s defence, it’s not the only manufacturer that keeps missing that boat.
Otherwise, looked like a nice, fun bike.
they'll put it for sure when it gets updated, what I hope tho is they also sell it as a software update for the 2023/24 models.
Honda did put it on the Rebel 1100, which is actually a bit cheaper than this bike (US pricing). Also, the 2024 MT-09 base model will have it at near the same price. Hopefully this is the beginning of the dam breaking, so that in the near future CC will be a standard feature on all throttle-by-wire bikes.
Maybe it's just me, but I would much rather have cruise control instead of a quick shifter. Assuming you can only have one or the other due to cost.
Deal breaker for me. Once you've had it you will always want it.
I agree 100%. After having CC on my RT's I realized how great it is. It gives your right hand/wrist a rest. It kept me from having the speed creep up!! It allowed me to keep my eyes on the road more. When you are doing 1000 km days it becomes a must have feature.
Always super pleased to see a daily rider video on my feed! Keep it going!❤
Greetings from Germany!! I love this BlackBike so much...92HP...Red Crashbars and a Black engine protection..
I got this as my very first bike in November and it’s awesome!
I’m considering it as a first bike as well. I’m in Texas and the roads are dangerous due to high speed limits. How are you liking it? May I ask your height? I’m 6’7”.
Zack knocks it out of the park again with a real world review the go to guide for any of the bikes we riders may be considering as a next bike
Great bike it being a XL and knowing Hondas past models well hoping an XR version comes out soon!!!!!!
Thanks Zach and Revzilla Daily Rider is a great resource of information!
Great stuff. Glad I found your channel after 2 months looking at transalp videos.
Great review. I bought it a few weeks ago and right now prepping it for the spring. Thank you for the awesome video!!
Still loving it? Cant decide btw this or AT or 800de since I cant find any to try or rent first, ugh.
@@KalJoao yes! Loving it more and more with all the riding done so far. I am trying to get the tires done so I can replace them with something that maybe a bit more 60-40 off road. Otherwise the bike has excellent power delivery and fun to ride.
It was fun to watch this seeing how much Zack liked the bike on the ride then get to the leaderboard with an idea of what was coming.
Never thought I'd see the day where a Honda would top the leaderboard. And boy is it a good day.
Really enjoy your reviews.
Merry Christmas from Sydney,Australia.
What a fun video to watch as you obviously were having so much fun on that bike. Thank you for giving such a thorough and consistent review of all these bikes. And for making want to get back in the saddle. Merry Christmas and a safe new year.
As a owner of a CB500F and a NC700X, not to mention a lover of parallel twins, I was very interested in this bike. As someone who mainly rides day to day, the drop from 60mpg to 45mpg hurts the wallet a little but I guess if you’re comparing it to a truck then 45 is fantastic, mainly I hate to lose the fuel range that a higher mpg would offer. Personally my biggest “pass” on this one is the spoked wheels with tube tires and the 21” front wheel. I’ve ridden a lot of bikes with a 90/90-21 and I’ve never felt great in corners with so little front contact, and I hate having tubes in my tires cause then I can’t plug a tire and get back on the road. If they made this bike with a 19” front and mag wheels, I would strongly consider it at that point. However, the NC700/750X would have to not exist for me to pull that trigger still.
Have owned multiple 21 Front 18 rear bikes and have kept up with most in the corners/mountains... (although I do think the 19/17 is the sweet spot) - Also have yet to have a flat on tubed tires so not something I would worry about.
@@NorCalSaint I've ridden most of the bikes available with 21" fronts and maybe it's just me but haven't found the traction to be confidence inspiring. And I know many people that have never had a flat but I seem to be very good at finding sharp objects with my tires and I much prefer a plug to having to swap out a tube on the side of the road. I actually had one tire punctured by auto glass, plugged that, still had a leak so changed the tire, and found 3 finishing nails in it that I couldn't see from the outside.
The NC750x needs to be $7,500. It's much cheaper than the Transalp in the UK. The Transalp is an easy decision at only $500 more than the NC in the US.
For me the DCT, frunk, low consumption and tubeless make the NC750X the better choice too..
