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BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED
With an accessible price, great build quality and a can-do attitude, does this £9699 bike offer all the adventure touring ability you need for half the money of a specced‐up GS?
INA WORLD where bike prices, like everything else, seem to rise by the minute, getting a new bike that can tick all the boxes and not cost a fortune is getting harder and harder.
But Honda think they may have it cracked with the 2023 Transalp. Costing a smidge under £10k (admittedly it too has had a price-rise recently), it has a broader remit than its big rival, the Yamaha Ténéré 700. While the Ténéré goes for Dakar racer looks and the kind of off-road marketing that goes with it, the Transalp is an adventure tourer with the emphasis on touring.
Its predecessor was just the same. First launched in 1986, the original bike was billed by Honda as a ‘smooth, comfortable do-it-all crossover bike’ – and the Transalp won its many fans due to its workmanlike attitude and ability to just keep plugging on regardless of the abuse thrown at it. People rode to work on them, but the bike was just as happy to ride around the world. The new Transalp, which is now a parallel twin rather than a V-twin, takes the bike back to its adventure touring roots. Faster, tech-heavy and ready for a global exploring, does it really offer all things to all people?
A solid week’s worth of testing on-road and off-road, and churning miles on the motor should give the answer.
Q Can it do distance?
Despite only having a 16.9-litre fuel tank, at steady motorway speeds the Transalp averages 57mpg. That’s just over 190 miles before the fuel warning comes on with about 22 miles in reserve.
Can you see off that distance in comfort? Yes, with two small caveats. Firstly, the Transalp lacks cruise control and it isn’t an optional extra, which does seem an oversight.
The screen may not suit everyone, either. Taller riders (those taller than 6ft) may experience turbulence from the screen on the top of their lid. A taller screen, which extends its height by 75mm, costs £125.
The Transalp is a relaxed bike with a firm yet supportive seat and good ergonomics. A variable seat height as standard would have been nice, but you can pay £135 for a 20mm lower seat if the peg/seat angle isn’t to your liking. Official accessory handguards are £135 while heated grips are £185.
The motor doesn’t vibrate, the ride is compliant and it’s comfortable. You may need to spend extra to make it right for you, but Honda accessories are fairly well priced.
Q How are the electro
