Honda’s affordable new XL750 Transalp impresses both on- and off-road | MCN Review
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- #Honda #Transalp #review
Neevesy has been out on the launch of the new Honda XL750 Transalp. Watch his video verdict here and read the review at the link: www.motorcycle...
We'd love to hear your views so get them down in the comment section!
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"If you want to go seriously off road, buy a enduro bike..." This phrase should be a mantra for all adventure bike testers. Great job as always.
perhaps some prefer the extra challenge of a bigger bike as someone who has riidden trail bikes 250-600 and competition orientated 250-450 enduro bikes on the trail, a large majority of UK and Euro legal trails can and are ridden by a reasonably skilled rider in reasonable ground conditions on an ADV bike. Where upon there is little challenge to a similar rider on a 450 exc unless he is doing 50mph, the feeling of achievment can be great for the guy who has just done it feet up clean on a GS1200, way too much blah, blah lead by the mainstream media look a little to the left and right for some more interesting points of view usually those where Honda and co are not picking up the hotel bills it appears to me once journo's aquire the taste for corporate promo's they become addicted- I'd probably be the same .
Is this bike even available in the U.S.? I've been on a rampage lately in the RUclips comments, complaining about the awful enduros that Americans have been offered by the big manufacturers. The KLR650 was the only good enduro for the last 25 years. How is that even a real offering? 35 rear wheel horsepower, with a single cylinder engine and no 6th gear? How is that acceptable? It's not acceptable. It's not. The KLR SHOULD have been offered with a parallel twin, at least 25 years ago. The manufacturers seem to want Americans riding 200 horsepower street machines, or 40 horsepower dirtbikes, and nothing in between.
Not everyone wants to go 60 to 70 mph on trails running over things and everyone. With exhaust you can hear 5 miles away. Get a life.
Yeah some of us are competent on dirt and want a larger bike between above an enduro that is still 50kg less than an Africa Twin - for ALOT of buyers this bike misses the goal posts and Honda still has a pretty large gap in it's range for a huge portion of actual offroad riders. With the low slung exhaust pushing the engine higher in the frame for it's given ground clearence and about 20-30mm short on suspension travel and tbh more power and engine size than the bike needs in kg for a light/middle adv bike. Be great if they went down a similar line as the 890 range with an adventure and adventure R variant however the architecture of this bike for riding offroad is flawed from the start unfortunately so there isn't really any fixing this model to fit the light/middle adv class still lacking from Honda. I'm certain many Australian's like me are looking at this like a lost opportunity as we all want a tenere 700/XLV650 equivelant from Honda or Honda build quality in a KTM Adventure R. Great bike for certain riders, just not what many were hoping for.
I'm confused, what liar informed you that the Transalp 750 was a enduro bike? That's includes all the adventure bikes, including the $25K ones. It was never designed to do enduro, that's why it's street legal or comfortable on the road getting to your destination. Why are you comparing Honda's models in this review?.
This looks like the bike to get for people like me who doesnt really care about all the bells and whistles. Just an honest good bike that has great fundamentals and is priced right. I'm excited, very nice!
it's priced too high for what it offers.
Agree. Bells, whistles and Nanny State controls are just more crap that adds weight and reduces reliability. Caveat: Unless you're one of those rich people who get a new vehicle every 5 minutes. In which case....get a KTM
@@francescoporcari8597 Its the cheapest bike in its class. The t7 on paper doesnt really have that much as well but everyone who rode it loved it and this is has more features than the T7 with a btter engine. If u want fancy stuff maybe go buy european but dont expect hassle-free ownership that comes with japanese bikes.
@@francescoporcari8597 how much cheaper could this bike possibly be?
@@norbertovillarealiii6750 how is it a better engine than T7s? T7 has the most reliable engine right now an we will see about the Transalp. They are also different bikes. T7 is a real off-road bike the Transalp is more a road bike that can go off-road :)
Still riding my XL600 from 1990, which I bought as my first bike 2 years ago. Enjoyed every minute on it so the release and timing of the XL750 seems pretty ideal for my second one. Excited to try it.
