I am 64 and just bought a Honda TransAlp 750, my first bike since 1980(a used Yamaha 360 enduro). Putted around a bit at first. Finest piece of machinery i have ever seen !
There are some whispers on the internet that Honda might do a classic retro style with this engine. Something looking like the classic CB750 would really tempt me, for some reason this has always been my ideal motorcycle look. That Transalp is a sure winner, as usual Honda comes up with the goods.
What they need to do is make a 410 pound (wet) Scrambler out of this 755cc with at least a 4 gallon tank, with 17/19 wheels and a quality suspension. Keep other options more budget and stop with all the stupid gizmos that drive the prices up. That would steal Ducati's thunder.
I've considered to buy one, but the Honda dealer didn't have a demo bike. Also the lack of cruise control turned me off. I went for the Moto Guzzi V85TT instead and i love it.
I was fortunate to test ride the Transalp last weekend here in the interior of BC. I agree 100% with your review. Was only able to ride it on pavement but it felt very light and flickable. A real joy to ride and very manageable weight balance. Given the riding it had probably experienced the displayed fuel mileage at 4 - 4.5 l/100km should give it decent range I expect. Definitely needs a bash plate as the oil filter & pipes are very exposed. Thanks as always for the excellent and thoughtful review.
Great review. I assume the economics prevented laced spoke wheels and tubeless tires but for me tubeless is a must have for a road biased bike used for touring and 2 up riding. I've had a number of punctures over 40 years of riding and the good fortune each time of controlled deflations due to tubeless tires. I was able to safely pull off the road and plug the tire and be on my way within 20 minutes. I'm just not willing to risk rapid deflation and a repair that involves the removal of wheel and tube.
You been riding 40 years eh well being as tubeless bike tyres weren't around 40 years ago you must of spent the first 10 or so years riding round like a girl incase you got a puncture 😂 if you don't like tubed tyres and didn't but the TA because of this then who really cares, I've also been riding since 1983 (legally) and rode lots of motorcycles with tubed tyres at one time thats all you could get and people like you moaning about tubed tyres, no cruise control etc are bloody boring bores , grow a pair!
Great review from Canada. I recently picked one up here and so far it's completely stock and will require some upgrades shortly. Here is my observations to date for what it's worth. Engine: strong and powerful and surprisingly good at highway speeds. In town it's really quite jerky at low constant speeds.(my biggest peeve so far) Suspension is a bit harsh for me in the rear, soft up front. I will be adding a centre stand and bags which may help the rear. Wind protection is OK but will require the wind deflectors and taller screen to help in that department. I am 5"11" and 170 lbs for reference. The clutch is super light and the quick shifter works well under spirited riding. Typical Honda gearbox! No cruise or tubeless tires as mentioned which I knew before I bought it. I have never had a flat or cruise control in 40 plus years of riding. Crossing fingers as I speak. Metzler Karoo tires are VERY loud at normal highway speeds. They quiet down around 115 km/hr.(my second biggest peeve) No fuel range is a big negative for me initially but once I figure out the tank range it won't matter as much. User modes "erase" every time you turn off the bike making it a real time waster and not worth the effort. Handling and road manners are quiet good and the brakes are decent so far. I knew this bike was going to be a compromise in some aspects to replace both my CB500X and R1200GS. Time will tell if I can live with it.
Great review as usual but, for me who rides long distance on fast roads, tube tires are deal breaker. So, Transalp, Tenere, and Suz 800 are all hard no's. I can live without cruise control but, tube tires are far bigger risk and inconvenience if shit happens. I had nails twice in my tires and kept riding without noticing until trip was over. It was somewhat self inflicted by riding on shoulders to get around stalled traffic but, tube would have been end of it.
absolutely..................... I tell EVERYBODY.... that tubes are pre-historic........... TUBELESS............ is thee only way to go period..... and it is a deal breaker!
Good crisp review. Its hard to judge a new bike and know which is going to become a legend and which relegated to history as an also-ran. Honda Transalp, despite its shortcomings, is probably in contention however.
I feel like this bike really needs some of these accessories to really be a great bike and at that point youre paying considerably more. Really depends on your budget but it looks like a gem if you can afford the whole package
Thank you I really liked your review. You just got to the point on every item and I didn't find myself having to skip forward constantly. Great review,.
Great review! Considering this bike is more pavement-oriented, it really should have had tubeless tires for the ease of plugging a tubeless flat tire vs a tube-type one. Btw, did you find your 360 camera after it fell off? Best regards from Brasilia, Brazil.
I been riding for 43 years steady, sold my last full tourer and looking for something basically half the weight. I have to agree cruise control is almost a must for any serious long distance riding. Also hate the color, will be waiting or buying something else.
Really nice review, although a bit frustrating that you often mix between metric and imperial measures. Hearing the bike weighs 459lbs or that the suspension travel is 8“ (or was it 7.5“) is fine if I have a calculator handy, but a consistent reporting of both measures would have been helpful, even if it is a bit of a PITA for you.
Just bought the Transalp this week, and going through break-in now. Your video mentioned the suspension was lacking for off-road, but did you adjust it from the factory position, which is 2 out of 7? The suspension from factory setup is set much too soft. Also, the ABS has three modes, ON / OFF-ROAD / OFF. The user mode defaults to off-road, and you can turn it off quickly. Great bike for the price!
