Well... I beat up the bike pretty good, and I'm just getting started. Are your perceptions of the Transalp changing? Mine are! People said it was boring, not capable, not competitive off road. I think that's all totally wrong. In this series I'll try to prove it. 🏍TODAY’S GEAR: ⚡ Alpinestars Halo Glove: imp.i104546.net/21WgmQ ⚡ Klim Krios Pro Helmet : bit.ly/34ekJLL ⚡ MSR Adventure Boot: bit.ly/433bSVY ⚡ Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans: imp.i104546.net/BXa310 ⚡ Alpinestars Halo Jacket: imp.i104546.net/GmDVP6 ⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: bit.ly/3OiE5Ss ⚡ Foamerz Glasses: imp.i104546.net/DKQa9b ⚡GoPro Hero11: amzn.to/40VM1Oy ⚡PurplePanda Helmet Mic: amzn.to/3vkL7Ni ➕SUPPORT➕ [I may receive commissions which are invested back into the channel] ⚡ Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia ⚡ Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/33kgRIz ⚡ Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN ⚡ Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto ⚡ Pacific Powersports (Motoz Tires, Barkbusters): pacificpowersports.com/ USE CODE BRM2024 ⚡ 3D Cycle Parts: www.3dcycleparts.com/?aff=3 ⚡ Taco Moto : tacomoto.co/?ref=fi6gv640 ⚡ Cyclops Adventure Sports: tinyurl.com/2kaknpfn ⚡ Amazon: amzn.to/3viGZ0A ⚡ Merchandise: big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/
I would love to see you take a minimalist approach on mods particularly with the armor. It sounds like this might be a great lighter weight platform. Something I could downsize to from my Tiger 1200. From the looks of it, mounting a skid plate is going to be a challenge.
V Strom is an overall better bike which serves the purpose and better value for the money spent. By the way, how often do you use all the features and gimmicks you have paid for, unless you are an avid and hardcore adventure biker?
My perceptions have not changed. The sump design boggles the mind (probably the worst design I have seen in recent history). The things you turn off come back on when you turn off the key (even professional journalists that test bikes for a living had unplanned offs on previous Honda models with the same issue). To make matters worse despite deep pockets and massive resources Honda continues to have the worst off-road TC and ABS in the industry (which would be less annoying if things did not keep turning themselves back on every time you switch off the key). Nearly every other manufacturer has managed to figure out these last two points to some degree, I can find no logical reason that Honda cannot. What the Transalp is trying to be is not an Africa Twin (marketing and sales strategy win over giving the customer what they want yet again).
@@jkmayhem thanks for confirmation. I wonder if anywhere on the metric system actually uses metric drives on tools, or at least labels it 12.5mm, 9mm, etc.
I said I was looking forward to this series and here with episode 2 you are definitely not disappointing 👍 Already you are testing this bike far more thoroughly than any other tester I’ve seen and in doing so are really giving me the information I want before laying my money down…. Looking forward to the remainder of the series
Aside from Ian just being really good at what he does, he actually buys these bikes which affords him utter autonomy in how far he will go to prove a bike. Most content here comes from folks with loaner bikes and they have to be returned in good condition. You won’t see them doing drop tests.
Ian I love how you really go deep on these videos, to the point of even dropping them to see what we can expect. These are things we can’t expect from a content creator who only does demo rides.
These are the kind of reviews we need. Most reviews never go into this ammount of detail or actually show us the bikes capapbilities in real time. This review style is a breath of fresh air and really gives potential buyers a realistic idea of how the bike really is before riding one themselves. Great content!
Great first ride and test, thank you Ian! You have already pushed the limits way further than I have in 4000 km on mine. Further than I am ever likely too, so that is really appreciated. The new Transalp is the best bike I have ever owned or ridden in 50 years of riding, so Honda has made this old man very happy.
Okay when a review video starts out with him dogging the crap out of it and basically throwing it on its side just to get back on it and dog on it some more is rather satisfying. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us when I say that we are sometimes afraid to get a little rough and heavy with our toys because they are expensive and we don't want them to break. Seeing someone else beat on something harder than we would and seeing it survive is peace of mind in a sense because it tells some of us that we are not near the limits yet. Thank you for this.
Ian delivers again with what is going to be the best Transalp review on the internet. Can’t wait to see all the mods coming including off road tires, skid plates, crash bars, and improved suspension. This should be amazing!!!
150 miles on mine and loving it. I bought it for what it is, knowing the things I would need to upgrade like skid plate, crash bars, etc. But I am pleasantly surprised that it's so comfortable, light feeling compared to my 17 AT, and the motor is a character for sure. Not a powerhouse, it likes being run through the revs, but it's a great bike that will be used for 90 percent work commuting and weekend back roads.
I have a 2001. Transalp 650 and the only thing I am complaining about it is that is top heavy. Really like that new version has that problem solved. Transalp has always been smaller ROAD biased version of Africa Twin. Purpose of this bike is and always been, not an off-road bike but small Touring bike with option to go on gravel and forest roads and that's it. Also, I don't understand why everybody complains about tubed tires, I have a sealant spray in my bike with me all the time. If you have a puncture, just use a spray until you reach a shop where you can change a tube which also I have a spare. Btw. really like your reviews. Greetings from Croatia!
The only reason to have tubed tyres is for serious off roading, so that if the rim gets dented, the tyre doesn’t deflate. The tube adds significant unsprung weight and not everyone wants to fill their rim with sealant gunk to get off the roadside. Tubed rims have zero benefit for this bike’s intended purpose - light road touring. Honda put tubed rims on the Transalp purely because they’re cheaper and because they wanted the spoked rim look. As Ian states in the review - the bottom end of the bike is definitely not suited for serious off-roading. I’d even argue that the 21” wheel is a superfluous on this bike and compromises the road handling - but again it’s there for looks rather than function.
My wife has one & I have the Africa Twin. I honestly think if you upgraded the suspension it’d be a much better all rounder for most people. It’s so light in comparison & much more fun to ride.
I think this guy is the best bike reviewer out there including all the websites. I don’t ride ADVs so many of the bikes aren’t bikes I’m looking at buying but like that he doesn’t spend 95% of the reviews talking about electronic rider aids as though that makes up the whole bike and gives a real world view into the riding dynamics in very direct terms, ownership, and quality aspects of the bike without giving really vague takes on a bike that are often just a reviewers brand preference.
Thank You Ian. I rewatched Your video on the Vstrom 800 and I think the Transalp may be a better option. Mainly because of the light weight, center of gravity, manouverability and power. Not to mention that it is a Honda. Cheers from Norway.
Ian… really like the content and look forward to the transalp series. I really liked your Suzuki V Strom 800DE videos so much, that I bought one. I get the feeling from this video that you are trying to convince yourself that the Transalp is a great bike, and I think we all do a little bit of that when we make our purchases. For me, I think the stock 800DE has the advantage. Keep up the great content!
What I really appreciate is your skills at riding. The thing I miss the most with the fall of the moto-magazine industry is their deep riding talent to really evaluate a motorcycle. Its frustrating that RUclipsrs are going to a factory's bike launch on a scripted one or two day day jaunt and calling that a test. THANK YOU for starting to weigh the bikes. OEM's always lie about weight. After a GS1200 for many years I'm ready for something lighter, but I still want comfort and fun road manors.
Thank you so much for a proper review of the Transalp. I test rode one last week and was very impressed. I know Honda is watching reviews and hopefully will address the areas you brought up that need improvement. Give us cruise,tubeless wheels,ability to save off road settings,more off road friendly oil pan and exhaust system,easy air filter access plus color choices and this could be the most popular Adventure Bike Ever.
Add airbox access to they list and she's complete!! Test rode the bike. Loved it. Holding out until we see the next episode ... airbox positioning is the only factor that stopped us signing on the day. The difficulty level will decide whether we sign now, or go DE800. Roll on episode 3!! 😊😊
Ian, I am new to riding. I just started January 2023 with my 2023 KLX 300. Your reviews are excellent & you never miss a thing. You have answered all the questions I have had thus far In your video series on the Honda Transalp. Thank you for your time & In depth reviews on different machines. To a new rider that helps alot. Especially in my next motorcycle purchase. [Note, cannot believe you dropped a new bike on proupus. Your the motorcycle review bar setter,wow]!