XL600 was a blast, had one for ages, excellent 👌
Look up Redfleming . It's my RUclips channel I have my 1996 alp and I have a green 95 aswell
That bike is almost 200 lbs heavier than your xl600.
Åøm
Juu😅j
Don’t believe the legacy hype. The bike will be complety something else
I've been hoping neevsey would review this one. Seems like a lot of initial internet criticism is unwarranted. Looks like a fantastic all rounder which is what its meant to be.
Of course it is but it’s no africa twin - Thsts not to say that it’s not fantastic, just in different ways
Respect! Such a good report. I love reading and watching reports from MCN, especially from Neevesy. I'm from Bavaria, more precisely from Franconian Switzerland. A very nice motorcycle area. I think British motorcycle reports are better than German ones. This may be due to the fact that in Germany motorcycles are no longer used as much in everyday life and are often just purely for fun. Anyway, I will give your channel more importance than any other in the world. You're such a good journalist, Mr. Neeves. Come to my area with the highest concentration of breweries in the world. Over 100 breweries. I will be your Tourguide.
Who doesn’t like touring Bavaria from England on a bike and sampling those great beers? Great roads to and hospitable people - lovely.
I think there are a lot if us in England who would enjoy the trip!
Put my name down for that tour
Hut ab! Ihr Englisch ist verdammt gut. Die meisten Engländer machen deutlich mehr Fehler. Ich hasse es, dass meine Muttersprache so vergewaltigt wird. Besonders durch die Werbung.
So am Rande: Bayern ist echt geil. Dort haben die Menschen irgendwie eine bessere Erziehung und Bildung. Schönen Tag noch.
@@christiangrendel9893 Viele Reisen mit Bike im englischsprachigen Raum und jeden Montag English Conversation Group in der Bücherei 😉
What a fantastically thorough and articulate review. I appreciate the references to so many other bikes that have come before and exist now. Puts this bike in clear context. I also appreciate the modesty of skill presented and how this bike is therefore great for most riders who don’t aspire to be another Chris Birch! 😊 Well done MCN, and Honda!!
My early biking days were on BSA, Triumph and Norton. I never found parallel twins to be boring ❤
Things really have gone full circle haven't they. British manufacturers always thought parallel twins were best for performance, cost, packaging, handling etc ...turns out they were right all along 😮
@@nickrider5220 "Being right" doesn't mean siht, when the crap loses oil as well as screws right out of the showrooms 😁
First P twin I rode was a mate's Yamaha TDR 250 as a teenager and that was definitely not boring!
@@DanTube2010 Spicy 2-strokers are mostly, if not always, good fun 😁
100 years old (and hardly further developed) technology on the other hand...
Correct, they definitely weren't boring - mine kept me fully occupied watching them self-destruct...
What's with these manufacturers not including cruise - or even offering it?! Given this engine and physical configuration is so well suited to longer journeys, both the Hornet and the Transalp are screaming for cc. And for anyone who says this is just a bunch of arm-waving, if you haven't enjoyed cc on a several hour trip, you don't know. This and the new parallel twins at Suzuki are absolutely perfect for ANY cruising/touring aid. Great review, and so exciting to see so many incredible bikes at our disposal. If cruise magically appears, I might have to think about replacing my '18 V-Strom 1K (which doesn't have cc either!).
Totally agree!!! What’s with these new japanese bikes like the Transalp and V-strom 800 without cruise!!!! Wake up!!! Any one who rides multiple several hundred mile days in a row cherish cruise-control. I won’t even consider road bike without cruise control anymore. This is the second miss in in 2023 by a japanese manufacturer. I bet Aprilia is sitting back and gleaming as the sales increase more and more having offered a great standard equipment package on the Tuareg.
Buy one of those manual throttle locks for £20 as a work around although I agree it’s a curious oversight by Honda
They are holding back so in 3 years they can offer a revised edition with cruise control to boost more sales of an updated version.
I placed my order for the new Transalp last month, without seeing one in the flesh and obviously no reviews to read at that time. It just seemed to tick all the right boxes for me, low weight, nice looks (no stupid beak), practical and affordable. So pleased to see my faith was bourne out in this review. Can't wait for mine to arrive...