Enjoyed that. I tried an AT and like it but found it too big and lacking feel, bit remote feeling really. So bought a Transalp, it’s still a full sized bike but more suited to what I want as an everyday rider.
Admittedly wasn't interested once I saw the spec sheet at launch. Absolutely don't want to deal with menus and modes but to NOT have cruise control is getting all the bad without the one good thing. Really looking forward to the launch of the new Himalayan but mostly concerned about the fate of big dual-sports. Really appreciate your concept of offroad.
55 years of riding off road including 15 years of MX racing and riding twice in the Scottish Six Day Trial. I still laugh as to why 'standing on the pegs' seems to be 'de riguer'. Even in MX I was mostly in the seat, rising only for jumps. Maybe they saw it on TV?
The ground clearance is within 0.75 inch 22mm of many other ADV bikes. Not the Yamaha T7 which is highly offroad designed On roads it will travel as far as the Suzuki 800 which has a bigger gas tank due to better fuel mileage for the Honda. It is also noticeably lighter than the Suzuki..
It's a surprisingly good looking bike, though I'd argue less sexy than the Tenere. Personally, overall I prefer the Tenere as it's simply.mote competent offroad, but that's really a use case issue: I don't particularly like highway touring on the Tenere, and the Transalp looks much better for that. I'm very happy with the Transalp, seems Honda has targeted a different niche as to not really have to compete with the Tenere, and that's excellent: it gives us riders the opportunity to find a bike more well tuned for what we want to do with it. And frankly I think Honda hit it out of the park with the Transalp even if it's not for me.
Yes, I think it's a good idea to offer something different. Most ADV riders don't care about hardcore off roading and pavement capability is more important. I think the Transalp beats the T7 on pavement.
I would use an adventure bike more as a touring bike and cruise is a must. Unfortunate that manufacturers don't feel it's needed on these midsize models.
I hear you re. cruise control! Since most new bikes, even the middleweight ones, are throttle-by-wire, cruise control is a cheap (factory) add-on that most ADV riders want. The Transalp is clearly road-biased by Honda's design; so, to not include CC seems to completely ignore the needs of intended buyers. Seems that the marketing folks at these companies don't bother reading these comments which is a shame. I don't buy any arguments about price points either, especially for bikes that are already at the $10,000 mark.
I wanted to see Honda/Suzuki come out with something along the lines of a Tuareg 660 as it improves on the T7's weaknesses with the lower center of gravity AND cruise control, which is just a mind blowing oversight from Honda/Suzuki. I have a T7 and love it but would've gone Tuareg 660 if I could've found one locally.
@@MrBigPipesYT I couldn't find any T7s near me. Plus the compromise of tubes and no Cruise was kind of a deal breaker. I had an Aprilia dealer right down the road and I have 4000 miles on the bike now and I absolutely love it
Great review. I might just get one of these next year and replace my 2022 KLR, since I realize I miss the power of my previous bikes and only do some occasional light off pavement rides (gravel and packed dirt roads).
My current bike has cruise control and tubeless spoked wheels. I won't buy another bike without them. Cruise has made long rides so much more enjoyable.
Seriously considering downsizing from my ATAS to the Trans Alp, maybe even a pair if my wife likes it enough to let go of her beloved (and limited) WeeStrom. At 62 years and 5'11/190 LB, the slightly smaller and lighter Trans Alp sounds like a natural progression for me. In 15,000+ miles, I've yet to drop my AT, but with all the accessories on her I'm not looking forward to that. Probably take one more tour with my AT after test riding the Trans Alp, then make the call. The AT has been amazing and the resale value of it more than pays for a zero mileage Trans Alp. Tempting.
I feel Honda stays about 3-4 years behind what people might want and are very conservative. I’m waiting for the red,white and blue versions so I’m going to stay with my 2015 vstrom xta for now and get the later versions that Honda will eventually put out with all the upgrades that people want. I have been waiting for the transalp return for years now that I own the original 89 xl600v here in the US.
Same here… hopefully we will get the RWB with cruise!!! It’s ironic as I always wished my 89 TA was black like the euro models, now I want the RWB and all we get is black!!! 😂
The Suzuki 800DE is the far better choice for me. Better suspension, more fuel capacity, better torque, and easier to pick up are few reasons. The high rev engine of the Transalp will be a nightmare off road.
And for 2024, Suzuki added a V-Strom 800 to the model, with 17/19 cast wheels. Probably what I'd go with, since I don't need the bulk and handling penalty of 21" wire wheels.
I wonder if VVT is ever going to become a mainstream thing on motorcycles. I know the high RPM and free-revving nature of bikes makes implementing a VVT system difficult. Suzuki did it on the GSX-R1000 but that's strictly RPM based, not a hydraulic actuator, not lateral-shifting-cam lobes, not Vtec or anything of the sort. I think it would make small engines hugely flexible to change cam phasing based on power demands in different riding conditions. There's intake cam VVT on the Kawasaki Concours 14. There's VVT on the Ducati V-twin (formerly the Multistrada 1200+cc bike). There's VVT on Harley Davidsons newer engine. There's VVT on the GSX-R1000 superbike. There's a dual cam lobe system on BMW bikes, with lateral cam shifting (similar to Honda Vtec). I just wonder if it will ever get as simple, reliable, or cheap on sub-1L engines outside of racing environments to use a VVT system. If only valve control was infinitely adjustable based on ECU mapping, relative to engine demands (like Freevalve with Koenigsegg).
