It’s EICMA week, which means that we can look forward to a slew of major OEMS confirming some of the industry’s worst-kept secrets. And no secret has been kept worse this year, than the fact that Honda have been working on a new Transalp. Now Big Red’s confirmed it; here’s the brand new 2023 Honda XL750 Transalp.
Honda first released the Transalp back in 1986, but it’s the early 2000s XL650V and XL700V variants that you’ll see all over South Africa’s streets and trails. The Transalp has always sat in the middle of the Venn diagram where versatility, reliability and affordability intersect. It’s never been the most exciting adventure bike on the market, but it’s arguably one of the most iconic.
That’s why it’s been sorely missed by scores of adventure riders since Honda cut it from their lineup roughly a decade ago. But it’s back, now with a bigger engine and a host of new features.
Powering it is the same 755 cc liquid-cooled eight-valve parallel-twin engine that’s in the new CB750 Hornet. It’s good for 67.5 kW (90,5 hp) at 9,500 rpm and 75 Nm at 7,250 rpm, and uses a 270-degree firing order for added character. It uses the same Unicam head as the Honda CRF450R, which helps to keep the motor compact, and a slip-assist clutch.
The throttle’s a ride-by-wire setup, with five rider modes—one of which is customisable, and one of which is dedicated to off-road riding. Each mode regulates power delivery, engine braking, ABS and traction control. Riders can switch off traction control too, as well as the rear brake’s ABS.
Honda’s claimed fuel consumption figure is 23 km/L. With its 16.9 l tank, that should be good for 390 km between pit stops—which is perfect for South Africa’s most popular adventure riding routes.
Its engine size puts the Transalp squarely in the gap between Honda’s CB500X (which is reportedly coming to our shores soon), and the wildly popular CRF1100L Africa Twin. Its styling reflects this too, combining the CB500X’s angular lines with the Africa Twin’s stature. Although it’s not quite as aggressive as the latter, it stops short of being completely bland, with a utilitarian vibe that’s sure to appeal to its intended audience.
Honda’s designers call this look “friendly toughness”—it sounds goofy, but it sort of makes sense. The bodywork is sleek, with ergonomics that look like they’d work just as well whether you’re sitting or standing. The seat height is respectable, but not excessive, 850 mm.
The Transalp might be bigger than the CB500X, but its frame is actually lighter. Honda have given it a steel diamond frame that weighs just 18.3 kilos, said to make the bike more agile. The total wet weight is 208 kg, the rake and trail are 27 degrees and 111 mm, and the wheelbase is 1,560 mm.
There’s Showa suspension, with preload adjustment only, at both ends. 43 mm upside-down forks with 200 mm travel do duty up front, with a remote reservoir shock sporting 190 mm of travel at the back, hooked up to Honda’s signature ProLink system. The aluminium swingarm uses the same castings as the Africa Twin’s.
Off-road fanatics rejoice: the new Transalp now rolls on 21F/18R spoked wheels, with 210 mm of ground clearance. Sadly, there’s no mention of those wheels being tubeless in Honda’s press release. Braking is courtesy of what appears to be standard-issue Nissin callipers, with dual 310 mm discs up front, and a single 256 mm disc out back.
Standard equipment includes a full complement of LED lighting, a USB charge port, a rear luggage rack and a 5” TFT screen. The dash is packed with info, can be cycled through various display modes, and includes a full Bluetooth connectivity suite. What you don’t get out of the box, are hand guards, a bash plate, or an adjustable screen… but most of those can be purchased separately, naturally.
Honda have a full catalogue of parts for the Transalp, ranging from protective bits to luggage. Everything can be bought individually, or in five accessory ‘packs.’ The ‘Urban’ pack includes a 50 l top box (with a pillion pad and an inner bag), a tall screen and a centre stand. The ‘Rally’ pack has a quick-shifter, engine guards, bash plate, burlier foot pegs and hand guards.
The 2023 Transalp takes everything that made its predecessors popular but ramps it up with modern tech and a very respectable spec sheet. There’s a lot to love here—not just for fans of the original, but for anyone looking for a middleweight dual-sport that can commute on weekdays and travel on weekends.
There’s no word on what it’ll cost when it gets here—or when it’s arriving. But if the price is right, you can expect to see a lot of these in the wild.