Coming from years of mountain biking prior to getting my first motorcycle several years ago, I'd like to say that the old Transalp is much better off-road than just "little gravel path" riding.
The lack of cruise control is very disappointing, just like with the smaller Tiger. At this point, in 2023, it's a major insult by companies forcing you to get their unnecessarily larger, heavier and pricier bikes just for a simple thing like cruise control.
Agree.
I agree but its the same thing that I don't manufacturers do to differentiate models.
Great review. I am absolutely sold. Except my current country of residence has a 125cc limit! But as a soon as I move back to the real world... this thing is mine!!
I'm assuming that the States has to wait a year for this bike and its sibling, the Hornet. There are just too many potential buyers to get enough built for the US dealers I suppose. I'm sure there will be plenty of pent up demand. Michael Neeves always gives the best reports on new models. He nails the "use case" or target audience better than anyone else. He also goes deeply into the ergonomics and road manners with insightful details and reveals the bike's inner character. Nice job Mr. Neeves. Looks like this bike will steal a lot of riders from the T-7 pool.
This bike is not in the same class as the T7. The Tenere is narrower and has more ground clearance and more off road biased suspension than the Transalp. The Honda is a road touring biased bike that can do light fire lanes or well maintained two tracks. The Yamaha is more trail oriented but capable of putting miles on the pavement.
Buyers will fall into one camp or the other but I doubt the Honda will take T7 buyers from Yamaha.
I certainly would not take the Transalp on a BDR but the T7 would be well suited to it. This of course relies on rider ability to want to wrestle heavy bikes on a BDR route. Obviously people do take the big BMW’s and such but have to avoid much of the harder break away sections that lighter bikes are more suited for.
All that being said, the Transalp does look like a great bike for longer road trips. Plenty of power, generous seat, compliant suspension and 18/21 wheels to eat the bumps.
@@michiganmoto7687 I wonder how the numbers will sort out between the least costly bikes in this sector. The T-7 ($10.5k) now has competition from the new Suzuki 800DE ($11.4k) and soon the new Honda TransAlp ($10.2k? guess). The people who are more hard core dirt riders are going to either spend money improving the suspension on the T-7 or moving up to the 890 Adventure ($14.0k) which is really a jump up in spec and dirt-ability.
The Beemer F series and the Triumph Tiger are mostly road bikes with fire road ability and too under suspended and/or heavy. Maybe the Honda will steal those customers and some from the many T-7 potential customers that aren't that interested in off-road treks. How many "Adventure Bikes" actually see anything more difficult than the occasional fire road or forestry road?
A Middle Weight Adventure Test will tell us a lot more. The suspension on the Honda seems like the worst aspect. That's fixable but not cheaply. The T-7 is probably better than the Honda but they both need improvement for serious adventure riding, at least from what I've read. I haven't ridden any of these bikes but I'm looking and comparing their attributes. Yamaha will probably come out with a revised T-7 in a year or two and will be much improved and have a higher price.
@@marscruz In the UK the T700 is the most expensive out of TransAlp, 790 adventure, and the Tuareg (as there are good dealer deals on the Tuareg). The 800DE is about £300 more expensive.
In Japan, England and Australia we travel on the right side of the road that is the Left side ! So it will take longer to supply the American market because Honda will have to re engineer the Transalp to travel on the wrong side of the road ! 🤣
@@Gmac237 I hear that the winker conversion is really tricky. I owned two Norton Commandos back in the day and I still find myself trying to shift with the wrong foot in the wrong direction!
You can’t argue with Neevesy, well you could , but you’d be just wrong 😂 love his reviews always spot on, seems effortless but he always also delivers a super comprehensive review. Looks a class leader .
He is bike journalist and not a youtuber. He earned the respect and done his apprenticeship
Really pleased that the TA has received such a great review from you after some of the misguided negative views from other channels that haven't even ridden the bike. I've been considering the AT but I think the TA would suit me better. Many thanks.
To get such a glowing review from Neeves is very rare, indeed. Must be a great bike!