I absolutely agree. I'll add the location of the airfilter is a massive selling point for myself. Riding in dirty and dusty conditions requires servicing the air filter regularly. The Transalp airfilter us buried under the tank. No thanks. I'm not interested in tearing the tank off of my motorcycle at least once a month, if I don't have to. For me, that left 2 options for a new mid sized adv bike. The T7 and 800DE, (although I tested many more) It was down to the Yamaha and the Suzuki. No bike is perfect, we all have to objectively decide what the moto will be used for and what we are willing to compromise on, and what we will not compromise on. I ride 10or12hrs a day, 2 or 3 days in a row, so comfort is very high on my list of priorities. At the end of the day, no matter what seat I used, the T7 wasn't nearly as comfortable as the 800. It just isn't the seat though, it is the posture the cockpit puts someone of my build. I can throw some money at the 800DE and have it lose weight, and make it just as good offroad, while still retaining comfort, all the tech, a full gallon of fuel more, more torque and hp, and better handling. No matter how much money I can throw at the T7 it'll never be as comfortable. If I already lived in the mountains, or only rode half days I'd, opt for the T7 in a heartbeat. They are both fantastic motos, but are very different in ways. It all depends on the users goals when determining what bike is objectively better for them. I sat on a Transalp 750 last weekend in North Carolina and I was surprised how small it felt compared to the 800DE and the T7, I'm not saying it's a bad thing,rather an observation. For smaller riders it will be a selling point, for taller riders it's more of a hindrance is what I am thinking
@thanassisniaros6895 depends on your definition of 'Miles ahead of'..... The Aprilia airfilter service requires the tank to be completely taken off the motorcycle. To me, that's unacceptable for an adventure bike. In an adventure touring scenario,in very dusty conditions where I live, users are sise to 'knock off' or 'blow out the filter' daily. I don't want to tank the tank off daily when riding off road, whereas the T7 and 800DE are both under the seat. To me, if a motorcycle has its airfilter under the seat it a touring, commuting or sport touring motorcycle. Any company who is serious about making an offroad motorcycle will not bury the filter under the fuel tank. Period. Also their dealership network is basically 1/25th that of the Japanese brands. The 660 is known for having overheating problems too. Well documented on TH-cam. The company fights the customer on warranty work. On paper, the 660 looks much better, but real world use and issues prove otherwise. I test rode one, and thought it was 'ok', but not worth the problems that come with it. If I did most of my riding on road, I'd consider it a bit more. But since there have been many documented dealership issues, and overheating problems that can not be diagnosed, the 660 is anything but 'better'. You can't ride or own a spec sheet. We ride and own motorcycles
If you want that midsize bike for touring and gravel roads, then the street version of the VStrom 800 will be the one to get. 17 and 19” wheels with tubeless tires, larger gas tank as well.
I can't help it. I always see "Tran Slap" when I read this bike's name. (you lost your 3D camera @ 8:16) Anyway.... does this machine do anything significantly better than the V-Strom 800DE? I tend to think a good Scrambler could do the offroad task just as well, without taking away from a more useful all-rounder motorcycle without the need to go full-ADV.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Ah okay. I have ridden the 800DE myself earlier this year when Suzuki demo came through the area. Also rode the GSX-8S. I really like this new powertrain, fantastic for the category. Let us all know your perspective whenever you finally get a chance to demo the Suzuki.
I’d take the V-Stom on looks alone. I’m sure the Honda is a great motorcycle. It’s just very unattractive to me. Hope it looks better in person. Thanks of the review.
Yep, the Strom looks more rugged. The finish of the Honda is very nice up close and I'd love to see the white colour sheme with the gold wheels in North America.
Cheaper than BMW 800, Tiger 900 and KTM 890adv. More capable on road than Tenere 700, and more capable off road than Vstrom 800. I think Honda went down the middle again, thankfully the more aggressive engine should make this bike a winner.
Seems like this the trend these days. Make a 80 / 20 road biased bike with comfort and technology. Can’t say I disagree with this. How was it for 2 up riding?
Thanks for the review, i've had a Deposit on Transalp for that 3 + years, bought a 21 Africa twin DCT in 21, sold to buy a 23 Tenere 700, which is a great bike, but found it harder to pick up that my Twin was, how is the Transalp to pick up after a fall compared to the Tenere?
Yes Sir!, Glad to see the Transalp (CB500x) review. I wanted to like this bike, but I think the Suzuki DE is a better build all around. Suzuki, is defiantly better then Honda in reliability and build quality, cost of ownership.
It's a slightly higher price bracket but if I was to move up to a "middleweight" adv from my ktm 390 adventure I think I'd have to stick with KTM for the 890 adventure. I have lots of offroad trails to challenge myself with but the optional cruise control would be an excellent add for longer trips. The ktm suspension is also just great and very adjustable. Thanks for the review!
If you were looking for road oriented bike why would you choose the one with tube tires and head lamp that gives no light? Transalp also devilers high requency vibrations on handbar at high revs. You should mention that.
Great video and great bike. Comparison to the CB500X is a good thing. My son rides that, and it is close to perfect. No cruise control seems like a huge miss on this and other comparators! Thanks for another great video. Tiger Coward
I'm not doing the off-roading I was when I first got it, since I have smaller bikes for that now, so I am looking at replacing my T7. I thought this would be what I would want, but I'm sorry, the looks of the Transalp just leave me cold. Since KTM is bringing the Adventure 790 into Canada for 2024 at CND$12500 (not including all the gizmos, of course) I am seriously considering that.