These daily rides says so much about the bikes Zack is riding, and is in my opinion in many ways the best review of the bikes available ! Thanks ! 🙂
As the owner of a Versys 300 as my first bike, this bike looks prefect for my intermediate bike
The best motorcycle reviews, past and present.
Zack, you would be a hilariously good motorcycle salesman.
Zack you do great work, this review is ending the season on a high note. All the reviews are great but you seemed to be having an absolute blast on this Honda. Over the years this series has stayed true to the target, this bike my be better for this, another bike may be faster, but what is the top daily rider. Bikes are small, own a few and always have a solid daily rider in the bunch.
I definitely enjoyed how much you enjoyed the Transalp, so thanks for the wonderful vicarious experience! Hopefully some day Honda will also share that engine with its US customers in the form of a Hornet. Loving my GSX 8S though but have to admit I'm a bit jealous of the Transalp/Hornet exhaust note.
I love mine. I’m an old guy, 74, but this bike brings me joy.
As a happy CB500X owner I might just give the Transalp a whirl thanks to this review.
The transalp seems a lot bigger and heavier. And I think the 500x looks a lot sharper
@@chrishart8548 The 500X looks nice but are pretty boring to ride, you have to wring the neck out of it to get going. 500X=196kg, Transalp=208kg, so not much of a difference. 500X is much better on fuel, no doubt.
As a CB500X rider, I'm trying hard to NOT give a Transalp a whirl 😂 I know, with certainty, that once I ride a Transalp I'll have to sell my CB500X ASAP! I need to get a few more years use out of my 2022 CB500X, so every time I see someone riding a Transalp I'm going to keep my distance :-)
@torbenjensen6236 I was riding a Kawasaki Z900abs, but decide to give the CB500X a chance. My daily commute is 120km and I have to ride through all sort of terrains.
I thought that CB500X would offer a boring but competent experience......but to my surprise the little bike is good fun. 😂
@@Blinducho Yes! it's the perfect commuter bike that also competently tackles touring and ADV stuff too. Like you said, despite its modest specs it's a fun bike because its balance is so nice in corners and it's so easy to ride.
I have zero regrets buying a CB500X, but I will buy a Transalp (or something similar) within the next 3 years or so as a little more power, ground clearance, and suspension travel would be so nice to have and the Transalp seems to hit that sweet spot for my needs
P.s.- wow! You surprised me with placing this bike at the top of the list! I didn’t see THAT coming! Good on ya- decisive pre- wrap up ( Holiday pun?) to a great 2023 season of rides! Well played Sir! Take care!
Hell yeah, I absolutely loved this bike and I'm strongly considering trading my KTM 790 Adventure in for one!!! Just tryin' to hold out for a Rally model eventually. Crazy that yourself, Kyle Bradshaw and I all released a TransAlp video on the same morning, heh! I totally agree with your Daily Rider assessment, and that crackle!
Any issues with the 790 adventure ? I just priced out that and the transalpine
@@mckerrowcity my only issue with KTM ownership have been trying to find a dealership worth a damn to do valve service maintenance. 4 of 5 dealers in South Florida have left my bike in worse shape than what I brought it to them in.
We have a new #1 DR!! I recently sold my 20' AT manual which was the best ADV bike I've owned, it was just too big for my needs, I tried the 500x, great bike but just too much of a step down from the AT, this one should hit the sweet spot for me, thanks Zack/Revzilla for another great review, I'll be buying soon!!
As a person who has never had or used cruise control, am I really missing out that much? I daily commute on the highway about 26 miles (110 fwy Pasadena, to 105 fwy LAX).
No, you are not. My 1290 SD has it, and I rarely use it.
Cruise control and quick shifters are both things you don't need but really like once you have used them. I suffer from bad wrists and its great for giving your throttle hand a rest without slowing down or having to pull over and stop. I wouldn't go as far as to add them to my motorcycles that don't have either but are desirable options on future purchases. You cant miss what you never had though.
@@kingkire1556I try to keep myself away from such things because I think it will limit my choice of bikes. It sounds silly but the other month I had to drive a car without a reversing camera and I was shaken by how used I’ve gotten to that technology the past few years. I’ll stay with the manual shifts and the cramp buster for the motorbike for now.
@@903lew A perfectly calibrated up/down quick shift is by far the best tech ever put on a motorcycle. You should not deny yourself the experience.