I love the look of this bike ... the classy Honda colour scheme is very reminiscent of an old single cylinder XL600L I used to beat about on ... if this new XL just had a red engine too then it would be perfect 😉
Still riding my 87xl600.
Ripped Kawasaki this time...Honda are famous for such things
@@williamrae9954 not sure what you mean by 'ripped Kawasaki' ... could you expand on that please?
@@MotoGoato put either side on view together, a clone...just as Honda did with a Range Rover in the States
@@williamrae9954 which Kawasaki are you referring to?? The only adventure-ish bikes Kawasaki sell currently (in the country I live in at least) are the Versys 1000 and 650 which have very different styling to the new Honda.
a great "first look" guys, nice job! This smaller size than the Africa Twin was pretty interesting to me.... I just wish they would have done a "premium" version as well, with cruise control, Android Auto and a DCT. I'm probably a minority on wanting those things, but they are "deal breakers" for me. I get wanting to compete at a low price point though.
What a cracking review. What a bike! At least the long wait has been worth it. I think there is going to be a lot of people on the waiting list. 😊
No cruise control? No problem! Preservative aesthetics? No problem! Tyres with tube? Now that’s a problem!! Huge one
Thank you for the review (finally one in English :) )! I'm so happy that the bike didn't disappoint. I've ordered one in Jan, should be here in a few weeks, and looking forward to see how it looks in real life. I absolutely agree on your comment on the CB500X - it really is more than the sum of its parts (I would know - I'm trading in mine for the Translap), and I'm really glad to hear that this is something similar in that aspect :)
I'll second that, I love my cb500x so much that there is no way I could trade it. I'm 63 y/o and owned a lot of bikes and the little cb is special to me. Good luck with your Transalp I'm sure it will be a keeper too.
I have a cb500x as well and yes it is definitely a bike that is much better than it seems on paper. When you live in the rocky mountains and all of your roads are terrible, rocky, pot hole filled, salt-corroded, etc, the plush suspension and great wind protection are so much appreciated. The transalp just seems to be more of what makes these 50/50 bikes so compelling and enjoyable
Just great to see a load of value middleweights - tho when I wuz a lad a 750 was a big bike - that are actually pretty good. These Hondas, the Suzi 800s, the 660 Triumphs and Yamaha 700s. Proving a good bike doesn't need to be gold plated, cost close or over 20k, and have at least 170hp.
Good job of the review as ever, owned the previous gen one for 2 or 3 years loved it but it needed more power and here we are 15years later.
There are so many good bikes out there currently it’s hard to decide ultimately what’s best for each person. After a lifetime of high performance superbikes I’ve realised that so often less is more. This is a bike I’ve wanted to try for a longtime and sounds perfect for my needs as I get older.
What is it with bike companies refusing to put cruise control on their mid-range bikes? For adventure riding I'd much prefer this over something like the GS or an Africa Twin which I find too heavy and too expensive to be going off road but, damn, I'm not going touring on a bike without cruise control! Maybe I'm just spoiled :P
We just want a lighter 750 africa twin like what we had in the 90s. Bullet proof, light, aggressive, competitive adv bike right from the showroom. This doesnt look like that bike, but the engine has potential.
Thanks for the review, nice imputs much appreciated! I order this bike just after the EICMA, look forward to recieve it in June, and hopefully test ride it in March. How come it came so fast in your country?
No cruise control !? That sucks. Heard tail subframe is welded not bolted as well.?
Honda CRF300L Rally looks like a better deal, if not doing too much highway speeds.
Nice review👍👍, but I would go with the Aprilia Tuareg. The Tuareg have tubeless tires (big issue I think), it have longer and fully adjustable suspension, it have the mentioned CC, and is only 204kg with bashplate and hand guard.
I agree with you only thing is dealer support, Aprilla doesn't have it, Honda does, I moved away from Honda to KTM and have to travel an hr to find a main dealer for a service etc, i have 2 Honda main dealers within 20 mins, for me this matters in the long term
Great review, great bike! So glad to hear that the bike delivers...I am a sporty rider. Really looking forward to giving this engine the beans. I already love the engine of my 1100 Africa Twin so much. Grunt, character and sound...❤ Will keep my beloved AT for my offroad adventures.