Thanks for this review. It is clear that if I had waited for the Transalp or the new Africa Twin adv sports, I could have saved some customizing dollars that I spent on my current Africa Twin DCT Adv Sports, which I think Honda copied when I wasn’t looking 😂, especially with all of the lowering effort I had done. Too late for me to make this a good purchase decision.
You lost the camera at 8:18 !!!!! ps: how are footpeg and handlebar vibrations at highway speed? Just tested Vstrom800DE... terrible footpeg vibration from 120kmh
@@Alexanderpaal67 Not in Canada that I can see . I'm not a speed or power freak at 60 and this is the reason I tend to look at Moto Guzzi for their Italian design , shaft drive and tubeless tires .
Yes, lots of people agree with you. Shaft drive is hard to find at this price point. Only the Moto Guzzi V85TT has it in this class of bikes. Otherwise you have to move up to much bigger bikes.
It's tempting but I'm waiting on Kawasaki to bring out a Versys-X 400. I just don't like the weight of the Transalp and 300Km is a limited range for where I go in the mountains. And, grip angle?! To much technology...My Versys-x 300 will get almost 450km on it's 17L tank when I cruising on gravel roads and it's much lighter to pick out of the mud!
I am 64 and just bought a Honda TransAlp 750, my first bike since 1980(a used Yamaha 360 enduro). Putted around a bit at first.
Finest piece of machinery i have ever seen !
The Honda Transalp 750 is a winner. Best all round compromise of all bikes out there. A true unicorn bike.
For the price it's a lot of motorcycle.
I bought my Transalp yesterday!! I bought it to upgrade from my 300L Rally and it was a great choice!
Well, how's it going?
There are some whispers on the internet that Honda might do a classic retro style with this engine. Something looking like the classic CB750 would really tempt me, for some reason this has always been my ideal motorcycle look. That Transalp is a sure winner, as usual Honda comes up with the goods.
A CB750 with only 2 cylinders? That would be a clear NO for me...
What they need to do is make a 410 pound (wet) Scrambler out of this 755cc with at least a 4 gallon tank, with 17/19 wheels and a quality suspension. Keep other options more budget and stop with all the stupid gizmos that drive the prices up. That would steal Ducati's thunder.
That would be awesome. The engine sounds like a v-twin superbike.
they're doing a CL750 rumors says.
Great review!
I really enjoyed my time with the Transalp.
Being the first bike for my channel to review, I couldn’t of asked for a better one 👍🏻
I've considered to buy one, but the Honda dealer didn't have a demo bike. Also the lack of cruise control turned me off. I went for the Moto Guzzi V85TT instead and i love it.
Nice bike!
@@DifferentSpokesTV Thanks!
THE FORKS ARE ADJUSTABLE FOR PRE LOAD . . ITS THE 19MM IN THE TOP OF THE FORK LEGS . . SEE OWNERS HANDBOOK !
I was fortunate to test ride the Transalp last weekend here in the interior of BC. I agree 100% with your review. Was only able to ride it on pavement but it felt very light and flickable. A real joy to ride and very manageable weight balance. Given the riding it had probably experienced the displayed fuel mileage at 4 - 4.5 l/100km should give it decent range I expect. Definitely needs a bash plate as the oil filter & pipes are very exposed. Thanks as always for the excellent and thoughtful review.
Thanks for sharing! If youre going off road the4 bash plate is a must have.
Since I have no plans to ride on single rut trails this is the perfect midweight bike for me.
That's probably what Honda is aiming for. You'll enjoy the bike.
same here!
Appreciated the rare inclusion of two up details.
Only a few hundred miles on mine, but so far I'm loving it.
Great review. I assume the economics prevented laced spoke wheels and tubeless tires but for me tubeless is a must have for a road biased bike used for touring and 2 up riding. I've had a number of punctures over 40 years of riding and the good fortune each time of controlled deflations due to tubeless tires. I was able to safely pull off the road and plug the tire and be on my way within 20 minutes. I'm just not willing to risk rapid deflation and a repair that involves the removal of wheel and tube.
You been riding 40 years eh well being as tubeless bike tyres weren't around 40 years ago you must of spent the first 10 or so years riding round like a girl incase you got a puncture 😂 if you don't like tubed tyres and didn't but the TA because of this then who really cares, I've also been riding since 1983 (legally) and rode lots of motorcycles with tubed tyres at one time thats all you could get and people like you moaning about tubed tyres, no cruise control etc are bloody boring bores , grow a pair!
Exactly.
Yep, there are several other commenters who echo that sentiment.
Is there a way to fix a tubeless wheels on it ?
I bought mine 4 months ago close to 9000 miles now. MY daily, I love ❤️ the bike
Great review from Canada. I recently picked one up here and so far it's completely stock and will require some upgrades shortly. Here is my observations to date for what it's worth.
Engine: strong and powerful and surprisingly good at highway speeds. In town it's really quite jerky at low constant speeds.(my biggest peeve so far)
Suspension is a bit harsh for me in the rear, soft up front. I will be adding a centre stand and bags which may help the rear.
Wind protection is OK but will require the wind deflectors and taller screen to help in that department. I am 5"11" and 170 lbs for reference.
The clutch is super light and the quick shifter works well under spirited riding. Typical Honda gearbox!