Get a better seat and a windscreen on that bike and you really don't need anything else provided you don't do a lot of highway miles. I upgraded and wasted money several times before realising less is more (and leaves money for better things)
With over 7,000 miles now on my Vstrom 800, I must say so far, your review of the Transalp has not induced TransAlp envy for me. Great review as usual Ian.
As of right now I think the Suzuki is a much better starting point. As far as I can tell the only thing better on the Honda is the wind protection and mirrors? Those are relatively cheap and easy to fix with aftermarket stuff.
I think the "Transalp is boring" crowd wanted a T7 competitor in terms of offroad design/ability. It seems like this bike would be an excellent lightweight touring option filling in the niche between the CB500x and the Africa Twin. The unfortunate reality is that Yamaha doesn't really produce an offroad marketed big adventure bike like the AT or the GS. The supertenere exists but is mostly marketed as a tourer. Yamaha doesn't have to worry about the T7 undercutting the sales of a flagship machine, because there really is no flagship machine to undercut. However, if Honda made this bike really offroad capable out of the box, they probably wouldn't sell as many Africa Twins. Just like you said when you did the spin turn, you probably wouldn't do things on an Africa Twin that you would be willing to do on this bike. I think that's true for almost everyone except the most competent riders. Big bikes are extremely capable offroad, but it takes more skill to use them offroad. As much as I want a hypothetical 450l Rally from Honda or an XR650 refresh, it'll probably never happen.
Well said. This bike didn’t compete in the market that is thriving in competition. It’s an underwhelming addition to the touring market. Probably great for what it is, but not what the people wanted 👍🏻
It still does not make sense to put tubed tires and no cruise control on a touring bike in 2023. It seems like Honda can not decide who should by an Africa Twin and who should by the Transalp.
Good work Ian. An honest review. I left my AT behind and been on my TA for just on 2 weeks now. Yes it has it's faults but overall I'm way too happy with it to let them get me down. I've done SW Motech crash bars and skid plate, Barkbusters and tyres so far sooooo good. Looking forward to Episode 3. Plus we get the full 90HP down here in NZ.
I like the look of this bike. I'm not a huge ADV fan, I hated my '22 KLR, felt like it was subpar at everything, and now own a '14 WR250R and '04 VFR - both for less than the KLR. I'd be cross-shopping the Transalp vs. the T7 and V-Strom 800. Personally, I hate the appearance of the V-Strom, and the T7 is just a little too much dirt bike for an ADV - my wife will never want to sit on that flat seat. Pleasantly surprised with the Transalp. I get that it's not really off-road oriented, but at my skill level, this looks like it'd handle any moderate off-road 'adventure' while riding far from home. I learned the hard way what real off-road riding will do to an ADV while riding my KLR, I'll leave that to my WR.
I got a T7 earlier this year, loved your reviews on that bike. Now my riding buddy is looking into a Transalp… I hope he gets one! We’re both locked into this test series. Thank you for the quality videos! We live in the Redlands area so we love to ride around Idyllwild and big bear 🤙🏻
I really love the T7 but it's just annoying how tall they made it and how expensive the accessories are. And if you want the white one, you HAVE to go with the rally edition with a bunch of stuff you don't necessarily want like the even taller seat. I wish they had just gone the Honda way: make all colors available and let people spec as they want...
I've been an avid watcher, we share some bike history. I just sold my 2021 MT-09SP and picked up one of these. Basically everything you said is why I bought mine. They're about $5k AUD cheaper than a T7 and $4k cheaper than an 800DE. Adventure riding is supposed to be affordable and within reach for the average joe. If you price the bikes into the stratosphere nobody is going to want to buy them.
Thank you for addressing the preload stiff/soft thing. Lots of confusion around how that works. I will say however that increasing preload CAN in some cases help prevent bottoming, although by a fairly small amount. If you are riding higher in the stroke, there is more potential bounce travel available, but this is at the expense of rebound travel. At best, it's a bandaid if used for this purpose. Always appreciate your reviews. Real world experience, not read from a spec sheet.
Ian, I’ve been watching your videos, and others, about this bike. I haven’t even seen one in person yet and I’m already in love with it. Now I’m seriously thinking about trading in my 2022 KLR. Thank you for reviewing this bike!
I love the real world review, Ian. If I were looking at an adv bike, it would be between that and the VStrom800DE. For me the Vstrom beats the Honda out on a lot of points (suspension, ground clearance, electronics stay set when the bike is turned off, light feeling) except the golden one: weight. Tough call. Would love to see a comparo...🙂
Great test. Well done for pointing out that preload alters height, but not stiffness. The Honda would suit me just fine. I ride rough roads and gravel tracks, so ground clearance isn't that important. I'd spend the money saved on suspension (maybe TracTive/Touratech). I had to spend on suspension for my expensive KTM 890R - if the KTM lets me down too often, I'll probably give this Honda a go. I'm in Europe, so will get full power. 90 hp is plenty in reality. It's not the bike that's boring, but more likely the rider.
I was playing with an idea of trading in my Africa twin for this after a short test ride, but I was not sure. Now, this episode was all I needed to drop my last doubts. And I know I am gonna be happier with transalp. I love my Africa Twins engine. I am a bit short and small guy but I have got used to AT weight and size. And I have no problem handeling it. But sure I can not enjoy it that much off-road, you know, because of the lack of my skills. But I can imagine transalp will allow me to get a bit more fun out of the woods. :) Amazing work with all your videos I am watching your reviews a lot and they are one of the best I could find. If not the best. Super excited for transalp series. And I am going to sell my AT right now.... Good times. Better times ahead. :) Thanks!
Do you have the impression that the Pan America feels top heavy like you mentioned about the Africa Twin and Yamaha Tenere, or more tendency towards the Trans Alp 2023 and KTM Adventure 890 or even 390? Is the Pan American engine so low that you won´t feel that heavy weight of 258 KG so much? Quite nimble for a big adventure bike? Focus is slow speed maneuvering and no rough off road riding. By the way you are the best and most detailed reviewer of all other channels. I really enjoy watching your videos. I am Turbo suscriber :).
The roll on pull in 6th gear feels less torquey because it's more overdrive than any bike out there to date because it's overall 6th gear ratio is 4.69 to 1 where the Tuareg is a tad over 6.00 to 1 ratio and your 890 Adventure is 5.17 to 1 ratio in 6th gear, so if you went down one tooth on the front sprocket to a 15 teeth it would be about 16.00 to 1 in 1st gear and close to 5.00 to 1 in 6th gear and the Transalp will have a lower 1st gear and taller 6th gear than the 890 Adventure, that to me is true adventure bike gearing and I see a lot of potential for the Honda to come. I own all of these bikes and I have done my homework with sprocket changes and the this Transalp revs in the motor real good. Great review!
Honda obviously geared the bike towards road riding and low rpm in top gear. As the engine is in a higher tuning state it won't suit a wide ratio gearbox as its not a wide ratio engine. But you can never have it all. Drop a tooth on the front will definitely improve things off road.
Nicely done video. Your points are well displayed. I agree with everything that you stated. I just bought one of these. Also have a CRF300L Rally, which I have have a blast on. IMO...when adv bikes get up to 1200+ cc, they are like riding a cow off road. I've seen a guy literally burn a clutch out of one trying to get over a pass in CO. The AT is like climbing up on a horse. All of that weight, height, top-heaviness becomes a serious issue in dirt, on loose rocks going down a grade. If you start sliding with all that weight to deal with...the weight and the laws of physics take over the ride. (Unless you are a great rider, I'm not) The TA is not as manageable as the 300 offroad but it offers pretty darn good manageability for a 755 and is great value for 10k. And power? I didnt even care about power. I'm a sightseer. I'm into "Honda smooth." The first time I ran the TA up to 6k rpm, the bike shot up the power curve and caught me off-guard and almost snatched the handlebars out of my hands. Literally, scared the hell out of me.
