Honda XL750 Transalp SA Launch.

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If you were Honda, what would you do to fill the gap between their CB500X and  CRF1100 Africa Twin? Well that’s not difficult is it; just build a new, from the forks to the taillight, middleweight Transalp, right?

The Transalp name has been around since 1986, so why change it? It’s now 2023 and Honda’s middleweight adventure/tourer h been transformed into this, the XL750. It may have the same colours as their previous versions but that’s about it, and there’s no denying it’s a very attractive motorcycle.

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But don’t judge a book by its cover ‘they say’, so let’s dive inside and outside to see what Honda has given to us in 2023.

Without doubt the biggest talking point is their new 755cc, parallel-twin engine, churning out a claimed 90hp@9,500rpm and 75Nm@7,250rpm. Those are quite impressive figures to say the least and it will propel the XL750 well past 200km/h. In fact I saw an indicated 206km/h in fifth gear, sixth is certainly an overdrive for long distance touring attributes as it didn’t really go much faster when engaged.

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To hold this new motor is obviously a new frame, which is 10% lighter than the one used on their CB500X, with Showa suspension units at the front and rear. All relatively normal stuff but where the new Transalp raises the bar is it is now stuffed to the brim with electronic aids.

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To be honest I get a bit bored with electronic reporting so it’s better to go into Honda’s website for more technical information, but I’ll try to condense it a little. The splendid new 5-inch TFT dash relays five rider modes/user option included, three levels of engine braking, four power modes, ABS settings, and traction control modes including wheelie control. The new screen also allows for four different displays, which I liked, and Honda’s new Smart phone voice App, where you can load GPS and things to tell you where you’re going. Not sure if that’s available in SA yet, but your dealer will know.

That should be more than enough to keep any electro-fan happy. Still a bit fiddly to operate though with the new switchgear, but once you get used to it, like a new phone for example, it functions nicely.

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I just set the bike to maximum power and as little intervention as possible. I did find the traction control, especially off-road, a little too intrusive so I left it off everywhere by accessing the User mode, but that’s just me. It seems to come in too quickly, a bit like myself, which hides how good this new engine is.

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Honda use their Uni-Cam cylinder-head design, with eight-valves, to make the valve angle steeper for more efficiency they say. However the trick here is their 270-degree crankshaft/firing order that makes the XL750 sound similar to a V-Twin, sort of. I say that because it sounds uniquely fantastic and I for one wouldn’t fit any aftermarket silencer of any sort. The combination of the airbox volume, which has fancy new ‘vortex’ intakes to make the air swirl for better combustion, and exhaust note is delightful and distinctive. This new motor is also creamy smooth and at 150km\h it generates zero vibration as you sit happily in the thickly padded seat, ideal for long touring adventures. It also produces a noticeable and distinct rush of power after 7,000rpm if you fancy a spot of excitement and wheelie action.

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The XL750 Transalp is ergonomically superb, with one of the best seats I’ve come across in many years, a trait some ‘others’ seemed to have forgotten. The ‘bar reach and footrest drop leave you in a lazy stance that feels like you can travel for ages on its 17-litre tank, which equates to around 350km +/-. This combines well with the superb road handling of the XL 750, one of the most fun adventure bikes to throw around on the tarmac I’ve come across. Even though it has a 21-inch front wheel it’ll be a hard act to catch down tight twisty roads, believe me, seeing as it only weighs in at 208kg (wet), which is impressive for such a tall bike with a 850mm seat height.  The rear Showa Pro-Link shock is a bit soft for my liking though and has pre-load only, as do the 43mm SFF-CATM (not sure what that means) forks. For a base price of R209,995 I would maybe have liked to have seen some form of damping adjustment facilitation as well, still it certainly handles sweet on the road.

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When we went off-road though I wasn’t as impressed with the package on offer. The soft rear shock actually suited my pathetic off-road style but the forks weren’t so good, I thought. They just seemed to be too hard once the initial part of the stroke was over and very harsh towards the end of the stroke (felt a bit like they have too much oil inside), especially on the never-ending hard and heavily compacted dirt/farmer lanes we were sent down. I much prefer nice and soft technical forest lanes and river beds to that type of riding and sitting inside a permanent dust cloud from the riders ahead stopped any chance of seeing pot holes and deep ruts ahead, was rough, still I didn’t fall off so it can’t be that bad? I did back off the pre-load by two turns on the forks, which did improve things a little, so maybe a bit of trial and error will be in order to improve things?

Anyway, bruised palms aside, once back onto tarmac my riding pleasure returned. I would say the XL750 is about 80/20 on-road/off-road because it is more of a road going/commuter/adventure tourer in my mind than some of its more hard-core opposition, which is why I’d predict a new Transalp owner wouldn’t be interested in those choices.

The base model at R209,995 doesn’t include any extras though, which are splashed onto the model pictured that I had for an additional week. Sump guard, hand-guards, crash bars, quick-shifter (very nice that), higher screen (highly recommended), wind deflectors, are all going to add to the price, even the 12-volt socket is extra, which seems a bit silly as they’re surely not that expensive. Honda do offer a 10k voucher to the first few owners who decide to  'decorate’ their new bike, so be quick if you’re thinking of buying one. They also offer five differing add-on packages to suit the riders’ style, so check out their site or you local dealer for more information.

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So, did I like it you ask? Absolutely, it makes a wonderful motorcycle for everyday use, and more, which has always been the Honda Transalp’s attribute and continues to be so. The XL750 version has certainly filled the gap in Honda’s 2023 adventure/tourer range and it’s undoubtedly worthy of their iconic Transalp badge, commendation indeed.

Images: Beam Productions.

Visit: www.honda.co.za for more technical information and to book a test ride at your local Honda dealer.  

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