No cruise or tubeless tires as mentioned which I knew before I bought it. I have never had a flat or cruise control in 40 plus years of riding. Crossing fingers as I speak.
Metzler Karoo tires are VERY loud at normal highway speeds. They quiet down around 115 km/hr.(my second biggest peeve)
No fuel range is a big negative for me initially but once I figure out the tank range it won't matter as much.
User modes "erase" every time you turn off the bike making it a real time waster and not worth the effort.
Handling and road manners are quiet good and the brakes are decent so far.
I knew this bike was going to be a compromise in some aspects to replace both my CB500X and R1200GS. Time will tell if I can live with it.
Nicely done. I'll need to wait and see if the Ross White is available here in NA next year. Silly Honda.
Great review as usual but, for me who rides long distance on fast roads, tube tires are deal breaker. So, Transalp, Tenere, and Suz 800 are all hard no's. I can live without cruise control but, tube tires are far bigger risk and inconvenience if shit happens. I had nails twice in my tires and kept riding without noticing until trip was over. It was somewhat self inflicted by riding on shoulders to get around stalled traffic but, tube would have been end of it.
I feel the same way.
absolutely..................... I tell EVERYBODY.... that tubes are pre-historic........... TUBELESS............ is thee only way to go period..... and it is a deal breaker!
This is why the new Vstrom 800 is gonna slay every single one of these bikes 😂
@@gsm_liv8980 Vstrom 800 is tubes too. 😭
Yes, the 10K USD does not include the other goodies. The bags and top box cost the most out of the extras.
Ive been staring at the insta360 this entire time because of its placement and it finally happened at 8:17 rest in pepperoni little guy 😭
I found it and it wasn't damaged. The selfie stick was what fell apart.
I saw it too and it’s definitely gone he did not realise it
I pick mine up Saturday had my 300l for a year had a goon a demo loved it and bought it
Good crisp review. Its hard to judge a new bike and know which is going to become a legend and which relegated to history as an also-ran. Honda Transalp, despite its shortcomings, is probably in contention however.
I feel like this bike really needs some of these accessories to really be a great bike and at that point youre paying considerably more. Really depends on your budget but it looks like a gem if you can afford the whole package
Thank you I really liked your review. You just got to the point on every item and I didn't find myself having to skip forward constantly. Great review,.
Great review! Considering this bike is more pavement-oriented, it really should have had tubeless tires for the ease of plugging a tubeless flat tire vs a tube-type one. Btw, did you find your 360 camera after it fell off? Best regards from Brasilia, Brazil.
Totally agree, lots of folks dropped the same comment. Yes, I walked back for it. Will need a new stick.
I been riding for 43 years steady, sold my last full tourer and looking for something basically half the weight. I have to agree cruise control is almost a must for any serious long distance riding. Also hate the color, will be waiting or buying something else.
The 900cc class ADV bikes have the cruise so that might be a good place to look.
Really nice review, although a bit frustrating that you often mix between metric and imperial measures. Hearing the bike weighs 459lbs or that the suspension travel is 8“ (or was it 7.5“) is fine if I have a calculator handy, but a consistent reporting of both measures would have been helpful, even if it is a bit of a PITA for you.
Yes, here in Canada we're stuck between metric and imperial.
Just bought the Transalp this week, and going through break-in now. Your video mentioned the suspension was lacking for off-road, but did you adjust it from the factory position, which is 2 out of 7? The suspension from factory setup is set much too soft. Also, the ABS has three modes, ON / OFF-ROAD / OFF. The user mode defaults to off-road, and you can turn it off quickly. Great bike for the price!
i did know that it came with adjustable suspension???
Enjoyed that. I tried an AT and like it but found it too big and lacking feel, bit remote feeling really. So bought a Transalp, it’s still a full sized bike but more suited to what I want as an everyday rider.
Admittedly wasn't interested once I saw the spec sheet at launch. Absolutely don't want to deal with menus and modes but to NOT have cruise control is getting all the bad without the one good thing. Really looking forward to the launch of the new Himalayan but mostly concerned about the fate of big dual-sports.
Really appreciate your concept of offroad.
55 years of riding off road including 15 years of MX racing and riding twice in the Scottish Six Day Trial. I still laugh as to why 'standing on the pegs' seems to be 'de riguer'. Even in MX I was mostly in the seat, rising only for jumps. Maybe they saw it on TV?
The ground clearance is within 0.75 inch 22mm of many other ADV bikes. Not the Yamaha T7 which is highly offroad designed
On roads it will travel as far as the Suzuki 800 which has a bigger gas tank due to better fuel mileage for the Honda. It is also noticeably lighter than the Suzuki..
It's a surprisingly good looking bike, though I'd argue less sexy than the Tenere. Personally, overall I prefer the Tenere as it's simply.mote competent offroad, but that's really a use case issue: I don't particularly like highway touring on the Tenere, and the Transalp looks much better for that.
I'm very happy with the Transalp, seems Honda has targeted a different niche as to not really have to compete with the Tenere, and that's excellent: it gives us riders the opportunity to find a bike more well tuned for what we want to do with it.
And frankly I think Honda hit it out of the park with the Transalp even if it's not for me.
Yes, I think it's a good idea to offer something different. Most ADV riders don't care about hardcore off roading and pavement capability is more important. I think the Transalp beats the T7 on pavement.
I would use an adventure bike more as a touring bike and cruise is a must. Unfortunate that manufacturers don't feel it's needed on these midsize models.
