HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO GO ?
The original Transalp , introduced in 1986 with a 583cc V-Twin engine , is something of a legend . And as testament to the sheer quality of its build and timelessness of its design , many can still be seen on roads today .
Back in 1986 , the focus was as a smooth , comfortable do-it-all crossover that could cope with rougher ground thanks to long-travel suspension and light off-road dynamic . By 2000 the engine had grown to 647cc and , for the last version in 2008 it landed with 680cc , fuel injection and a 214kg kerb weight .
The Adventure segment has expanded massively since the Transalp first turned a wheel . Honda has the superb pocket-adventurer , A2-compatible CB500X plus the dual purpose , super-athletic CRF1100L Africa Twin adventure flagship and its long-range continent-crossing sibling , the Africa Twin Adventure Sports . Which means there is room in the mid-capacity sector of Honda ’ s range for a model to attract customers with a different set of adventurous aspirations .
This is just what the new XL750 Transalp is built to do , and a legend of adventure touring is thus reborn .
The XL750 Transalp takes inspiration from the original and is perfect for an extended touring trip as well as the urban cut and thrust – and all points in-between . It ’ s at home both slicing through an Alpine pass or kicking up dust on rough tracks . And it adds to the formula a highperformance engine , all-new design and the kind of topdraw equipment level that modern riders demand .
Simply put , the XL750 Transalp is a brilliant allrounder and leaves only one question unanswered . How far do you want to go ?
“ With our new Transalp we looked hard at what made the first model so good and wanted to strike the right balance between urban agility , long-distance , on-road touring comfort and off-road ability ," suggests Masatoshi Sato , Transalp Large Project Leader . " In arriving where we are , we have considered all these aspects in a ‘ 360 degree ’ way , and created a bike that gives riders of all experience levels a fresh new option in the Honda range .
" The look revives the classic Transalp presence in a modern key , the new engine is incredibly strong and versatile , and the bike has an appealingly long and rich specification list . Around town or around the world – our Transalp is ready !”
The Transalp ’ s design projects an unmistakeable feeling of adventure touring in a package that works superbly on the road . The long-legged stance makes a strong statement of adventurous intent , while the fairing and screen work together to deliver wind protection without bulk . The overall look is sleek , simple and clean .
The engine packs a great deal of Honda ’ s engineering prowess into a small space and provides strong response across the rev-range – just what ’ s needed for either solo or two-up touring . The all new 755cc , parallel twin-cylinder unit ( shared with the new CB750 Hornet ) produces 67.5kW top power and a strong helping of torque right through the rev range , peaking at 75Nm . Refined settings of the Throttle By Wire ( TBW ) system orientate the engine character towards touring and comfort .
Compact , competition CRF-derived Unicam eight-valve cylinder heads employ downdraft air intakes and Vortex flow duct to ensure optimal combustion . The 270 ° crank delivers feel and character . Electronic rider aids run via Throttle By Wire ( TBW ) and include 5 riding modes , 4 of which contain pre-set combinations of Engine Power , Engine Braking , ABS and Honda Selectable Torque Control ( HSTC ) with integrated Wheelie Control . The 5th ‘ User ’ mode allows the rider to fix their own preferred combination .
Handling is light , nimble and confidence inspiring . The steel diamond frame is light weight thanks to optimisation of wall / pipe thickness and stiffness . For supple on-road performance and off-road bump
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