I might get the transalp as my last bike, I have heart failure now so probably won't get a chance to have more than one more, I do have the 250L rally already.
First thing i noticed is how little wind buffeting there is on the original windscreen. I was a little worried about that since i had to pick mine up 400km away from home as they where one of the only one that had one left in the shop at the time in june. Others where more to double the distance. I remember how surprized i was how effortless it is to ride. I only took one break on that trip because i got hungry, Norwegian roads so no super high speeds. I do like that throaty sound. Gives me a smile sometimes hehe. I am averaging 0.38. on mine I agree if you are going to take it offroad. A suspension mod is pretty obvious on allmost all bikes. Stock springs on honda seem a little on the lighter side when it comes to rider weight. Not a huge problem so far. But i am prob going to buy a new shock and cartrigde for the front fork if i keep mine. As i do like suspension modding. Regardless of bikes. My experience with the T7 was beyond dissapointing. And i did not understand the hype at all. It did not feel good in any way. Very top heavy. Suspension platform is not any good. And reading people saying the transalp is not comparable to the T7 in any way. You all are wrong. If you dont believe me. Ride one. I am not saying T7 is garbage. Far from it. It has quality written all over. But out of the box the T7 needs to much mods to become great. When you look at the price on the two and what you actually get.
Great review. I really appreciate how you treat your bike just to inform the viewers. The biggest rival in my opinion is 2023 ktm 790 adventure. It would be nice to hear your thoughts about this comparison.
Great video! Anyone complaining that you purposely tipped the bike over has zero understanding of what motorcycling is. It's not a matter of "if?", but rather "when?", especially if you start venturing off of paved roads. The only place where I differ with you in this video is fueling with premium octane. In stock settings, this bike's engine compression ratio is not high enough to justify 91 octane. Also, if you look in your owner's manual, even Honda's (engineers, chemists, ...) recommendation is 87 octane. It won't hurt to go above but it will not improve performance in any way. Unless you notice some pinging from the engine, which I doubt will happend, it's a wast of money. Will leave money in your pockets to change that clutch lever! :)
Brilliant review Ian. Your comments have persuaded me to really consider the Transalp. Engine sounds awesome, I'm glad I'm on Euroland with the more powerful engine.
Kicking butt, and taking names. That’s a real deal on/off road test. Keep setting the naysayers straight with the correct scoop. you are the reason that I have bought a few of the bikes that you reviewed. Keep up the great content. Keep the rubber side up, and enjoy life to the fullest.👍👍😎
Ian, you make the content other creators wish they could make. Never change. Do you reckon someone is going to make a tune that will "unlock" the missing ponies? Do you think ECU manipulation can change the "forget the setting" for TC and ABS? Thanks!
Awesomeness!!! I went to my dealer on friday. They had one ........$9,999!!! I just cant get past the one color scheme non sense. I have a feeling these videos will get me past my mental tweak however.
Daryl Beattie using the Transalp for adventure touring here in Australia 🇦🇺 so must be reasonably capable. Looking forward to more content on this bike , really appreciate the detail you go into with your reviews Ian 👍
😂😆What a great review. I loved how you just pushed over a new bike and you were happy about it. I would have cried or even injured myself trying to prevent my bike falling over. The Transalp definately looks fully competent abd fun. 👍
No bash plate and with that unicorn horn sticking out of the bottom no way is that going to compete with the t7 nice-looking Transportation bike though and some light fire roads or cow Trails but that Underside would drive me crazy😮
Great review! IMO That’s a bike that should have been made without traction control and the ABS should have had a simple designated on/off switch or button. The oil sump and exhaust routing underneath the engine also sucks for the more adventurous riders. Other then that, Honda nailed it IMO.
Great video Ian! As a 500x owner I went and looked at a Transalp in person this weekend and walked away after I saw the oil pan and exhaust. You've got me double thinking my choice now lol I keep going back to wanting the Vstrom 800!
@user-ti1lg3qq8u I've tried to buy the 800 twice now but I'm too far upside down on my 500x to get rid of it since I just bought it in January of this year then got the extended warranty like a idiot lol
@@Mark-d5f7z same here. I had a 310gs and thought about waiting for the Transalp because I've always been a Honda fan (250L, 500x), but the v-strom 800de just called to me. Love that bike so much. No regrets. Looks like we made the right choice. :)
I swung a leg over the Transalp yesterday and was amazed at how compact and light it felt. I mean, it’s a kinda heavy bike, but it doesn’t _feel_ heavy. And it’s definitely smaller than the Africa Twin. I think it would be much more manageable for an old gink like me. Also very pleased to hear about the good wind protection- I’m too old to enjoy getting beat up by the wind touring at highway speed. Honestly, if it had cruise control, I’d have probably bought it on the spot. 😃 And that sump? Yeah, I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that super smooth engine comes at the price of that sump - there’s undoubtedly a counterbalancer poking down in there. Everything is a trade off.
I see this as a 4 season all road type of bike, sort of like a two wheel subaru. It's a nice all-rounder out of the box, not to expensive, comfortable, capable, sporty, and reliable. Something that can take the wear and tear of a daily commute and eventually with a good aftermarket support to make it more suitable for touring, off road or commuting
You are spot on. I just got my TA750 and have mostly the same views. My rides are more northern and so I have the heated grips which are outstanding. On road the power delivery is a bit tame, but it loves to rev for sure. It handles well and is very easy to ride
Really good review, i have a feeling that the Transalp will take all the beating with a smile. I hope you make some comparison to the KTM790/890 S bike.
There are lots of positive things with this bike. For me, the biggest positives are its size and weight, and it's a Honda. When I sat on it, it felt more narrow and shorter than the T7 or 800DE, also weighs less than the competitors. The other big positive for me personally is the Honda 'fit and finish'-which,imo is the best out of the Japanese moto companies. When you get a Honda, nothing feels cheap, or thrown together. Since I gave the two biggest positives for me, I'll be fair, and list the 2 biggest negatives for me, which ultimately were there reason I didn't pre-order one. 1)the oil sump/exhaust hanging low. 2)wonky tech pack when accessing TC, ABS, mapping modes etc etc. As a US consumer, I was able to watch Australian and European reviews earlier this year and was unsure about the tech being 'not so user friendly', and we all know the ground clearance issues. For me, I was also worried about how the crash bars, engine guards and bashplate would be mounted. Bikes like older V-Stroms which don't have engine cradles, have the bashplates and some crash bars mounted directly on the engine. Heck, even some T7 crash bars mount directly to the engine. That's scary. Terrifying. Especially considering it'll be 500lbs of weight including a camping loadout.
We’ll be buying the Transalp when we move to Philippines next year. I look forward to your two-up review. Our combined weight is about 150kg. Thanks for your thorough reviews.
Congratulations for showing real world tests not just a basic ride, throwing it over and all of the little details make your videos really stand out from the rest!
Great review part 2, looking fwd to the next episodes. I was leaning towards a cb500x, but after your initial review, I'm swaying towards the transalp again. It's obviously an offroad capable streetbike, but that's exactly what I want. (90% road, 10%off) The only thing that worries me are the tubed tires. Honda should've made tubeless an option. About the windscreen, dunno if available in the US, but here in Europe you can get a set of wind-wings that attach to the fairing and the screen. I hear they're really good.
I’m definitely going to buy this bike. For my 130 lbs. the suspension is probably just about right. I have the Honda CRF300 Rally for street legal + off-road stuff, so my TransAlp will be mostly for highway and city riding. A good bash plate, Bark Busters, Double Take mirrors, crash bars , and some luggage options should round it out. Cruise control would be nice, but I’m very comfortable with the Throttle Rocker I’ve been using for years. Thanks for the thorough review, and all the extra technical information. Happy Trails!
My 1st gen TA was more robust off-road having a full cradle frame. I did break a side panel attachment point when it tipped against a rock in a deep rut. I was able to use first-aid gauze and fiberglass resin to repair it when I got home. North America seems to have all the market scenarios covered now.
