We run 2023’s two most talked-about adventure bikes non-stop for 24 hours
HONDA TRANSALP
£9499 91bhp 55lb·ft 209kg All-new, keenly-priced Transalp is Honda’s new dual-sport adventure challenger and has the same parallel twin as the new Hornet and a focus on touring as well the occasional gravel road. How will it cope with the big miles?
BOTH DUCATI’S NEW V4 Multistrada Rally and Honda’s new XL750 Transalp are going to be on the buying list for many in 2023. And while we pride ourselves on having the best, most-authoritative tests in the bike-magazine world, this time they both deserved something special and even tougher.
So, we devised a plan for them to cover as much distance as possible in 24 hours, aiming for at least 1000 miles on each machine. Piloted by a variety of bikers, by the end of the test we’d know everything we’d need to know, from fuel consumption and comfort to wet-weather performance, twisty road ability and even a bit of off-roading. We also thought it sounded like fun.
Starting at midday on a Thursday, we used RiDE’s Peterborough base as the central point, sending a team of six riders off in eight-hour shifts to Wales, Scotland, the North Yorks moors, the Peak District and the south coast of England. The result of 2300 miles of testing is eye-opening, as are some of our tester’s stories…
Welcome to the 24 Heures du RiDE 2023.
From £23,950 170bhp 89lb·ft 260kg Think of it as an Italian GS Adventure. The V4 boasts more fuel capacity and is set up for big-mile days but isn’t cheap. With the Travel and Radar pack here, the Rally rolls out of the showroom at a cool £27,140
LEG 1 PETERBOROUGH TO BRECON AND BACK
Martin Fitz-Gibbons clocks the miles and takes in what could very well be Wales’s best road
IT’S A SIGN. After 150 miles of persistent distance devouring aboard Honda’s new Transalp, “Croeso i Gymru” flashes past from the side of the A40. Two and a half hours ago I turned left out o
