Honda XL 750 Transalp
The XL 750 Transalp looks absolutely brilliant, Not so much so in a dark color, but in the white paint scheme with the red and blue streaks and gold rims, it looks drop dead gorgeous, in my opinion.
It looks proportionate, not too big, but not overly imposing either, fitting for a mid-size multi-cylinder ADV bike.
Now, although some might find this one to look rather simple, well, the features list that this like houses, says otherwise.
XL 750 Transalp Advanced TFT Screen
Now, the Transalp comes with a five-inch TFT screen that it shares with the Honda NX 500, but this one, well, it has a lot of more information for you to configure and read out on the go. Honda XL 750 Transalp
Customizable Ride Modes
Now, you have four themes, you have four ride modes, you have settings of engine power, engine braking, traction control, ABS, and there’s one ride mode where you can configure all that and personalize it to your riding style and liking.
Clear and Crisp Display
The lovely thing about the Transalp screen is that the display is crisp and all the important information that you want to be shown is laid out clearly.
Better still is that you have that one user ride mode to configure things the way you like. But there is a bit of a catch when it comes to the bike switch gear.
XL 750 Transalp Button Layout
Now, there’s a lot of buttons for you to fiddle and toy around with on this But then again, the actual layout of the buttons takes some getting used to because some of the switch gear is a bit oddly positioned, like the indicator and the hazard light switch, not in the ideal position as per the regular standard bikes that we have out here in the country.
That might take a bit of time to get accustomed to. What won’t, however, is the actual bike itself because it’s just so easy, comfortable, and well balanced.
Comfortable and Balanced Riding
Now, yes, the seat height of the Transalp is tall, but once you’re actually on board, it feels like one of those motorcycles where you’re seated within rather than on it.
The rider triangle is very upright and the padding keeps things nice and comfortable.
XL 750 Transalp Excellent Stability
One of the highlights of this motorcycle is how well balanced it feels. Whether you’re riding fast, you’re riding slow, braking hard, standing, sitting.
Well, it just allows you to see the obstacle in front, react to it, and get past it with a calculated precision. Honda XL 750 Transalp
Honda have really mastered the center of gravity with this one.
It doesn’t feel top-heavy when you tip it over, and that on its own allows you to really feel a great connection with this bike at all times, at least when you’re riding it.
And when you’re not riding it, even walking this 208 kg stock bike around isn’t a big task.
Powerful and Smooth Engine
But the best part about this motorcycle, it has to be the 755 cc twin cylinder engine.
Now, it’s one of the new parallel twin engines from Honda, and it’s the same one that powers the latest Hornet 750 elsewhere in the world. So you definitely know that this one has got some sting. Honda XL 750 Transalp
Now, the 755 cc liquid cool parallel twin that powers the transalp is a real treat because it makes a good amount of power that’s around a little over 91 PS of max power, 75 Nm of max stock.
And being a 270-duty crank, well, it makes most of that power in the mid and top end of the spectrum, but there is a decent amount of grunt, low down the power band as well.
XL 750 Transalp Fun and Engaging Ride
Now, it’s not exactly vibe-free, but it does have a nice amount of grunt to it, and that gives this bike a real good character.
Out on the road, it’s just a real treat, and it’s just endless joy every time you’re in the throttle in the right settings, of course. Honda XL 750 Transalp
Accélération is smooth off the line, and the clutch is nice and light, which is great for the city.
And once the roads open up a bit and you dive into the mid-range, well, that’s when you’ll have yourself a big old bag of fun.
Power build up to the mid-range is fairly good, and After that, this motor just wants to spread its wings and take flight.
Great, fun if you fancy yourself a brisk ride. You can even hear nice clicks each time you work the Gearbox, and it gives you this nice, crisp feeling overall.
The parallel to an engine is just so linear in its delivery. There are no surprising spikes in power, so it isn’t a task when you throw the hammer down at any point.
It’s so involving out on the road. It feels like you’re hitting the nail on the head each and every time you back the throttle open. Honda XL 750 Transalp
Engine Braking and Exhaust Note
I absolutely love the fact that you have engine braking settings on this bike because it allows you to be just that little more at ease depending on the tricky weather or terrain that you’re going through.
Yes, and even that boomy exhaust note from the NCan, well, that enhances an already thoroughly delightful ride experience.
Off-Road Capabilities and Suspension
When you’re riding off-road, too, there’s more than enough power and tap to light your eyes up with glee.
But although you have a good amount of travel at both ends, you have 200mm at the front wheel and 190 at the rear, well, the suspension can bottom out quite easily if you’re making new trails and happen to make a mistake.
Now, let’s just say that I was really happy that it was on there this time around.
XL 750 Transalp Suspension and Tire Setup
the show us suspension at both ends, preload-adjustible, and it allows a good amount of wheel travel at both ends as well. Honda XL 750 Transalp
But then the 21-inch up the front, well, it will keep you safe from a lot of portal abuse, and it manages to hold the bike’s line very nicely.
You can really tilt and flow into corners with great ease.
But sadly, the rear suspension is on the softer side, and in consider of whatever settings you put it in, it is going to wallow out in corners if you hit a bump mid-corner.
The compression and rebound settings of the Shova units aren’t exactly set up for you to be overly adventurous of the beaten part. And the tires, well, that’s a bit of a surprise, too.
Now, the current Nissan break setup on the Transalp is very appropriate given the bike’s capability in the stock form.
Braking and Tire Limitations
But what comes as a downer is the tire setup. it comes with spoke wheels that’s a 21-inch up front, 18-inch at the rear, but those are Dunlop tube tires at both ends.
Now, although it fares decent on the road, well, once you get into off-road sections, that could be tricky because center stand that you have out there, you see the bike balancing on, well, that is not a standard affair that is an optional accessory.
So stock form, the motorcycle, if you’re out on a long journey and you happen to have a puncture, well, God help you. Honda XL 750 Transalp
But then there is a way to get around it because you can, in fact, swap these wheels out with those of the Africa Twin. But then again, it’s not going to come cheap.
XL 750 Transalp Price and Value Considerations
Now, to sum things First and foremost, let me reiterate by saying that the Transalp is no baby Africa twin because this is more of an adventure tourer rather than a full-blown ADB bike.
Now, this comes to India as a CBU, much like the so it isn’t going to come cheap. 11 Lakhs showroom, and that’s two just for the bare bones bike.
The current setup, which is the windfaring, the knuckle guards, the engine guards, bash plate, and even that center stand, they’re all additional extras.
So this whole setup, the additional extra setup, will set you back by around 1.8 Lakh, so not really cheap out there.
So definitely in terms of sheer value, well, this motorcycle takes a step back.
But then again, there are going to be a certain amount of people that are going to really fancy this one for, obviously, the esthetic, the comfort levels, that stonk of an engine, the features, and the whole dynamic of it all, Honda fans, especially. So if you can afford it, it is a really nice motorcycle.