That would be awesome Ian to hear your thoughts vs the Tuareg. Your Tuareg review is why I bought one and given the list of items the Transalp would need I would suspect pricing would be very close to
I had no interest in this bike, but you made me a fan Ian. I appreciate how many times/things that you appreciated in this video 😊. I didn’t expect that from the stock bike.
Great review, covered everything I was curious about. Seriously thinking about buying one too, feels like a great all arounder bike. Jack of all trades but a master of none. Suspension upgrade and aftermarket oil pan with bash plate then good to go!
This motorcycle does not use constant-force springs, so adding preload (slightly compressing the spring) does indeed increase the initial return-force (stiffness). Look up Hooke's Law (F= -kx). This is typically more obvious with the rear spring because you can see that turning the adjustment collar adjusts the amount of initial spring compression (changing the length, "x" in the formula). When you adjust sag, you are changing the initial spring compression force so that you get a fixed amount of drop once the motorcycle is weighted with rider+equipment, etc. To just change weighted seat-height without affecting spring force and stiffness, the adjustment would be to the frame or suspension-mount and do nothing to the springs themselves.
I seen the video on the Australian launch of the transalp one of them had winglets on the fairing to help cut though the wind. They offered 3 options of accessories
Thanks Ian, I bought mine on pre-order and because of the terrible weather in the UK this summer, I've only been able to put 1,000 miles on it. I've really enjoyed it so far but had such limited use, i've had lingering doubts whether i made the right choice. Seeing you enjoy it too has helped reduce that feeling immensely. Really looking forward to see what mods you add to make this an even better all rounder.
Don't worry Ian, the next iteration of this bike will have two options. One, more of the same, the second a rally version, just as the Ducati Desert X Rally has now been created.
Hi, I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude and appreciation for what you do and how you go about doing it. Please trust me, I don’t express such things often or without a sound basis. I wish you ongoing health, happiness and success.
That unprotected undercarriage scares the crap out of me. With the gouges and scrapes in my T7s skid plate I can only imagine how many new headers or oil pans I would have needed by now.
Great insight as always. You are absolutely right about rider limitation being the main factor holding us back. I like to day dream that I am Chris Birch. I am really enjoying your mid-adveventure bike series. Looking forward to learning how your mods improve the Transalp. Cheers!
It's a sport touring bike, plain and simple. Ian, tell us which you would choose for true ADV riding. Transalp, 800DE, or T7 and let's put this argument to bed. Don't add a bunch of mods the Transalp then tell us how good it is. Put a skid plate and crash bars on it and give us an honest comparison of the three. I want to know the stock bike to stock bike choice for middle weight adventure riding, not touring. I have the 800DE, a touring bike, dirtbike, and dual sport.
@@BigRockMoto The cool thing about the 3 is it reminds me of the XL, DR, and KLR feud lol. Where we make our choice and shit talk the other two to justify our purchase. lol again.
Bought mine the other day and it's been a blast on and offroad for the most part, stock tires are inexcusable offroad and that oil pan is begging to be destroyed by a rock. Overall my onroad performance has been very good and she crushes miles like nobody's business. My only other personal gripes are the airbox access and the ease of cleaning as I've already found nooks and crannies where water would just love to pool. To be honest upgrading from my begginer bike to this has been an amazing experience and I'm looking to do some mods that'll sort out the short comings for sure.
Hi Ian enjoying your series very much thanks. I believe there’s no distance to empty on the TFT is that correct also why are you guys getting a reduced power version in the US?
Maybe due to California emissions laws the same bike is being sold everywhere? Only thing I can think so. Either that or they think it'll cannibalise sales of some other bikes that arent available in Europe...
Nice. 2 must haves for me. Low engine heat and good wind management. My R1200GS has excellent wind management with the Aeroflow windscreen but it cooks my legs 75f and up.
all the numbers on this bike is exactly what I am looking for. at 5'6 I cannot handle t7 or the de800. just too heavy and big of a bike for me. I put over 1800 miles on my 23' cb500x and I my 500x but the power is just not enough. hwy speed over 65 the bike vibrates too much. As much as I hate to sell my 500x. I need to see this transalp in person. thank you so much for purchasing and doing all the reviews. I cannot wait to see what mods your going to do with this bike! and one question, how would you get the 90 horses on this?
I’d be really into this bike if it had cruise control and they upgraded the rider modes. Hopefully they bring the ‘24 Africa Twin to the US because I’m probably gonna buy it.
Yeah similar here. Though it would also take something to get me away from KTM's off-road ABS which is excellent. The Honda ABS looks generations behind as we've seen in this video. Most other things can be upgraded as needed. Suspension, wheels, sump guard etc..
@@helipilotuh1understandable. For on the 890 the biggest issue is the immobiliser issue. If you get it, it will be within the first 2,000 miles if not earlier. Once it's fixed, there's no real show stoppers, more just some minor niggles with some bikes. There's some question over the cam lobes wearing on some engines (oddly doesn't happen on the CF Moto which uses the 790 engine), it hasn't blown up to be a major thing yet.
@@helipilotuh1 If you have to cover much pavement at all, I can highly recommend the 2020+ ATAS in either manual or DCT. I know people say it's heavy, but they are all heavy. I just did 4000km in a week on my AT and it was a nice place to be.
Please include your inner leg length size, as many of us are looking at can I fit this motorcycle. it is something that most reviewers miss out on there preview’s. it would help me and meany other rider to decide is this the bike me.😊
Great first impression video! You always go into the deepest and most relevant details. I love this bike based on initial reviews but how I wish Honda would have brought the tri-color model over!
I have worked so hard to get my first "new" bike, im from a country where is not easy to buy these things...and i was really looking forward for your review of the transalp. You are the number one Ian, thanks a lot!
Well... I beat up the bike pretty good, and I'm just getting started. Are your perceptions of the Transalp changing? Mine are! People said it was boring, not capable, not competitive off road. I think that's all totally wrong. In this series I'll try to prove it.
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You laid to rest my fear of this being a boring bike.
I would love to see you take a minimalist approach on mods particularly with the armor. It sounds like this might be a great lighter weight platform. Something I could downsize to from my Tiger 1200. From the looks of it, mounting a skid plate is going to be a challenge.
V Strom is an overall better bike which serves the purpose and better value for the money spent. By the way, how often do you use all the features and gimmicks you have paid for, unless you are an avid and hardcore adventure biker?
Nah boring AF
My perceptions have not changed. The sump design boggles the mind (probably the worst design I have seen in recent history). The things you turn off come back on when you turn off the key (even professional journalists that test bikes for a living had unplanned offs on previous Honda models with the same issue). To make matters worse despite deep pockets and massive resources Honda continues to have the worst off-road TC and ABS in the industry (which would be less annoying if things did not keep turning themselves back on every time you switch off the key). Nearly every other manufacturer has managed to figure out these last two points to some degree, I can find no logical reason that Honda cannot. What the Transalp is trying to be is not an Africa Twin (marketing and sales strategy win over giving the customer what they want yet again).
I love that you started using metric units for all your non-us viewers. Thanks for that
Are they still selling metric sockets with standard drives like 1/2, 3/8, 1/4"?
@@bendeleted9155 Atleast where i am from the 10mm has a for example a 1/4" tool attatchment. And so forth. Weird why that blend is used hehe.
The UK is non-US and we don't use metric. In fact we invented Imperial measurements.
@@jkmayhem thanks for confirmation. I wonder if anywhere on the metric system actually uses metric drives on tools, or at least labels it 12.5mm, 9mm, etc.
How many nanometers tall are you
I said I was looking forward to this series and here with episode 2 you are definitely not disappointing 👍 Already you are testing this bike far more thoroughly than any other tester I’ve seen and in doing so are really giving me the information I want before laying my money down…. Looking forward to the remainder of the series
thanks
Aside from Ian just being really good at what he does, he actually buys these bikes which affords him utter autonomy in how far he will go to prove a bike. Most content here comes from folks with loaner bikes and they have to be returned in good condition. You won’t see them doing drop tests.