@@kingkire1556I'm sure it is. When the bank balance allows it I might give it a go.
One of my most anticipated bikes of the past few years. Giving this one a second watch within the week!
What an amazing year!!! Thank you Zack and all at Revzilla. Wish you have a great 2024.... I could see the bike liked you back pal!!
Enjoyed your video, very impressed with your placing on the leaders board, I will go out and test ride a Transalp this weekend.
This some bang for the buck bike, plus its being ADV makes it even more versatile
Looking at that bike, it looks so good! I love that Transalp decal, sooooooooo 80's Sci-Fi
Putting ride by wire and not cruise control is a huge whiff, like if you dont want to put cruise control just do cable throttle and lower the price
Zack I didn’t hear you say anything about gearing but I guess when you mentioned about how it was at cruising on the highway as smooth city and it could absolutely do it all day at years on end pretty much covered that I suppose and that is also what I found so wonderful about this bike able to do everything anywhere quite well so much that my Tuareg 660 has been collecting dust and these are the factors I bought the Transalp 750 and agree with you completely on the review. Oh I did buy the KAOKO throttle stabilizer for a cruise control alternative that RevZilla sells on your website and works pretty darn good. But dang Honda no cruise control. Love the review Zack and I knew this Transalp 750 would be the RevZilla number one Daily Rider for 2023!
You don't need cruise control in UK, I get 66 mpg, but I don't redline it!
Are you using a US gallon or Imperial? Us gallon is 3.8L
Doh! Imperial, 4.5l
I wish they made the XL700V version too from back in the day. Those Honda v twin engines had so much character and a wonderful sound. Just something about a 52° Japanese V Twin that makes me happy. Miss them. 😢
Very nearly the perfect bike in my eyes. Add cruise control, remote preload, and tubeless tires. Funnily enough they used the 500X/F headlight assembly in this brand new bike, but next year the NX500 replaces the CB500X with a new stacked headlight design. Maybe the Transalp will get it in a quick refresh (along with CC)... it's hard to tell these days when vehicle features seem more about part availability than anything.
The NX difference is about only that headlight change - more rename than anything and most reviewers are disappointed by that.
@@ws8080 The TFT display and headlight refresh are the main ones. I'm not sure what else is to be expected of it as Honda will probably keep refining that engine for a while yet and not change much. I'd like to see the suspension upgraded more than anything.
The induction sound from under the tank is lovely when you crack it open. Combines well with the exhaust.
Loving mine so far.
You’re welcome Zack, I enjoy watching so it wasn’t hard. Stay safe two wheel friends.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts😎 thanks for daily rider and see ya next year
The cruise control omission is egregious by itself, but the real trans(pun)gression is Honda deciding that the American market wouldn't want the signature white/blue/red color scheme. I so badly wanted the Transalp upon announcement, but even for all its merits, I can't ignore those two things.
Like the Africa Twin, you will probably get a different paint scheme next year. It’s annoying, but it’s part of the for the course with Honda to only offer limited paint schemes for the first year.
Waiting for Honda and Suzuki to put cruise on their TOURING bikes. Please. Not just the 1000cc+ feature, but the mid displacement class.
Thanks for another year in reviews. Been watching you for years and always enjoy your insight. Happy Holidays.
can you please add spec numbers in meteric system while editing, since i don't speak freedom system numbers, and have to convert them everytime.
Am I just catching the wrong videos or is that RR always busy? Love the videos keep em coming!
I'm eagerly waiting for a daily rider review of the new "Royal Enfield Himalayan 450". Great review by the way.🥰🥰🥰
Wait atleast 6-9 months for that to come.
I’ve watched probably 25 plus reviews on the trans alp and the common observations are; it’s a great bike with a great engine and comfortable seating position. It could do with a higher windscreen at high speeds for taller riders (an option cost about £450) and could do with cruise control (not available as an option but some other after market options are available). I think someone buying one of these new wouldn’t have an issue paying for cruise control if it was available from the dealer so not sure what Honda were thinking there. Interesting observation on the TFT screen - as most buyers are that bit older manufacturers should give consideration to bigger screens!
🤞🤞🤞
Here's hoping a DCT is coming in the future.
Good Q&A, had the same Qs pop into my head and your answers were well articulated, thanks. Great bike, great review.
