Honda Transalp?
 

I'm based in the UK and thinking of buying a Transalp with the plan to do a RTW trip in about a year. I've had a transalp before and know all the plusses but why should I NOT by a one! And if I shouldn't get a Transalp what should I spend my £5000 on.
Thanks for the input

I think a TransAlp would actually be a fairly decent bike for such a trip, with the caveat that it is not really a dirtbike, but a streetbike that can tolerate dirt roads.

Somewhere on the web is a page about two Australians who rode from China to Europe on a pair of TransAlp 400s they bought in Japan.
If they can do it I'm sure you can ride around the world on one.

------------------
Bruce Clarke
brclarke@islandnet.com
www.islandnet.com/~brclarke

I spoke recently to a british biker who has taken his Transalp along the Karakoram and recently completed an uneventful round-the-Med trip (including Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan etc). He did a limited amount of off-road riding in Libya, and found the bike ideal - very tough and reliable. It seems ok as long as you don't expect too much off road. I could check with him if you want his e-mail address to see if he could give you more detail.

[This message has been edited by Pete C (edited 26 July 2000).]

That would be wonderful. I'll be picking up my Transalp this week and can't wait. I have thought about a round the med trip and would love to hear from someone who's done it, my e-mail is dominicgiles@hotmail.com

Try out http://www.xs4all.nl/~hanzw/index.htm for some good stuff/people who have Transalps too, particularly in Europe.

Just got mine - 3 mths old and off to France next mth. Have fun!

I am currently going 'round the world on a transalp and can heartily recommend it. A few suggestions: 1. Maybe you might fit a larger tank but only if you are doing deserts. 2. Get a bigger foot welded on the stand 3. Get a aluminium bashplate made up to replace the plastic one 4. put on a switch to manually turn on the radiator 5. Dont bother with extra fuel filters as those fitted are great 6. join the Transalp mailing list 7. New rear shock is needed *. rip off all that bloody plastic!

[This message has been edited by Simon Kennedy (edited 20 January 2002).]

Hi, I read about this planned trip on a Transalp, can defenately recommend, I have excellent experiences with the bike, both for a long trip and for ****ed roads. One advice though, check the CDI unitsunder the saddle and make sure they are nog just beneath the sadddle, as this bends through after a while and damage the CDIs and consequently the cilinder will falter. This is a problem with older TAs, get the holder from newer versions. For the rest, the TA is as trustworthy as they get. Good luck

Yep ... web address for that trip is below ... the 400cc part was fine for China and Russia, but in Europe it was a bit underpowered. but its the same bike as the 600cc TransAlps, just with a sleeved motor. Reliability of the bike was phenomenal ... in 4 months and 20,000 klms prior to reaching Finland we had to change zero tyres, zero sprockets, zero chains. ... and the engines used zero oil. I never got to test out how easy they are to work on, as all we ever had to do was change the oil every 5000 klms ... but I understand they are among the easiest of bikes to work on.

The only mechanical issue we had the whole trip was a rear wheel bearing failure and the bikes eat through brake pads..... towards the end of the trip I had the usual CDI problem resulting from seat flex.

I have a big BMW now, but if I were to make the same trip again, it would be a toss up between a pre 2000 600cc TransAlp or a new F650 Dakar.

The bike was solid. Its unsexy, its unfashionable, but its reliable as hell.

why a pre 2000 transalp?
 

Ive had a few transalps and would reccomend them to anyone especially as the africa twin is very tall and top heavy/no better off road. Off road capability can be increased by better fork springs and an ohlins rear, possibly proper footpegs and protection bars/skid pans etc.

I thought the 2000 onwards is a lot better and essentially the same bike except 50cc larger?

2000+ model has a nicer seat, still has a steel frame, CDI is placed elsewhere and improved handling for on & off road. People have taken these bikes into deep sand and found them no more of a handfull than an africa twin or a GS 650 dakar.

Personal Preference
 

The older bikes are lighter (by 10-15 kgs I think I read once) and reportedly a lot easier to work on (should one ever need work - though how many times I have heard of a TransAlp engine needing work I could count on one hand) ...

Also call me biased, but when it comes to manufacturing motorcycles, I prefer the "anally fastidious" Japanese rather than the "manana" Spanish to have put the thing together.

A bit more colour
 

Just adding to my previous post on why I would choose a pre 2000 600cc version.

I just read this on the Honda section:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...transalp-21676

The second post by Shandydrinker says alot, as he has owned both 600s and 650s
"Two important points tho, depending on your intended use for the bike, access for DIY maintenance is quite poor compared to the earlier 600Alps and first gear is also higher on the 650's which may not be so good for rougher stuff."
Personally, that seals it for me as they are both key issues.

650
 

I still think the 650 is a better bike especially 2006 version, both need mods for any off road but i wouldn't suppose either needing any work bar and oil change etc..

a good point about the 650 being european made though.......

I have clocked up around 40,000 trouble free miles on my '96 TA.
A lot of these miles have been on unsealed or secondary roads. This is where the TA is really at home.

While the bike is fine on hyways, things start to get interesting when you start to push things, offroad. I'm sure a set of progresive fork springs and a better rear shock would help to sort things out, though I have done neither to mine.
I have been promising myself this upgrade just as soon as the origanal shock dumps it's oil, but as yet that hasn't happened.

Things I love about my TA are: Seamless Honda Vtwin motor
Comfortable seat- ride position
Easy to service
Bullet proof.Always got me home

Things I've learned to live with: Average front disk brake
Small fuel tank (160 miles)
Rear wheel bearings need regular replacement
Very unsexy looks (we are compatible)
Too much plastic

Mods I've done : Welded a bigger foot to the stand
Fitted homebuilt chainoiler
Fitted pannier rack, tankbag, topbox.
Auxilliary fuel tank (ex CT90) fitted under
left side pannier rack
cable-tied all my plastic on (original mounts
broken long ago!)

Am currently travelling in Australia, the 1st leg of RTW trip. I had no second thoughts about taking the TA.

My advice- enjoy your TA for what it is. If you need a bike with all the bells and whistles, buy something else.

transalp outfit
 

courtesy of evilbay I am the owner of a rough looking transalp outfit, intended for serious artic circle/winter riding.
After a bit of carb & elctrical fettling she goes a treat. It has "interesting" handling though. It is a riot on 3 wheels, each one takes turn in deciding the overall direction, a bag of sand substitues for when the girlfriend is unavailable for cornering assistance.............

Love it.

I need a rear wheel and complete swingarm to replace the smaller 3rd wheel. anybody know where I can get one?

Cheers!

Hi All,

I am also planning a RTW tour within two years and instead of BMW F650GS or Dakar I'm planning to do this trip with a TransAlp. I had a Middle East trip with my '97 BMW F650 on spring '06. However, BMW broke up in Istanbul, Turkiye and I've left it on the Turkish Costum in Istanbul.

The reasons why I decided to go by TA is:
-Two cylinder (less vibration)
-Much more reliable comparing to BMW
-Cheap to repair all over the world
-Cheap spares outside of EU
-A legend
-Still using carburetor not injection like F650GS/GS