@@TerraMagnus agree entirely, which is why I trust his reviews. He is always open and honest about what he finds, good and bad 👍
@@BigRockMoto P.S. I like the look of the new neighbourhood and garage 👍
@@reinmansmith ok so I wasn’t imagining that Ian moved.
Ian I love how you really go deep on these videos, to the point of even dropping them to see what we can expect. These are things we can’t expect from a content creator who only does demo rides.
Cannot tell you how much I appreciate the metric system numbers you put up on the screen. Thank you!
These are the kind of reviews we need. Most reviews never go into this ammount of detail or actually show us the bikes capapbilities in real time. This review style is a breath of fresh air and really gives potential buyers a realistic idea of how the bike really is before riding one themselves. Great content!
Great first ride and test, thank you Ian! You have already pushed the limits way further than I have in 4000 km on mine. Further than I am ever likely too, so that is really appreciated. The new Transalp is the best bike I have ever owned or ridden in 50 years of riding, so Honda has made this old man very happy.
Okay when a review video starts out with him dogging the crap out of it and basically throwing it on its side just to get back on it and dog on it some more is rather satisfying. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us when I say that we are sometimes afraid to get a little rough and heavy with our toys because they are expensive and we don't want them to break. Seeing someone else beat on something harder than we would and seeing it survive is peace of mind in a sense because it tells some of us that we are not near the limits yet. Thank you for this.
The energy in this video is outstanding. Absolutely perfect job Ian.
I love this video. Everyone reviewing adventure bikes should do a drop test. This should be mandatory. 👍🏻 kudos.
Thank you! 👍
But will it blend? @@BigRockMoto
not when the bike is borrowed, in this case he is the owner so he can do whatever he wants to it, and it was painful to watch, lol
Ian delivers again with what is going to be the best Transalp review on the internet. Can’t wait to see all the mods coming including off road tires, skid plates, crash bars, and improved suspension. This should be amazing!!!
The fact that it doesn't generate a ton of engine heat might just raise it to the top of the list for me. Strong review, a lot of compelling points.
There have been so many youtubers reviewing the Transalp right now.
Yours is the only one I know I can fully trust.
150 miles on mine and loving it. I bought it for what it is, knowing the things I would need to upgrade like skid plate, crash bars, etc. But I am pleasantly surprised that it's so comfortable, light feeling compared to my 17 AT, and the motor is a character for sure. Not a powerhouse, it likes being run through the revs, but it's a great bike that will be used for 90 percent work commuting and weekend back roads.
I do hate that TC doesn't have a dedicated button or stay off after key off.
I have a 2001. Transalp 650 and the only thing I am complaining about it is that is top heavy. Really like that new version has that problem solved. Transalp has always been smaller ROAD biased version of Africa Twin. Purpose of this bike is and always been, not an off-road bike but small Touring bike with option to go on gravel and forest roads and that's it. Also, I don't understand why everybody complains about tubed tires, I have a sealant spray in my bike with me all the time. If you have a puncture, just use a spray until you reach a shop where you can change a tube which also I have a spare. Btw. really like your reviews. Greetings from Croatia!
I think they shouldn't have tuned the engine so high in this new version the transalp was never a sports bike but this thing now has 91hp
Exactly
The only reason to have tubed tyres is for serious off roading, so that if the rim gets dented, the tyre doesn’t deflate. The tube adds significant unsprung weight and not everyone wants to fill their rim with sealant gunk to get off the roadside. Tubed rims have zero benefit for this bike’s intended purpose - light road touring. Honda put tubed rims on the Transalp purely because they’re cheaper and because they wanted the spoked rim look. As Ian states in the review - the bottom end of the bike is definitely not suited for serious off-roading. I’d even argue that the 21” wheel is a superfluous on this bike and compromises the road handling - but again it’s there for looks rather than function.
@@MH-xd2nd 100% correct.
It seems to be exactly what I am looking for my longer distance rides. I pick mine up on Halloween. Can’t wait now, thanks Ian.
Glad I could help!
My wife has one & I have the Africa Twin. I honestly think if you upgraded the suspension it’d be a much better all rounder for most people. It’s so light in comparison & much more fun to ride.
You are fortunate to have all of these wonderful roads and trails near you.
I think this guy is the best bike reviewer out there including all the websites. I don’t ride ADVs so many of the bikes aren’t bikes I’m looking at buying but like that he doesn’t spend 95% of the reviews talking about electronic rider aids as though that makes up the whole bike and gives a real world view into the riding dynamics in very direct terms, ownership, and quality aspects of the bike without giving really vague takes on a bike that are often just a reviewers brand preference.
Thank You Ian. I rewatched Your video on the Vstrom 800 and I think the Transalp may be a better option. Mainly because of the light weight, center of gravity, manouverability and power. Not to mention that it is a Honda. Cheers from Norway.
Can't go wrong with either bike, but I'd personally take the V-Strom for its off road abilities and smooth suspension.
Ian… really like the content and look forward to the transalp series. I really liked your Suzuki V Strom 800DE videos so much, that I bought one. I get the feeling from this video that you are trying to convince yourself that the Transalp is a great bike, and I think we all do a little bit of that when we make our purchases. For me, I think the stock 800DE has the advantage. Keep up the great content!
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself the 50 lbs extra was worth the extra 1.5k
Dude! I totally love your smack-back-talking intro! I really appreciate your real world perspective.
What I really appreciate is your skills at riding. The thing I miss the most with the fall of the moto-magazine industry is their deep riding talent to really evaluate a motorcycle. Its frustrating that RUclipsrs are going to a factory's bike launch on a scripted one or two day day jaunt and calling that a test. THANK YOU for starting to weigh the bikes. OEM's always lie about weight. After a GS1200 for many years I'm ready for something lighter, but I still want comfort and fun road manors.
For a true adventure bike drop test you should drop it on the pavement outside starbucks which is about as far as 98% of adventure bikes actually go
Don't give me ideas I might just do it
😂
In detail: drop it opposite Starbucks - where most park their adventure bike - so they can watch people looking at it in all its macho glory 😜😂😂
Thank you so much for a proper review of the Transalp. I test rode one last week and was very impressed.
I know Honda is watching reviews and hopefully will address the areas you brought up that need improvement.
Give us cruise,tubeless wheels,ability to save off road settings,more off road friendly oil pan and exhaust system,easy air filter access plus color choices and this could be the most popular Adventure Bike Ever.
Add airbox access to they list and she's complete!! Test rode the bike. Loved it. Holding out until we see the next episode ... airbox positioning is the only factor that stopped us signing on the day. The difficulty level will decide whether we sign now, or go DE800. Roll on episode 3!! 😊😊
Ian, I am new to riding. I just started January 2023 with my 2023 KLX 300. Your reviews are excellent & you never miss a thing. You have answered all the questions I have had thus far In your video series on the Honda Transalp. Thank you for your time & In depth reviews on different machines. To a new rider that helps alot. Especially in my next motorcycle purchase. [Note, cannot believe you dropped a new bike on proupus. Your the motorcycle review bar setter,wow]!
Get a better seat and a windscreen on that bike and you really don't need anything else provided you don't do a lot of highway miles. I upgraded and wasted money several times before realising less is more (and leaves money for better things)
With over 7,000 miles now on my Vstrom 800, I must say so far, your review of the Transalp has not induced TransAlp envy for me. Great review as usual Ian.
I’d 100% take the new V Strom over the Transalp
800 DE every time!
I wish there was a tenere 850/1000 but I don’t think it will ever happen.
The V-strom certainly costs less per pound.
As of right now I think the Suzuki is a much better starting point. As far as I can tell the only thing better on the Honda is the wind protection and mirrors? Those are relatively cheap and easy to fix with aftermarket stuff.