I hear you re. cruise control! Since most new bikes, even the middleweight ones, are throttle-by-wire, cruise control is a cheap (factory) add-on that most ADV riders want.
The Transalp is clearly road-biased by Honda's design; so, to not include CC seems to completely ignore the needs of intended buyers. Seems that the marketing folks at these companies don't bother reading these comments which is a shame.
I don't buy any arguments about price points either, especially for bikes that are already at the $10,000 mark.
Very true on the price. Harley offers it for $250. Even if they don't put it on it should be a factory option.
Hesitated between transalp and tiger 850 sport !!! Will go with the transalp
Thanks! Nice! I have a Transalp and i love it!
Glad I bought a Tuareg 660. Tubeless, cruise, simple to change menus, ABS simple to turn off. Adjustable suspension and on road handling is amazing.
But questionable reliability.
@@durtyred86 but a hell of a lot of fun. One hiccup taken care of by warranty but damn I love that bike!
I wanted to see Honda/Suzuki come out with something along the lines of a Tuareg 660 as it improves on the T7's weaknesses with the lower center of gravity AND cruise control, which is just a mind blowing oversight from Honda/Suzuki.
I have a T7 and love it but would've gone Tuareg 660 if I could've found one locally.
@@MrBigPipesYT I couldn't find any T7s near me. Plus the compromise of tubes and no Cruise was kind of a deal breaker. I had an Aprilia dealer right down the road and I have 4000 miles on the bike now and I absolutely love it
I can wait to see a Scrambler base of that platform!
Great review. I might just get one of these next year and replace my 2022 KLR, since I realize I miss the power of my previous bikes and only do some occasional light off pavement rides (gravel and packed dirt roads).
Thanks! Yes, the Transalp is about equal to the KLR off road but much better on pavement.
buying it next month, will be ordering low seat height tho.
Congrats and enjoy the bike!
After having cruise control on my last two bikes, not having it is a deal breaker for me. My next bike will probably be the Kove 450.
Yes, that bike has really taken over quickly. I wonder how long before a Japanese company finally builds a bike like that.
@@DifferentSpokesTV competition is a GOOD thing! Doubt the Japanese will be able to touch that price point with those capabilities.
@DifferentSpokesTV I prey every night before bed for such an occurrence. Oh holy bike Gods...
My current bike has cruise control and tubeless spoked wheels. I won't buy another bike without them. Cruise has made long rides so much more enjoyable.
Seriously considering downsizing from my ATAS to the Trans Alp, maybe even a pair if my wife likes it enough to let go of her beloved (and limited) WeeStrom. At 62 years and 5'11/190 LB, the slightly smaller and lighter Trans Alp sounds like a natural progression for me. In 15,000+ miles, I've yet to drop my AT, but with all the accessories on her I'm not looking forward to that. Probably take one more tour with my AT after test riding the Trans Alp, then make the call. The AT has been amazing and the resale value of it more than pays for a zero mileage Trans Alp. Tempting.
Honda’s big dual sport entry is the XR650.
Can you get cruise control as an upgrade or is it not offered at all
Just did a similar weekly test on my 2000 Transalp, all is still well😊That counts.
Nice! That's a classic now.
I feel Honda stays about 3-4 years behind what people might want and are very conservative. I’m waiting for the red,white and blue versions so I’m going to stay with my 2015 vstrom xta for now and get the later versions that Honda will eventually put out with all the upgrades that people want. I have been waiting for the transalp return for years now that I own the original 89 xl600v here in the US.
Same here… hopefully we will get the RWB with cruise!!! It’s ironic as I always wished my 89 TA was black like the euro models, now I want the RWB and all we get is black!!! 😂
8:17 Hope you got the 360 back :)
The Suzuki 800DE is the far better choice for me. Better suspension, more fuel capacity, better torque, and easier to pick up are few reasons. The high rev engine of the Transalp will be a nightmare off road.
And for 2024, Suzuki added a V-Strom 800 to the model, with 17/19 cast wheels. Probably what I'd go with, since I don't need the bulk and handling penalty of 21" wire wheels.
The Honda engine lugs alright but I did stall it a few times in the rough stuff.
I wonder if VVT is ever going to become a mainstream thing on motorcycles. I know the high RPM and free-revving nature of bikes makes implementing a VVT system difficult. Suzuki did it on the GSX-R1000 but that's strictly RPM based, not a hydraulic actuator, not lateral-shifting-cam lobes, not Vtec or anything of the sort.
I think it would make small engines hugely flexible to change cam phasing based on power demands in different riding conditions.
There's intake cam VVT on the Kawasaki Concours 14.
There's VVT on the Ducati V-twin (formerly the Multistrada 1200+cc bike).
There's VVT on Harley Davidsons newer engine.
There's VVT on the GSX-R1000 superbike.
There's a dual cam lobe system on BMW bikes, with lateral cam shifting (similar to Honda Vtec).
I just wonder if it will ever get as simple, reliable, or cheap on sub-1L engines outside of racing environments to use a VVT system.
If only valve control was infinitely adjustable based on ECU mapping, relative to engine demands (like Freevalve with Koenigsegg).
I absolutely agree. I'll add the location of the airfilter is a massive selling point for myself.
Riding in dirty and dusty conditions requires servicing the air filter regularly.
The Transalp airfilter us buried under the tank. No thanks.
I'm not interested in tearing the tank off of my motorcycle at least once a month, if I don't have to.