But I will get my Transalp in May. Can't wait to hit the curvy roads...
By the way: Why the AT is still king? Quality, DCT, looks, Android auto and Apple carplay, superior suspension, cruise control, IMU, bolted rear frame, better offroad bike, etc...
But for the road I will love my little Transalp. So I don't have to change between road and offroad tires on my Africa Twin.
Cant wait for a group test! Looks awesome.
Looks sensational. I also think the lack of cruise control is a bit odd. Besides the usual wrist relief you always mention, there's also just the mental relief of having one less thing to focus on, and makes a big impact when you string multiple really long riding days together.
Not odd, but missed by plenty of people. Tenere and v-storm don’t have it either.
I’d expect an adventure sport model in a year or two with it and DCT
@@patarchibald303 I wouldn't unless they change the engine. It won't work with the dct. The reason the other bikes don't rev past 6k is the dct.
@@chrishart8548 Africa Twin doesn’t rev past 6k? I didn’t know it was such a low revving engine
@SLAKK makes maximum power @ 7500rpm i would have thought it would be lower being 1000cc only making 93hp the transalp makes its maximum at 9500rpm. It wouldn't work well as an automatic.
In my twilight years - thin seat, no screen adjustment, no DCT, and (moreover) no cruise. These are dealbreakers. They missed the mark for us older touring riders looking for a lighter, sub liter adv tourer.
It's not that parallel twins are boring. They are just different and I like the character of other engine types more. It's a preference.
I hope you don't feel the need to needlessly defend these p-twins. They are just easier and cheaper to make (for euro emissions as well) and package it seems. They are in my opinion the "safe" engine choice. Take that as you will.
I might test-ride this but I don't think it would be very high on my list. Wish them the best in sales.
I know what you mean. The modern p-twin with their super extreme tolerances, balancer shafts and the like bring cost reductions to manufacturers and, in turn, Joe Public. But give me a characterful V-twin any day. The old Brit’ twins had vibes aplenty and character, of course, but also reliability issues if not spannered regularly.
New Parallel twins with 270 cranks are not the twins of yesteryear (I love me a p-twin, KZ750 twin, GS500, and an interceptor 650) They all make roughly the same power but the sound of my interceptor is head and shoulders better than anything else I own. I am hoping this comes to the USA which still hasn't been confirmed. If Honda keeps this to around 10k then they will have bike that will sell like hotcakes.
Great review. Brilliantly done!!! This TransAlp looks exciting 😎🔥
Never thought an AVD bike would ever be described as 'cuddly', hahaha.
Exactly why I love watching Neevesy and MCN.
Very nicely described. One thing I noticed though, at the start you talk about the Honda striking gold with the engine in general 'loads of low down power" - 0:53. Yet in the Hornet review you describe the engine as peaky.
My dad just got one yesterday here in Canada. I got to ride it about 25km in the evening, really liked it. It’s a lovely thing. Very easy to ride, very stable, it just works. Could it be prettier? 100%. But it’s a nice bike.
I bought an ‘89 Transalp in college still have it today with over 80k on the engine. I own an ‘03 VFR Interceptor as well and love them both, I’m super excited to take the new Transalp for a spin and see how the upgrades feel and will definitely have a sit down at the dealer when the bikes arrive
Interested to hear from a Honda spokesperson as to why they didn't include Cruise control. Apart from that, I agree with you about it being the better bike for most riding than the Africa Twin - does that have Cruise control?
Sure does! Makes no sense at all why the Transalp doesn't have cruise control. What a shame.
@@mikemcmurray2506 Very poor marketing given the way 100k zones are saturated with speed cameras. No leeway anymore. Road toll is up 20 deaths on what it was this time last year so the Pollies are on the back of the cops to get toll down.
Does mean you have to watch your speed,engage cruise control - don't get a bike without it.
