The Honda Transalp is a solid choice—smooth, capable, and built for adventure.

snapshiftmedia
Jan 30, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Feb 15, 2025

I recenty had the opportunity to spend some time with the 2024 Honda Transalp XL750 thanks to Honda SA!

Now those of you who know me, will know I've always been one for superbikes and adventure bikes were never really something that I considered riding, but man let me tell you, I have been missing out on a world of FUN and COMFORT!

The Transalp XL750 is a middleweight adventure bike and Honda designed it with a goal in mind that it must excel on the road and in offroad conditions and I think that they achieved that goal really well.

Now lets take a deep dive and explore the Honda Transalp XL750 and everything it has to offer!

𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬:

This 208kg motorcycle is powered by a 755cc, 4 stroke parallel twin!

All you need to know is that the engine is compact and lightweight and it delivers a great mix of power and torque when you need it!

Whether you are on the highway, in offroad conditions or even in bumper to bumper traffic, the bike runs smoothly at all RPMs, and even if you are close to standing still and you need to get moving again from the lower RPMs, acceleration is buttery smooth and the bike gets up to highway speeds comfortably, maintaining it with ease.

As I mentioned above, the bike does weigh 208kg's and I took one look at it and felt slightly intimidated by its size. The bike is tall, and fairly wide, however Honda has worked their magic and somehow made this bike extremely easy to maneuver. I couldn't believe how easy it was for me to move the bike around, even without the help of the engine.

Lane splitting is a breeze and you barely feel any weight at all to be honest. I could easily make U-turns without having to put my feet down (the turning circle is amazing!) and I could easily throw the bike into twisty bends, leaning it side to side, and the bike would just go exactly where you want it to go. I really did not expect it at all based on the size of the bike at first glance.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Now that we know that the engine is great and works wonders in this bike, you surely must be wondering about the 6-speed manual transmission that is paired with it.

The Transalp uses a wet multiplate assist and slipper clutch.

The wet multiplate assist clutch makes the clutch lever feel lighter which then in turn reduces rider fatigue and makes riding in traffic more enjoyable. This may sound like something small and that isn't really relevant but you do notice what a great feature this is during extended rides or in bumper to bumper traffic where you will tend to use the clutch quite a number of times.

The slipper clutch prevents the rear wheel from locking up if you downshift a bit aggressively (which we all tend to do every now and then when that inner MotoGP rider we all have inside of us comes out), providing smoother deceleration and enhanced stability. This is very beneficial when offroading or when riding at higher speeds.

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:

I feel like Honda was "Showa"ing off when it came to the suspension of the Transalp, as the bike is equipped with a quality 43mm Showa inverted telescopic fork that has 200mm of travel in the front.

In the rear you will find a Pro Link shock with 190mm of travel.

So what does all of this mean for you as the rider?

The long suspension travel is needed for handling rough offroad terrain and at the same time comfort and control is maintained when riding on tarred roads. It ensures that there is enough ground clearance when tackling the offroad terrain. Another benefit is that you get to enjoy some really beautiful views as well as your seating position will be fairly higher compared to the normal road bikes which have less travel in their shocks.

𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲:

I have a fairly spirited riding style and I really like to enjoy the bikes I'm riding by twisting the throttle and taking in the thrill that the bike has to offer while smiling like a little kid in a candy store!

This means that I did open the bike up quite a few times to hear that beautiful grunt of the 755cc parallel twin engine and smile from ear to ear as the bike accelerated with ease and made some beautiful noises through the twisty and foresty roads of Newlands Drive.

Even with the spirited riding style and with the bike always in sport mode (full power), I managed to achieve an average fuel consumption of around 5.3L per 100/Km and when watching the instantaneous fuel consumption gauge, it would sit around 3L per 100/Km when taking it easy. I think that is beyond reasonable for the amount of fun you get out of the bike when riding it in various ways and environments.

The fuel tank capacity is a reasonable size of 17 liters.

In my view this is a reasonable tank size for an adventure bike as there is a good balance between the range you get out of this tank and the weight. You wouldn't want the bike to feel too heavy with a bigger tank and with its efficient engine, this fuel capacity should be more than enough for longer rides without having to stop too many times to refuel, making it ideal for longer rides.

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲:

From the riders point of view you have a 5" full colour TFT screen provides all necessary information needed such as your rev counter, speedometer, gear indicator, engine temperature, power modes, traction control settings and much more.

You can even select different layouts for the rev counter and speedometer and have the choice of changing the colours as well.

The bike is also equipped with the RoadSync system for a seamless riding experience.

What is RoadSync? I hear some of you asking yourselves Don't worry I'll explain it to you.

It is a smart connectivity feature that links your smartphone to the bike via Bluetooth with many uses and benefits.

It allows the rider to use voice commands to control various phone functions (such as calls, messages, and listening to music) while riding.

This enhances rider safety as you won't have to be distracted or concerned about missing messages or phone calls coming through from your significant other or family who may be wondering where you are because you have been away for hours, just because the Transalp is so much fun to ride and you can't get enough of it!

The RoadSync system can also be paired with navigation apps, and directions can be received through the helmet's audio system. No more using the "I got lost" excuse to get more riding time all you adventurers!

Another great feature is that the rider can stream music or communicate with other riders using intercom systems, all without taking their hands off the bars. This means you don't have to be confused at the robots when trying to make out what another rider next to you is saying through their helmet (we all know this feeling).

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬:

The Transalp comes out in 3 different colours:

Ross white: A striking white color with blue and red accents, paying homage to Honda's iconic adventure bikes of the past. This is paired with the gold and silver spoked wheels.

Matte Iridium Grey Metallic: A hard and cool matte metallic grey, offering a refined appearance for riders who prefer a subtle look.

Matte Ballistic Black Metallic: A sleek and stealthy matte black finish, giving the bike a more aggressive and modern look.

Now for pricing: Honda SA is currently offering an amazing special on the Transalp XL750 and this is a deal you will not want to miss!

You can save an amazing R35 000 with their current offer and pick one up from R179 199! This offer also includes free rider training from Honda while stocks last!

Don't sleep on this amazing offer and contact your nearest Honda dealer for more information.

Overall, the 2024 Honda XL750 Transalp is designed to be a versatile machine that excels on the road and in offroad conditions. It is put together very well and you really don't have to be professional to ride this bike.

Honda really considered all sorts of riders from beginners to seasoned riders when they put the bike into production, from the rider who is just looking to commute to work and back and maybe experience some gravel roads one day, to the rider who is a bit more adventurers and likes to tour and tackle some of the more advanced trails. The bike is definitely capable of doing it!

I have now had a taste of the adventure bike lifestyle and there is no looking back

It is addictive and thrilling and I can't wait to see what other adventures lay ahead for me and what bike I'll be experiencing these adventures on next!