For me, that left 2 options for a new mid sized adv bike. The T7 and 800DE, (although I tested many more)
It was down to the Yamaha and the Suzuki.
No bike is perfect, we all have to objectively decide what the moto will be used for and what we are willing to compromise on, and what we will not compromise on.
I ride 10or12hrs a day, 2 or 3 days in a row, so comfort is very high on my list of priorities. At the end of the day, no matter what seat I used, the T7 wasn't nearly as comfortable as the 800.
It just isn't the seat though, it is the posture the cockpit puts someone of my build.
I can throw some money at the 800DE and have it lose weight, and make it just as good offroad, while still retaining comfort, all the tech, a full gallon of fuel more, more torque and hp, and better handling.
No matter how much money I can throw at the T7 it'll never be as comfortable.
If I already lived in the mountains, or only rode half days I'd, opt for the T7 in a heartbeat.
They are both fantastic motos, but are very different in ways.
It all depends on the users goals when determining what bike is objectively better for them.
I sat on a Transalp 750 last weekend in North Carolina and I was surprised how small it felt compared to the 800DE and the T7, I'm not saying it's a bad thing,rather an observation.
For smaller riders it will be a selling point, for taller riders it's more of a hindrance is what I am thinking
@thanassisniaros6895 depends on your definition of 'Miles ahead of'.....
The Aprilia airfilter service requires the tank to be completely taken off the motorcycle.
To me, that's unacceptable for an adventure bike.
In an adventure touring scenario,in very dusty conditions where I live, users are sise to 'knock off' or 'blow out the filter' daily.
I don't want to tank the tank off daily when riding off road, whereas the T7 and 800DE are both under the seat.
To me, if a motorcycle has its airfilter under the seat it a touring, commuting or sport touring motorcycle. Any company who is serious about making an offroad motorcycle will not bury the filter under the fuel tank. Period.
Also their dealership network is basically 1/25th that of the Japanese brands.
The 660 is known for having overheating problems too. Well documented on TH-cam. The company fights the customer on warranty work.
On paper, the 660 looks much better, but real world use and issues prove otherwise.
I test rode one, and thought it was 'ok', but not worth the problems that come with it.
If I did most of my riding on road, I'd consider it a bit more. But since there have been many documented dealership issues, and overheating problems that can not be diagnosed, the 660 is anything but 'better'.
You can't ride or own a spec sheet. We ride and own motorcycles
Excellent review! Like you, I own a T-7 and going to ride it for the next 5 years. Thanks for sharing!
If you want that midsize bike for touring and gravel roads, then the street version of the VStrom 800 will be the one to get. 17 and 19” wheels with tubeless tires, larger gas tank as well.
Yes, that one was just announced.
whatever that electronic thing on a stick above the left mirror is, it fell off at 13:06
Thanks! That was my 360 camera and I did find it.
A+. Thank you for sharing. Look forward to hearing more about this soon
I am interested in Hornet version which is not available in Canada somehow 😢 tnx for video
You mentioned the side bags, did they have some bounce or shake to them or was they a good soilid mount with out movment once weighted?
Great review! Where were you riding when you did the off road footage? Just asking because I’m also in Southern Ontario…
Hope you found your insta360!
Yep, and I need a new stick.
I can't help it.
I always see "Tran Slap" when I read this bike's name. (you lost your 3D camera @ 8:16)
Anyway.... does this machine do anything significantly better than the V-Strom 800DE? I tend to think a good Scrambler could do the offroad task just as well, without taking away from a more useful all-rounder motorcycle without the need to go full-ADV.
Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to ride the V-Strom yet. It's a bit heavier but has a larger tank and better suspension.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Ah okay. I have ridden the 800DE myself earlier this year when Suzuki demo came through the area. Also rode the GSX-8S. I really like this new powertrain, fantastic for the category. Let us all know your perspective whenever you finally get a chance to demo the Suzuki.
Absolutely fabulous review. Well done
I’d take the V-Stom on looks alone. I’m sure the Honda is a great motorcycle. It’s just very unattractive to me. Hope it looks better in person. Thanks of the review.
Yep, the Strom looks more rugged. The finish of the Honda is very nice up close and I'd love to see the white colour sheme with the gold wheels in North America.
Seeing as this is really a bike for light off road use I will be interested in comparing it to the new Suzuki touring version of the vstrom 800.
Did your camera pop off at 8:18?
Deposit down, my white due November cannot wait.
I'll keep my old Honda NX 650 Dominator, simple solid single, that does everything you could want it to, for a fraction of the price.
Looking at the transalp ended up with a Tiger 800 cruise control speaks
Thats a pretty serious skid plate for a manufacturer accessory! Well done Honda.
Cheaper than BMW 800, Tiger 900 and KTM 890adv. More capable on road than Tenere 700, and more capable off road than Vstrom 800. I think Honda went down the middle again, thankfully the more aggressive engine should make this bike a winner.
Yes, the coverage is quite impressive.
It cost $800 USD for the plate and mounting hardware!
DR650 ftw
Going with Honda CRF 300 ls. 300 lbs vs 460+ lbs.
I've been waiting for it to check it out. I'm not sure it will get me off my GL1800 Goldwing.
I am up to 78 miles and have only dropped it 3 times
Good looking bike, great video and a little bit of beautiful Canadian Indian Summer. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment! Yep, a beautiful fall this year.
Hopefully this means the CB750 Hornet will also come to the US
If it does I should be able to get on one next year.