Near perfect middleweight adventure bike(65 road :35 off ). Tubeless spokes wheels and cruise control will make it perfect . Nice video ♥️♥️♥️
I think the "Transalp is boring" crowd wanted a T7 competitor in terms of offroad design/ability. It seems like this bike would be an excellent lightweight touring option filling in the niche between the CB500x and the Africa Twin. The unfortunate reality is that Yamaha doesn't really produce an offroad marketed big adventure bike like the AT or the GS. The supertenere exists but is mostly marketed as a tourer. Yamaha doesn't have to worry about the T7 undercutting the sales of a flagship machine, because there really is no flagship machine to undercut.
However, if Honda made this bike really offroad capable out of the box, they probably wouldn't sell as many Africa Twins. Just like you said when you did the spin turn, you probably wouldn't do things on an Africa Twin that you would be willing to do on this bike. I think that's true for almost everyone except the most competent riders. Big bikes are extremely capable offroad, but it takes more skill to use them offroad. As much as I want a hypothetical 450l Rally from Honda or an XR650 refresh, it'll probably never happen.
Well said. This bike didn’t compete in the market that is thriving in competition. It’s an underwhelming addition to the touring market. Probably great for what it is, but not what the people wanted 👍🏻
I can only hope you are wrong.
It still does not make sense to put tubed tires and no cruise control on a touring bike in 2023. It seems like Honda can not decide who should by an Africa Twin and who should by the Transalp.
Good work Ian. An honest review. I left my AT behind and been on my TA for just on 2 weeks now. Yes it has it's faults but overall I'm way too happy with it to let them get me down. I've done SW Motech crash bars and skid plate, Barkbusters and tyres so far sooooo good. Looking forward to Episode 3. Plus we get the full 90HP down here in NZ.
I like the look of this bike. I'm not a huge ADV fan, I hated my '22 KLR, felt like it was subpar at everything, and now own a '14 WR250R and '04 VFR - both for less than the KLR. I'd be cross-shopping the Transalp vs. the T7 and V-Strom 800. Personally, I hate the appearance of the V-Strom, and the T7 is just a little too much dirt bike for an ADV - my wife will never want to sit on that flat seat. Pleasantly surprised with the Transalp. I get that it's not really off-road oriented, but at my skill level, this looks like it'd handle any moderate off-road 'adventure' while riding far from home. I learned the hard way what real off-road riding will do to an ADV while riding my KLR, I'll leave that to my WR.
I got a T7 earlier this year, loved your reviews on that bike. Now my riding buddy is looking into a Transalp… I hope he gets one! We’re both locked into this test series. Thank you for the quality videos! We live in the Redlands area so we love to ride around Idyllwild and big bear 🤙🏻
Good review, thank you sir. You may have convinced me to replace my old Transalp.
I really love the T7 but it's just annoying how tall they made it and how expensive the accessories are. And if you want the white one, you HAVE to go with the rally edition with a bunch of stuff you don't necessarily want like the even taller seat. I wish they had just gone the Honda way: make all colors available and let people spec as they want...
I've been an avid watcher, we share some bike history. I just sold my 2021 MT-09SP and picked up one of these. Basically everything you said is why I bought mine. They're about $5k AUD cheaper than a T7 and $4k cheaper than an 800DE. Adventure riding is supposed to be affordable and within reach for the average joe. If you price the bikes into the stratosphere nobody is going to want to buy them.
Thank you for addressing the preload stiff/soft thing. Lots of confusion around how that works. I will say however that increasing preload CAN in some cases help prevent bottoming, although by a fairly small amount. If you are riding higher in the stroke, there is more potential bounce travel available, but this is at the expense of rebound travel. At best, it's a bandaid if used for this purpose. Always appreciate your reviews. Real world experience, not read from a spec sheet.
Ian, I’ve been watching your videos, and others, about this bike. I haven’t even seen one in person yet and I’m already in love with it. Now I’m seriously thinking about trading in my 2022 KLR. Thank you for reviewing this bike!
I love the real world review, Ian. If I were looking at an adv bike, it would be between that and the VStrom800DE. For me the Vstrom beats the Honda out on a lot of points (suspension, ground clearance, electronics stay set when the bike is turned off, light feeling) except the golden one: weight. Tough call. Would love to see a comparo...🙂
800DE
Great test. Well done for pointing out that preload alters height, but not stiffness.
The Honda would suit me just fine. I ride rough roads and gravel tracks, so ground clearance isn't that important. I'd spend the money saved on suspension (maybe TracTive/Touratech). I had to spend on suspension for my expensive KTM 890R - if the KTM lets me down too often, I'll probably give this Honda a go. I'm in Europe, so will get full power. 90 hp is plenty in reality. It's not the bike that's boring, but more likely the rider.
I was playing with an idea of trading in my Africa twin for this after a short test ride, but I was not sure. Now, this episode was all I needed to drop my last doubts. And I know I am gonna be happier with transalp. I love my Africa Twins engine. I am a bit short and small guy but I have got used to AT weight and size. And I have no problem handeling it. But sure I can not enjoy it that much off-road, you know, because of the lack of my skills. But I can imagine transalp will allow me to get a bit more fun out of the woods. :) Amazing work with all your videos I am watching your reviews a lot and they are one of the best I could find. If not the best. Super excited for transalp series. And I am going to sell my AT right now.... Good times. Better times ahead. :) Thanks!
Do you have the impression that the Pan America feels top heavy like you mentioned about the Africa Twin and Yamaha Tenere, or more tendency towards the Trans Alp 2023 and KTM Adventure 890 or even 390? Is the Pan American engine so low that you won´t feel that heavy weight of 258 KG so much? Quite nimble for a big adventure bike? Focus is slow speed maneuvering and no rough off road riding. By the way you are the best and most detailed reviewer of all other channels. I really enjoy watching your videos. I am Turbo suscriber :).
The roll on pull in 6th gear feels less torquey because it's more overdrive than any bike out there to date because it's overall 6th gear ratio is 4.69 to 1 where the Tuareg is a tad over 6.00 to 1 ratio and your 890 Adventure is 5.17 to 1 ratio in 6th gear, so if you went down one tooth on the front sprocket to a 15 teeth it would be about 16.00 to 1 in 1st gear and close to 5.00 to 1 in 6th gear and the Transalp will have a lower 1st gear and taller 6th gear than the 890 Adventure, that to me is true adventure bike gearing and I see a lot of potential for the Honda to come. I own all of these bikes and I have done my homework with sprocket changes and the this Transalp revs in the motor real good. Great review!
Honda obviously geared the bike towards road riding and low rpm in top gear. As the engine is in a higher tuning state it won't suit a wide ratio gearbox as its not a wide ratio engine. But you can never have it all. Drop a tooth on the front will definitely improve things off road.
Interesting 👍I never would have guessed that there’d be that big of a difference between these bikes. I know gearing makes a difference.
Nicely done video. Your points are well displayed. I agree with everything that you stated. I just bought one of these. Also have a CRF300L Rally, which I have have a blast on. IMO...when adv bikes get up to 1200+ cc, they are like riding a cow off road. I've seen a guy literally burn a clutch out of one trying to get over a pass in CO. The AT is like climbing up on a horse. All of that weight, height, top-heaviness becomes a serious issue in dirt, on loose rocks going down a grade. If you start sliding with all that weight to deal with...the weight and the laws of physics take over the ride. (Unless you are a great rider, I'm not) The TA is not as manageable as the 300 offroad but it offers pretty darn good manageability for a 755 and is great value for 10k. And power? I didnt even care about power. I'm a sightseer. I'm into "Honda smooth." The first time I ran the TA up to 6k rpm, the bike shot up the power curve and caught me off-guard and almost snatched the handlebars out of my hands. Literally, scared the hell out of me.
I might get the transalp as my last bike, I have heart failure now so probably won't get a chance to have more than one more, I do have the 250L rally already.