Top review! Bike is very nice over all but the lack of cruise control is shame, also I feel like there is too much plastics on the front and around the dash. I can't say I like the face of the bike. Rather have the T7.
Neevecy is the defacto authority on motorcycles. I am now in Greece and I know I can trust his judgement. I am sick of a lot of other journalists that try to justify the free hospitality they get from the factories. MCN values great motorcycle journalists!
Awesome! What a year. When it rains it pours. Decisions decisions. Gorgeous new Cosmic Yellow 765 or bike to go play on the gravel and ride Mama to lunch...
Nice review Michael...how does it handle for two passengers?
looks good and sounds good what's the price as i have not seen any prices for this yet .
Great review. No cruise control...Damn! Decision time. CFmoto 800mt or TA?
FINALLY!
The first English TransAlp review!
Not quite but close… Great review as always though.
It looks great and certainly seems to ride well but when you add some of the kit that comes as standard on the competitors (bash plate, heated grips, etc.) what does the price look like then?
Yep. In Australia, last month you could get the 800mt cfmoto with aluminium panniers, top box, cruise control, heated gear, fog lights, bash plate, centre stand ... equivalent of 2000 quid less than this UK Honda. And yes the Honda will be significantly dearer than the 800mt in Australia.
Cruise control is a major omission, especially in a country like Oz.
GROUP TEST PLEASE!!! Very curious how this ranks for tasks like Backcountry Discovery Routes or mixed overland routes.
in 2011, I took my 1986 Honda XL600V Transalp halfway around the world! Did it easily and I would suggest this new one would be much the same!
This bikes gonna be huge this year,,as long as Honda can make enough to ship out. I’ve only just got a Honda nc750x, but the transalp could very definitely encourage me to trade up.
Great review by the way 👍
I've been calling all over for months trying to find an NC750x. I gave up. Now this looks to be my new thing to drool over, probably will run into the same problem
I want to buy a NC750DCT
Hope they bring out an X version with tubeless tyres and maybe an 18 or 19" front. I honestly can't see where the extra $$ over the Hornet has been spent.
because there's nothing there but "image".
If engines maketh the bike, does Suzuki’s new parallel twin maketh a better bike than Honda’s Transalp? And, with due respect to the knee bone being connected to the shin bone, what are the parts connected to either engine that determines a better engine?
That transalp 750 is much unlike any Honda. Very rarely does Honda tune engines to 120hp/litre. Usually below 100hp/litre. This bike is just as powerful as the 790 adv and it also has a lighter wet weight. If an adjustable rear shock like the Tenere's KYB is fitted instead of the 'No-Showa', this transalp is a winner!
Nice review. It looks great & the engine sounds like a gem but it's a road bike through & through & is quite superficial so seemingly an adventure bike in name only. It's good value but looks like it's all for show & cheap because the chassis isn't actually spec'd that well suspension wise to be a truly accomplished dual purpose bike. All fine as long as you know what you're getting I guess.
Another excellent review of a great bike by the sounds of it - the 'mid' capacity Adventure bike class has another contender for the title of best all rounder. I really like the colour of the one you were riding as it strikes a balance between the original 600 and contemporary colour schemes. It appears that Honda have created an impressive powerplant with the 755cc engine which hits the sweet spot of being fun to use, sounds great (induction and exhaust) and is fast enough with reasonable fuel economy. Looking forward to a test ride on one sometime this year hopefully👍👍
Now they're going to shove this 750 engine in anything they can get their hands on. i wish they would make a scrambler instead. something like the ducati desert sled.
Cbr750r too
Heard of the CL500? If that takes off in the sales charts, they might go ahead with a CL750...
@@DonnyTrent5533 but it's a Munter they need to employ someone in the styling department...an Italian would be perfect
They just made the 300 and 500 scrambler, so they might make a 750 scrambler
@Paul Ridgeway they already did with the 500, 300, 250, 125 so I'm not sure why a 'sport tourer' style 750 wouldn't work.
now I can look forward to my transalp even more ... so nice .. great test
I loved the transalp as a youth in the 80's but couldn't afford that, or the Kawa GPZ 650 turbo. Damn. Might have to get one!