Definitely agree with you on the colour options. Really like the white one.
Yep. The black one is nice. The red accents look good but the gold wheels are hard to beat.
Seems like this the trend these days. Make a 80 / 20 road biased bike with comfort and technology. Can’t say I disagree with this. How was it for 2 up riding?
Really comfy for my wife. She said she had lots of room and the backrest was a bonus.
Thanks for the review, i've had a Deposit on Transalp for that 3 + years, bought a 21 Africa twin DCT in 21, sold to buy a 23 Tenere 700, which is a great bike, but found it harder to pick up that my Twin was, how is the Transalp to pick up after a fall compared to the Tenere?
I never dropped it but it looks like it has a lower centre of gravity.
Yes Sir!, Glad to see the Transalp (CB500x) review.
I wanted to like this bike, but I think the Suzuki DE is a better build all around.
Suzuki, is defiantly better then Honda in reliability and build quality, cost of ownership.
Not much recent data on reliability available right now but in 2015 Suzuki and Honda were tied right near the top of all bike manufacturers.
I bought one..the white with gold wheels to go with my CB500X..👍🏍🏍
It's a slightly higher price bracket but if I was to move up to a "middleweight" adv from my ktm 390 adventure I think I'd have to stick with KTM for the 890 adventure. I have lots of offroad trails to challenge myself with but the optional cruise control would be an excellent add for longer trips. The ktm suspension is also just great and very adjustable. Thanks for the review!
If you were looking for road oriented bike why would you choose the one with tube tires and head lamp that gives no light?
Transalp also devilers high requency vibrations on handbar at high revs.
You should mention that.
…and did you recover your 360 camera? …dropped at 08:08 into the video 😮
Great video and great bike.
Comparison to the CB500X is a good thing. My son rides that, and it is close to perfect.
No cruise control seems like a huge miss on this and other comparators!
Thanks for another great video.
Tiger Coward
Thanks for the comment. Yes, the CB is a sweet bike.
@@DifferentSpokesTV you are welcome! You make great content and I am happy to support!
I'm not doing the off-roading I was when I first got it, since I have smaller bikes for that now, so I am looking at replacing my T7. I thought this would be what I would want, but I'm sorry, the looks of the Transalp just leave me cold. Since KTM is bringing the Adventure 790 into Canada for 2024 at CND$12500 (not including all the gizmos, of course) I am seriously considering that.
Thanks for this review. It is clear that if I had waited for the Transalp or the new Africa Twin adv sports, I could have saved some customizing dollars that I spent on my current Africa Twin DCT Adv Sports, which I think Honda copied when I wasn’t looking 😂, especially with all of the lowering effort I had done. Too late for me to make this a good purchase decision.
The AT is a great bike so no need to wait.
Does the Canadian version 750 transalp come with a quick shifter or is it an add on?
I was wondering if you found your camera?
You lost the camera at 8:18 !!!!! ps: how are footpeg and handlebar vibrations at highway speed? Just tested Vstrom800DE... terrible footpeg vibration from 120kmh
I found it and it survived. I didn't notice the vibrations at high speeds so I guess they were fine. I'll try to get on the V-Strom next year.
Seems like it costed you a insta360 to make this video at 8:17
Yeah, good catch. I picked it up and the camera is fine. Need a new stick though.
why tubes!!!! why 16l tank?
But which would you be more comfortable abusing on and off road? T7 or TA?
I'm sticking with my T7 but the Transalp is a slightly better pavement bike. I'll have to do a whole video comparison soon.
I note your camera fell off... hope you got it back 😮
Good eye. I had to stop and walk back for it. Fortunately it's fine but I need a new stick.
90 hp but not in the USA. Cut back to 83hp.
EPA filings from honda.
Thanks for the info. I'm guessing there's an aftermarket fix.
How is it for a new rider?
Nice review…keeping my F800GS
Good choice! It's a bit of a higher level bike.
damn you dropped your insta360 @8:17
They lost me at the color option
Hopefully by next year we'll get the white one.
Love the videos! I’m an O&M Specialist trying to get in touch with Brooke. Is there an email to contact?
Adam
Tubeless wheels??
Fire road capable in the PNW?
Totally fine on fire roads and even decent on rougher trails. Most riders don't expect more than that from a mid sized ADV.
@@DifferentSpokesTV true enough. Great vid review man. Keep it up!
Did you find your Insta360? 😀
you gonna review the new vstrom?
Can't get one yet.
Beautiful bike for sure but I would prefer tubeless tires and a shaft drive personally .
Then i suggest You check out the brilliant Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer DCT.
@@Alexanderpaal67 Not in Canada that I can see . I'm not a speed or power freak at 60 and this is the reason I tend to look at Moto Guzzi for their Italian design , shaft drive and tubeless tires .
Yes, lots of people agree with you. Shaft drive is hard to find at this price point. Only the Moto Guzzi V85TT has it in this class of bikes. Otherwise you have to move up to much bigger bikes.
Anyone know the hp we get in Canada? 90 or 83?
this is better than T7 since T7 is a big dirt machine
It's tempting but I'm waiting on Kawasaki to bring out a Versys-X 400. I just don't like the weight of the Transalp and 300Km is a limited range for where I go in the mountains. And, grip angle?! To much technology...My Versys-x 300 will get almost 450km on it's 17L tank when I cruising on gravel roads and it's much lighter to pick out of the mud!