First thing i noticed is how little wind buffeting there is on the original windscreen. I was a little worried about that since i had to pick mine up 400km away from home as they where one of the only one that had one left in the shop at the time in june. Others where more to double the distance. I remember how surprized i was how effortless it is to ride. I only took one break on that trip because i got hungry, Norwegian roads so no super high speeds. I do like that throaty sound. Gives me a smile sometimes hehe. I am averaging 0.38. on mine I agree if you are going to take it offroad. A suspension mod is pretty obvious on allmost all bikes. Stock springs on honda seem a little on the lighter side when it comes to rider weight. Not a huge problem so far. But i am prob going to buy a new shock and cartrigde for the front fork if i keep mine. As i do like suspension modding. Regardless of bikes. My experience with the T7 was beyond dissapointing. And i did not understand the hype at all. It did not feel good in any way. Very top heavy. Suspension platform is not any good. And reading people saying the transalp is not comparable to the T7 in any way. You all are wrong. If you dont believe me. Ride one. I am not saying T7 is garbage. Far from it. It has quality written all over. But out of the box the T7 needs to much mods to become great. When you look at the price on the two and what you actually get.
I think the color is a big reason people are calling it boring. Hope they come out with some brighter options next year
Real world reviews ! Thank you for a great job once again !
My pleasure!
Ian never flexes his skill, but he is low key a sender.
Great review. I really appreciate how you treat your bike just to inform the viewers. The biggest rival in my opinion is 2023 ktm 790 adventure. It would be nice to hear your thoughts about this comparison.
Great video! Anyone complaining that you purposely tipped the bike over has zero understanding of what motorcycling is. It's not a matter of "if?", but rather "when?", especially if you start venturing off of paved roads. The only place where I differ with you in this video is fueling with premium octane. In stock settings, this bike's engine compression ratio is not high enough to justify 91 octane. Also, if you look in your owner's manual, even Honda's (engineers, chemists, ...) recommendation is 87 octane. It won't hurt to go above but it will not improve performance in any way. Unless you notice some pinging from the engine, which I doubt will happend, it's a wast of money. Will leave money in your pockets to change that clutch lever! :)
Brilliant review Ian. Your comments have persuaded me to really consider the Transalp. Engine sounds awesome, I'm glad I'm on Euroland with the more powerful engine.
Kicking butt, and taking names. That’s a real deal on/off road test. Keep setting the naysayers straight with the correct scoop. you are the reason that I have bought a few of the bikes that you reviewed. Keep up the great content. Keep the rubber side up, and enjoy life to the fullest.👍👍😎
Ian, you make the content other creators wish they could make. Never change.
Do you reckon someone is going to make a tune that will "unlock" the missing ponies? Do you think ECU manipulation can change the "forget the setting" for TC and ABS?
Thanks!
Awesomeness!!! I went to my dealer on friday. They had one ........$9,999!!! I just cant get past the one color scheme non sense. I have a feeling these videos will get me past my mental tweak however.
Daryl Beattie using the Transalp for adventure touring here in Australia 🇦🇺 so must be reasonably capable. Looking forward to more content on this bike , really appreciate the detail you go into with your reviews Ian 👍
Dropping it like that just hurt my heart. LOL Great review.
😂😆What a great review. I loved how you just pushed over a new bike and you were happy about it. I would have cried or even injured myself trying to prevent my bike falling over. The Transalp definately looks fully competent abd fun. 👍
Thank you for another outstanding review. I wonder how the new Transalp can be compared with the Norden.
The design of that sump is crazy. Might be this bike's achilles heel but it will be interesting to see how things work out with the skid plate.
No bash plate and with that unicorn horn sticking out of the bottom no way is that going to compete with the t7 nice-looking Transportation bike though and some light fire roads or cow Trails but that Underside would drive me crazy😮
Great review!
IMO That’s a bike that should have been made without traction control and the ABS should have had a simple designated on/off switch or button. The oil sump and exhaust routing underneath the engine also sucks for the more adventurous riders. Other then that, Honda nailed it IMO.
Good to get confirmation that i made the right choice as my use case is 90% road, 10% off-road. I love mine more and more with every mile i put on it.
Great video Ian! As a 500x owner I went and looked at a Transalp in person this weekend and walked away after I saw the oil pan and exhaust. You've got me double thinking my choice now lol I keep going back to wanting the Vstrom 800!
I bought one last month. Best decision I ever made. It's funny that I was considering holding out for the Honda 😂
@user-ti1lg3qq8u I've tried to buy the 800 twice now but I'm too far upside down on my 500x to get rid of it since I just bought it in January of this year then got the extended warranty like a idiot lol
@@Mark-d5f7z same here. I had a 310gs and thought about waiting for the Transalp because I've always been a Honda fan (250L, 500x), but the v-strom 800de just called to me. Love that bike so much. No regrets. Looks like we made the right choice. :)
Why the 800 Suzuki not the 650?
@vigofox better suspension, more power etc.
I swung a leg over the Transalp yesterday and was amazed at how compact and light it felt. I mean, it’s a kinda heavy bike, but it doesn’t _feel_ heavy. And it’s definitely smaller than the Africa Twin. I think it would be much more manageable for an old gink like me. Also very pleased to hear about the good wind protection- I’m too old to enjoy getting beat up by the wind touring at highway speed. Honestly, if it had cruise control, I’d have probably bought it on the spot. 😃 And that sump? Yeah, I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that super smooth engine comes at the price of that sump - there’s undoubtedly a counterbalancer poking down in there. Everything is a trade off.
Great review. Try to somehow bypass the horsepower limitor. It sucks to pay the same price as Europe and get less bike.
I see this as a 4 season all road type of bike, sort of like a two wheel subaru. It's a nice all-rounder out of the box, not to expensive, comfortable, capable, sporty, and reliable. Something that can take the wear and tear of a daily commute and eventually with a good aftermarket support to make it more suitable for touring, off road or commuting
I don’t think you can just bolt on a shallower oil pan. The pump and pickup- I’m sure are in the low area.
You are spot on. I just got my TA750 and have mostly the same views. My rides are more northern and so I have the heated grips which are outstanding. On road the power delivery is a bit tame, but it loves to rev for sure. It handles well and is very easy to ride
Really good review, i have a feeling that the Transalp will take all the beating with a smile. I hope you make some comparison to the KTM790/890 S bike.
There are lots of positive things with this bike. For me, the biggest positives are its size and weight, and it's a Honda.
When I sat on it, it felt more narrow and shorter than the T7 or 800DE, also weighs less than the competitors. The other big positive for me personally is the Honda 'fit and finish'-which,imo is the best out of the Japanese moto companies. When you get a Honda, nothing feels cheap, or thrown together.
Since I gave the two biggest positives for me, I'll be fair, and list the 2 biggest negatives for me, which ultimately were there reason I didn't pre-order one.
1)the oil sump/exhaust hanging low. 2)wonky tech pack when accessing TC, ABS, mapping modes etc etc.
As a US consumer, I was able to watch Australian and European reviews earlier this year and was unsure about the tech being 'not so user friendly', and we all know the ground clearance issues.
For me, I was also worried about how the crash bars, engine guards and bashplate would be mounted.
Bikes like older V-Stroms which don't have engine cradles, have the bashplates and some crash bars mounted directly on the engine. Heck, even some T7 crash bars mount directly to the engine. That's scary. Terrifying. Especially considering it'll be 500lbs of weight including a camping loadout.
Question: Why does the U.S. version have less HP than the European version?
We’ll be buying the Transalp when we move to Philippines next year. I look forward to your two-up review. Our combined weight is about 150kg. Thanks for your thorough reviews.
really love what you do for our comunity!! great stuff :)
Congratulations for showing real world tests not just a basic ride, throwing it over and all of the little details make your videos really stand out from the rest!
Great review part 2, looking fwd to the next episodes. I was leaning towards a cb500x, but after your initial review, I'm swaying towards the transalp again. It's obviously an offroad capable streetbike, but that's exactly what I want. (90% road, 10%off) The only thing that worries me are the tubed tires. Honda should've made tubeless an option.
About the windscreen, dunno if available in the US, but here in Europe you can get a set of wind-wings that attach to the fairing and the screen. I hear they're really good.
I’m definitely going to buy this bike. For my 130 lbs. the suspension is probably just about right.