Great review! So a taller guy like me with 183cm a standing position won't be so comfy? Thanks
Will it come with a dct option and a option for cruise control
great review!!!! This Honda is very impressive, however "for me, myself and I" I NEED cruise control. Hopefully, Honda will offer it as an option?!?
This bike is not for sale in the USA yet, according to Honda website. Why do I feel like it's not going to be sold in North America at all?
Nice looking bike, if I hadn’t bought a V85tt last year, which I love, I’d be considering one of these. Would probably want to fit some aftermarket cruise control though. Silly to have left it out. Hope you enter the V85tt into your upcoming comparison vid.
Not bad. I'd still rather have a Africa Twin with the same 750cc engine though.
Please make one Honda😁
Just superb reporting and analysis 👌hope mcn appreciates you!
Another brilliant review. Like the transalp a lot.
Can’t believe Honda didn’t put cruise control on this bike , that would’ve been a selling point for me.
go fetch a Turareg, bro
I want mine to have an inbuilt AI that can ride it without me needing to be there.....oh wait....
@@davidnobular9220 Make sure to strip your bikes of everything unnecessary. Who needs foam on their seats? Tachometers are just a distraction. Quit being a wimp and toss that windscreen too while you’re at it.
Buy a throttle clip, works well
@@fivespeed3026 Yeah !!
Would love one of these. I guess the lack of cruise is a model differentiator; it could decimate the AT market otherwise. Unfortunately it may just sway people towards the smaller BMW's which do have options for those luxuries. Often the way electronic packages work these days is that the option is already embedded, and can be turned on if the option is bought - in other words it's relatively cheap to do and annoying when they choose not to offer it.
You may be right about a model differentiator, but I don't want the bigger heavier bike that has cruise. This is common technology, and it should be standard like it is on just about every car now. Cruise control also enhances safety, as it allows you to pay attention to the traffic situation, instead of watching your speedometer for speed limit compliance.
"internet economists" are overreacting when it comes to how much this bike 'overlaps' with Honda Africa Twin buyers. Look, people with lots of money to spend who want to buy the best available are still just going to buy the africa twin anyway. But instead of only being able to appeal to people with lots of money who are willing to buy the best, but only the best, now they have a bike that more frugal buyers can actually afford. The africa twin is still going to handle better offroad and it's still going to be far more comfortable on the road as well, given that it weighs more and has much greater displacement to give a more planted and also smoother ride.
As a 2020 CB500x owner, I'm really annoyed about the lack of cruise control. Living in Canada, we have massive and long stretch of highways and as nice as a throttle lock is, it's simply not as safe or convenient as cruise. I have no doubt this will be a hit but come on Honda.... You didn't have to cheap out on the cruise lol
Would you ride it across the USA? If only it had cruise control..........
Sounds like bike of the year, and best 270 degree crank engine on the market. Bravo Honda
What a nice looking bike with plenty of potential. So glad it hasn't got cruise control...
I think honda did their homework and built a bike that most of the people that buy an ADV bike will actually use most of the time, with the exception of the cruise control, we wanted that. Most of us aren't going to take a new bike through really rough off road terrain in reality so they made a gravel road/ nice comfortable riding bike that would be great for long trips, if we had that cruise control 😀
I wonder if it will come the USA this time. Not having cruise control though is a deal breaker for me.
Great to get an english review, I had a 650 TA back in the day, great bike but lacked power for the road, this solves that issue, tanks a bit small though, pity it's not a 20 lt tank.
Not sure about the tubed wheels and hope the spokes aren't going to rust like the early crf1000 Africa Twins.
I remember racing to catch a ferry on a Gen2 T/A,was like riding a bike with asthma!
first review I've seen of this bike, fantastic!
Looks great and long awaited! I have an Africa Twin so I am going to get the NC750X next (cruise control) for touring, but the Transalp is just so nice.
Why not a new africa twin? 500lbs and has lots of electronic stuff including cruise.
The lack of cruise control is a real disappointment. Needs to at least be an option, if not standard.
Go buy a miata.
@@getinit56 I'm not a hairdresser
@@TheLucas2696 haha.
