Honda XL750 Transalp - Are adventure bikes boring?
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- In which I try to get to the bottom of the question - am I mature enough to be riding an adventure bike or are they all a bit 'leisure wear for bikers'? The bike to help me explore this idea is the Honda XL750 Transalp, a benchmark for mid-size adventure models and a welcome return for an iconic name. Are its Hornet foundations enough to win me over? Do I look stupid in leathers on it? Should I have added some huge aluminium panniers for the true adventure biker look? This and more in the video!
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#Honda #HondaTransalp #HondaXL750Transalp #XL750Transalp #adventurebike #adventuremotorbike #motorcycle #motorcycling #motorcyclereview #motorbike #motorbikes #motorbikereviews #midlifecrisis - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I've been riding for over 40 years. This is where you will end up eventually. You'll just need to go through the journey first, like we all did. 👍
Well, if that’s the case I’m enjoying the journey!
@@midlifecrisismotorcyclist it's the most fun you can have with your pants on hey! 😁
A frank attempt to pin down where the Transalp fits into the wider motorcycle landscape. Just on the weight - the Honda's claimed wet weight (full tank included) is 208 kgs, which compares to the Tenere at 202, the Tuareg at 204, and the Suzuki at almost 230. But these weights do not take into account the various 'extras', what comes on one make but not another, differing tank capacities, etc. Your Honda weighs 7-ish kgs more with the crash bars and bashplate fitted, for example, and its rear rack is rather heavy (I have replaced mine with a lighter alternative) where some of the others do not come with a rack from stock, but do have a bashplate, and so on.
Nearing 9,000 kms on my Transalp here in (hot!) South Australia, I found most of your impressions tallied with mine. As to excitement? Well, I am 70 y. o, and also have one very light and powerful sports bike as well, so my expectations on the Transalp don't have to include 0 - 100 kmh in 2.5 seconds, or Phillip Island abilities, as I have another bike for that. I guess that is not uncommon nowadays, with a degree of affluence we didn't have in our youth, and the specialisation of bikes now.
But I found the Honda kind of 'grew on me' as the miles got up, and I enjoy its ease of use. It has done many miles on dirt, two trips away, and - in spite of your accurate observations re the suspension - does a reasonable job for the most part. The low buying price allows the 20% who want more from their Transalp to upgrade the suspension.
The lack of equipment from standard also allows the buyer to go aftermarket for their accessories, with savings to be had there, given the high price of the Honda options. You don't have to replace a plastic bashplate, to then leave in the shed, like on some alternative offerings. But the lack of an ambient temperature reading, or an oil window, on a 2023 model, is a little puzzling. The intrusive nature of the traction control on loose surfaces less than ideal - I just leave mine permanently in Sport mode, where the settings are closest to 'unhindered'. The fiddle to switch the TC off is a drawback to offroad use.
I hope you keep the bike long enough for it to make sense to you. It took about 5,000 kms for mine to become smoother and sweeter sounding in the engine, and to start to become 'a friend'. Yes, it looks a bit funny from front on, but I didn't buy it to drool over its looks. I have a red Italian for that. But I am certain it could do the job of someone's only bike, with its range of abilities, and remarkable economy.
Wow, what a detailed reply - thanks so much for the additional insight, really interesting and much appreciated. Sadly the bike has gone back now but interesting to hear it's a grower. Maybe I'll get something like this in on longer-term test and discover the same myself. And a good point on the weights as well (I think I actually quoted a slightly wrong figure anyway) because you're of course correct, and the actual weight will vary a lot according to spec. To be fair I think Honda is better than most and its quoted weights are at least 'wet' and ready to ride. But as a car guy where we have independent European standards by which we can get a like-for-like comparison it seems a lot hazier in. bike world. But, hey, makes actually reviewing them and getting a sense for how they ride even more important, so hopefully keeps me in a job for a bit! Thanks!
You're welcome. The 'weight thing' has always been a bit fraught in the bike testing world, and the best tests have been conducted with a weigh-in, with empty fuel tanks, to eliminate those variables. Equivalence with accessories etc, which then becomes an elaborate exercise! But your test was an interesting viewpoint, as a 'new' motorcyclist, and very well-presented, given your car-testing history. I hope you stay with the bikes long enough to become an 'older motorcyclist', at which point bikes like this will make more sense. If we are still allowed to ride at that time...
I still like exciting bikes, and my ultra-light road bike is such an animal, but this category of bikes has its place, in a world where sport bikes are stupidly fast, speeding is more punished, track days fairly costly, and riders are heading for the dirt tracks to find their sense of freedom and escape!
yo can turn the traction control off while riding in user mode,hold the 4 way controller up while backing off the throttle for a few seconds and it will turn off
I quite like this bike, I'd slap on the heated grips and some protection from the muck it'd attract when riding around. I think the thrill for me would be knowing it would start everytime...
I like the black on black! Stealthy look
No bikes are boring you can get enjoyment out of any bike if your that way inclined.
Bikes are not Boring but this CZcams is
Would you get excited by a CR-V?
That was my thought also, near enough anyway. Are these like the SUV's of bikes or something?
He says he just got his bike license, “not been riding long”but he is very knowledgeable about motorcycle language. He speaks like he’s been riding for years and his presentation sounds very scripted. It seems
Everyone reviewing this bike has the same script. Still looking for an honest video with an honest rider. I hope I’m making my point. I’m not bashing anyone.
Doesn’t this have a quick shifter? Why do your shifts sound that way?
It does have a quickshifter but, call me old-fashioned, as a noob I’m trying to stick to manual shifts as a rule so as not to get lazy on the basis I’ll also be riding bikes without this tech. So I need to learn the muscle memory for normal shifts. I did enjoy having it for overtakes and other situations where I needed to free up some headspace. Hopefully makes sense!
Adventure bikes are the SUVs of the motorbike world. It seems both are now following a similar trend.
You'll never get excited by the Transalp, it's just not that type of Adventure bike. See it as an upright tourer, commuter bike. Adventure bikes are the Ducati Multi , Ktm SAS, even the Tiger GT Pro. You have a capable bike there Dan, but most definitely the wrong bike if you're looking to Adventure bikes to get your kicks
I don't ride adv bikes but i always find people who purchased expensive, powerful and heavy adv bikes tend to just use them on sealed roads. They're almost exclusively purchased by upper class guys in their 40s and 50s who over estimate their use of the bike. but guys who buy smaller and lighter bikes like klr650s and tenere hit the dirt more often.
My TA excites me and surprises me every time i take it off road. And the road comfort is also pretty nice.