I have the Honda CRF300 Rally for street legal + off-road stuff, so my TransAlp will be mostly for highway and city riding.
A good bash plate, Bark Busters, Double Take mirrors, crash bars , and some luggage options should round it out.
Cruise control would be nice, but I’m very comfortable with the Throttle Rocker I’ve been using for years.
Thanks for the thorough review, and all the extra technical information.
Happy Trails!
One of your best videos yet, and that's saying something.
Especially loved the intro 👍
Awesome! Thank you!
My 1st gen TA was more robust off-road having a full cradle frame. I did break a side panel attachment point when it tipped against a rock in a deep rut. I was able to use first-aid gauze and fiberglass resin to repair it when I got home.
North America seems to have all the market scenarios covered now.
Would love to get your opinion on the Tuareg 660 vs the Transalp. Primarily road but also off.
Agreed!
That would be awesome Ian to hear your thoughts vs the Tuareg. Your Tuareg review is why I bought one and given the list of items the Transalp would need I would suspect pricing would be very close to
The Tuareg would slay the Transalp.
Yes I would love to see that comparison too
@@mrjay4000not on the power departament though
I had no interest in this bike, but you made me a fan Ian. I appreciate how many times/things that you appreciated in this video 😊. I didn’t expect that from the stock bike.
Great review, covered everything I was curious about. Seriously thinking about buying one too, feels like a great all arounder bike. Jack of all trades but a master of none. Suspension upgrade and aftermarket oil pan with bash plate then good to go!
This motorcycle does not use constant-force springs, so adding preload (slightly compressing the spring) does indeed increase the initial return-force (stiffness). Look up Hooke's Law (F= -kx). This is typically more obvious with the rear spring because you can see that turning the adjustment collar adjusts the amount of initial spring compression (changing the length, "x" in the formula).
When you adjust sag, you are changing the initial spring compression force so that you get a fixed amount of drop once the motorcycle is weighted with rider+equipment, etc.
To just change weighted seat-height without affecting spring force and stiffness, the adjustment would be to the frame or suspension-mount and do nothing to the springs themselves.
Yes it does.
Still riding on my trusty XL600V from 92. Built to last,,this new one looks pretty darn good though :)
I cry tears of blood in memory of my XL600 that I sold in 1997 after 12 delightful years .... I getya!! 😢😢
I seen the video on the Australian launch of the transalp one of them had winglets on the fairing to help cut though the wind. They offered 3 options of accessories
I give you permission to skip drop tests on new motorbikes until you install crash guards 😄
Thanks Ian, I bought mine on pre-order and because of the terrible weather in the UK this summer, I've only been able to put 1,000 miles on it. I've really enjoyed it so far but had such limited use, i've had lingering doubts whether i made the right choice. Seeing you enjoy it too has helped reduce that feeling immensely. Really looking forward to see what mods you add to make this an even better all rounder.
Don't worry Ian, the next iteration of this bike will have two options. One, more of the same, the second a rally version, just as the Ducati Desert X Rally has now been created.
I don't think he is worried.
@@anxiousappliance I don't think he thinks he is worried, it's just an expression
Hi,
I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude and appreciation for what you do and how you go about doing it. Please trust me, I don’t express such things often or without a sound basis.
I wish you ongoing health, happiness and success.
That unprotected undercarriage scares the crap out of me. With the gouges and scrapes in my T7s skid plate I can only imagine how many new headers or oil pans I would have needed by now.
Yes, it's the bikes biggest flaw, along with spongy suspension
@@BigRockMotoand that air filter placement!
Great insight as always. You are absolutely right about rider limitation being the main factor holding us back. I like to day dream that I am Chris Birch. I am really enjoying your mid-adveventure bike series. Looking forward to learning how your mods improve the Transalp. Cheers!
I’m really looking forward to a comparison against the BMW 900GS (or even the new 800GS). If the price difference is worth it.
Great review, thank you!! I am considering the Transalp or Tuareg. How would you compare those two? 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's a sport touring bike, plain and simple. Ian, tell us which you would choose for true ADV riding. Transalp, 800DE, or T7 and let's put this argument to bed. Don't add a bunch of mods the Transalp then tell us how good it is. Put a skid plate and crash bars on it and give us an honest comparison of the three. I want to know the stock bike to stock bike choice for middle weight adventure riding, not touring. I have the 800DE, a touring bike, dirtbike, and dual sport.
That's the plan. The TA ends up more on the road side of things than a T7 due to suspension.
@@BigRockMoto The cool thing about the 3 is it reminds me of the XL, DR, and KLR feud lol. Where we make our choice and shit talk the other two to justify our purchase. lol again.
@@BigRockMoto How much are suspension mods?
Bought mine the other day and it's been a blast on and offroad for the most part, stock tires are inexcusable offroad and that oil pan is begging to be destroyed by a rock. Overall my onroad performance has been very good and she crushes miles like nobody's business. My only other personal gripes are the airbox access and the ease of cleaning as I've already found nooks and crannies where water would just love to pool. To be honest upgrading from my begginer bike to this has been an amazing experience and I'm looking to do some mods that'll sort out the short comings for sure.
Hi Ian enjoying your series very much thanks. I believe there’s no distance to empty on the TFT is that correct also why are you guys getting a reduced power version in the US?
Maybe due to California emissions laws the same bike is being sold everywhere? Only thing I can think so. Either that or they think it'll cannibalise sales of some other bikes that arent available in Europe...
Nice. 2 must haves for me. Low engine heat and good wind management. My R1200GS has excellent wind management with the Aeroflow windscreen but it cooks my legs 75f and up.
To be honest ive test ridden the Honda trans Suzuki 800 cf moto 800 and i still prefer my V-strom 650 for touring
Same here, but add T7 to the list. I'm still not 100% certain I'd be getting a compelling reason to part with the $ over my '17 DR ... 🤷🤷🤭🤭
all the numbers on this bike is exactly what I am looking for. at 5'6 I cannot handle t7 or the de800. just too heavy and big of a bike for me. I put over 1800 miles on my 23' cb500x and I my 500x but the power is just not enough. hwy speed over 65 the bike vibrates too much. As much as I hate to sell my 500x. I need to see this transalp in person. thank you so much for purchasing and doing all the reviews. I cannot wait to see what mods your going to do with this bike! and one question, how would you get the 90 horses on this?
I’d be really into this bike if it had cruise control and they upgraded the rider modes. Hopefully they bring the ‘24 Africa Twin to the US because I’m probably gonna buy it.
Next best thing is an "Atlas Throttle Lock" - check it out
Yeah similar here. Though it would also take something to get me away from KTM's off-road ABS which is excellent. The Honda ABS looks generations behind as we've seen in this video. Most other things can be upgraded as needed. Suspension, wheels, sump guard etc..
@@defylifeadventure I’m seriously considering am 890, but the lack of dealerships near me gives me pause.
@@helipilotuh1understandable. For on the 890 the biggest issue is the immobiliser issue. If you get it, it will be within the first 2,000 miles if not earlier. Once it's fixed, there's no real show stoppers, more just some minor niggles with some bikes. There's some question over the cam lobes wearing on some engines (oddly doesn't happen on the CF Moto which uses the 790 engine), it hasn't blown up to be a major thing yet.
@@helipilotuh1 If you have to cover much pavement at all, I can highly recommend the 2020+ ATAS in either manual or DCT. I know people say it's heavy, but they are all heavy. I just did 4000km in a week on my AT and it was a nice place to be.
Please include your inner leg length size, as many of us are looking at can I fit this motorcycle.
it is something that most reviewers miss out on there preview’s.
it would help me and meany other rider to decide is this the bike me.😊
Great first impression video! You always go into the deepest and most relevant details. I love this bike based on initial reviews but how I wish Honda would have brought the tri-color model over!
I have worked so hard to get my first "new" bike, im from a country where is not easy to buy these things...and i was really looking forward for your review of the transalp. You are the number one Ian, thanks a lot!
How can it be an off-roader with that weird pointy sump just waiting to be hit by a rock ?