The $10K Rebel has cruise control, this should have cruise also.
You are the best bike reviewer in my mind! THX Happy New Year 2024! 🍾
I got a test ride on 2023 model. My daily is CB500X, Transalp is obviously stronger and more capable but it didn't impress me to the point I wanted to have it. It felt more like bigger 500 than smaller Africa Twin (which I also tested) and maybe that was too similar. On that day at Honda's dealer I also tested Hornet 750 and Rebel 1100 and these two were mroe fun so maybe I'm just looking for something entirely different to what I'm already having than an upgrade. We will see with next bike I guess. On that note, I hope we will see Hypermotard Mono on the Daily Rider in 2024!
Could be worth giving the 8s Suzuki a try it's not huge horsepower but it has a real kick of torque down low that beats most of the competition off the line. And it's not to heavy because its not an adventure bike
2014 VStrom 1000 rider. I won't buy a road bike with tubed tires. I want a middle weight ADV bike with tubeless tires/wheels. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki... cricket noises. Triumph, KTM, BMW, Ducati, Aprilia... Over here! Bring money. And keep it coming.
Great video as always Zack! If Honda was charging an extra $1000-$1,500 and gave me the same bike with tubeless tires and cruise control, I would buy it all day long. 🙂
2025? We can only hope 😒
I agree, but no bike is perfect. I can overlook tubed wheels and CC is just a "nice to have" feature for me, rather than a must have. If I hadn't bought a 2022 CB500X recently, I would buy a Transalp right now.
But for now I'm going to enjoy my CB500X, improve my off pavement riding skills on it, then get a Transalp in a few years from now. Or maybe a V-Strom 800DE, if Suzuki puts it on a weight loss program :-)
@@alozborne I currently own an old VStrom. It’s a tank, but most of the time I love it.
@@alozborneAmen to the weight program 👍
Plus the shear size is bigger on Suzuki.!
Just sitting on each one you can feel the difference 😮💨
Thanks, been waiting for this review. I have a 21 Africa Twin in the barn and I am interested in the Transalp. Shout out from East Corinth VT!
The sv650 is starting to sound like a real bargain
I just want a mid range adv with factory cruise and heated grips, road biased 17 inch wheels. When will the trendiness of 21 inch fronts give way to how most people use their bikes?
Heated grips and seat are the way before cruise control.
ADV on 17s? You sure you don’t just want a Tracer 9?
i totally agree with most of your opinions here. however vstrom comes with a quickshifter, usb port, handguards and engineguard (last 2 are plastic cheapos but still, they're there.) also i heard lots of complaints about transalp's gravel mode. i think when those elements come into play it makes vstrom a better bang for your buck. or maybe head to head with the transalp. great review sir!
Very surprised he didn't even mention the tubed tires on the transalp. The street version vstrom is going to be way better. It will be 10,500 with tubeless tires and rear luggage.
Yes but also heavier and ugly in my opinion, but yes nicer suspension for sure
Transalp has a quickshifter as standard equipment for the North America. Also, there’s a USB port under the sear
Better add airbox access to that list ... You're gonna LOVE the DE 💞💞!!
Plastic guards are as useful as chrome doodads on a cruiser, just for show.
Wank factor.
I bought one last month and it’s perfect for what I wanted to use it for. By the way, it’s really fast and a hoot to ride!
Definitely the best bike around today for the money.
Honda, simply the best.
The best bike around for the money is a hawk lol,
Man, thats high praise for the transalp. From your various videos, I've come to realize I have similar taste to you. SV650 and NC750 are by fav daily riders. I'd be tempted to move to transalp in the future, mainly because NC doesn't feel as playful on the daily.
So Honda essentially made the perfect KLR 650.
Great ep (as always) and very surprising leader board result. Another awesome season in the books. Thank you Dr. Courts 👊
This bike seems to be exceeding everyone’s expectations. I think this is gonna be a real gem for honda.
Definitely agree about the headlight! I LOVE the look of the dual headlights on the Africa Twin and feel that something like that would fit a lot better than the more sporty looking headlight the Transalp has now.
Coming from a CB500x owner I am heavily considering this as my next motorcycle. I loved the first question and your answer to it. The CB500x is fantastic but I find myself wanting more potential all around.