Use a throttle lock in place of cruise if a need rather than a nice to have
Wait for 2024 modal maybe got upgrade.
Great review and lovely to hear big H have nailed an exciting and fun bike. One gripe - I’d swap all that G-mode (and other five) crap for cruise control! Honda! Pronto! Please?
You're really making me wanna buy one of these neevesy. I had just barely settled on a used GSX-S750 and now I'm contemplating one of these big time lol
Considering this bike this year if it ever is introduced in the United States. How do you all think this will compare to a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro? Thanks.
The Tiger 900 gt pro is a premium bike and better in nearly every way. Costs a ton more though.
@Domas Vosylius this Transalp is barely off-road capable itself, so weight is not much of a concern. Very minimal ground clearance and only gravel mode, which is a clue that it's designed towards road riding primarily. Let alone the weaker suspension with only preload adjustments. Definitely not an off-road contender. The Gt pro would handle gravel and smooth dirt roads perfectly fine.
Best motorcycle reviewer!
I'm in the process of swapping parts on my 1973 CB750 from a cafe racer to a Transalp style terrain traveler
To me Honda is not only a fantastic brand but also a producer that is well-known for announcing new bikes in the "adventure stable" and then not delivering any real capabilities outside the asphalt. Thus, there is only one thing I would like to know about this bike: is it any near to T7 and Tuareg suspension-wise? Or is it another on-road "neither tour nor enduro" bike which is price-competitive only before you buy a few accessories?
Bike looks amazing, great review also. I am super iffy about the exhaust position, the pipe running underneath the bike could potentially be an issue with it being an adv bike wouldn't you think?
IMO the Desert X is the best looking adv bike by far, but the power of the new transalp is perfect for an ADV bike, and also the capacity is the perfect capacity and weight, you get smething with enough lug to do multiple day cruising and something that can carry you through the outback really well.
Yeah, all those C/C people can spunk £5000 at their wee switch, and buy a Ducati?
Comfort, which one between this and the Tracer 9 ?
All it needs now is a decent looking square headlight like the 1st gen, cruise control, bolt on rear subframe and most importantly tubeless 19/17 wheels.
They'll probably get it right after 3 updates, like they did with the cb500x...
Absolutely fantastic presentation!
Looks great, sounds great. I'd definitely buy this
Another excellent review from Mr Neeves. I want one.
I am just so chuffed about this bike - and I'm not even English! I am, however, in the US so it looks like I'll be waiting a bit. I hope it's just a few months. Your review is kind of exactly what I was hoping it would be. Yea, I'll be checking the Honda US site daily.
Excellent video and review. I'm really interested in the Transalp. Just wish my local Honda dealer wasn't so dreadful.
Any word if the Transalp will be available with the DCT transmission?
Do we get this here in the states?
I have a cb500x and yes, just like the TransAlp, it is definitely a bike that is much better than it seems on paper. When you live in the rocky mountains and all of your roads are terrible, rocky, pot hole filled, salt-corroded, etc, the plush suspension and great wind protection are so much appreciated. The TransAlp just seems to be more of what makes these 50/50 bikes so compelling and enjoyable
I hope they make a retro standard or cafe version out of this platform, it sounds like a great road engine and chassis.
The GB750 (might not go down well with the Irish?),Is stunning, and all the CB500 offroad stuff should fit directly onto it?
@@williamrae9954 why would they call it GB? that's bloody stupid.
Gah, when does it hit the states? After that stellar review I want one.
Why the heck no cruise control? Blows my mind 🤯
A 2023 bike interview,speaking actually about the motor,suspension,feeling and capabilities,than electronic systems and buttons.Totally loved that.Good job Honda,good job MCN!
(You can unleash the British guys with motors like that 😈)
Nice to hear praise for this bike... personally I would have liked the suspension and ground clearance to be more comparable to the latest T7 but to counter that, the price and value of this bike is super punchy! Good job Honda. Fingers crossed for a Rally Edition later for the offroad nutters
Even back in the day, the Tenere was more off road focused than road biased transalp of the day