Curiosity: Who has gone where on a Honda XL600V Transalp?
 

As the title says, if you own a 600 Transalp, where has it take you?

And to make it useful as well as inspirational, what did it do well and where was it lacking?

I can start: I must first say that my TA has not travelled the world. I've travelled through the Baltics, Poland, Germany, France, Czech and Slovakia on 3 separate trips. Given my terrain, I've simply stuck with Givi plastic luggage and a roll-bag and that has served me well. I first got the bike in about 2009 and at that time it needed quite a bit of TLC: new battery, replacement reg/rec unit, chain and sprockets, headrace bearings and I opted for a full swingarm bearing and paint overhaul.

Since that time, it really hasn't missed a beat.

In my experience, it can excel at quietly munching miles/km and if done at a sedate pace, it will do so one very little fuel (4.5-5.0L/100). It handles well and I was able to keep a head of a local Audi RS in the Tatra foot hills, courtesy of its cornering. Straightline power, of course, the TA is a bit asthmatic. Having said that, if you need to cruise at 130kmph, it will do that too.

What about your experiences or those of someone you know?

My first big bike (over 125 cc) was a Transalp 600, -97 model if I remember right.
It was a great and reliable bike in many ways. I never took it on any long distance riding but I did a trip of 6-7000 kms through Norway, Sweden and Finland. It did really well both on that trip and all the 5,5 years I owned it. I did 45 k kms on it on those years and it never skipped a beat during that time. The only things that had to be changed was tyres (twice in 45 k kms) brakepads (once) chain and sprockets (once), battery (once) and the normal servicing.

As I see it:

Pros:
Reliability - its a Honda and it will run forever with normal maintainance.
Economy - it is cheap to own and run in general.
The small V-twin engine: is smooth and nice but still enough power to handle most conditios.

Some minor cons:
Fuel consumption - taking it very easy yes 4,5 l/100 kms possible. But riding it fast and with a pillion it was a thirsty bastard! Like 6-6,5 liters/100 kms.
It was very low geared though so I think I read that some owners went down a tooth or three on the rear or one up in front.
Range - 17,3 liter tank is not a whole lot with a carb bike. Turn to reserve at around 250-275 kms and empty at 300-350. A bit to short range imo.
A bit heavy and topheavy for what it is. 195 kilos dry, was it? Anyhow it always felt a bit heavy and topheavy imo.
Suspension was a bit soft and wobbly, especially with load and at speed.

None of these are huge cons - but worth considering.

Today the Transalp 600 is a bit outdated. Carb bike, too heavy for what it is. But an economy alternative for those who fancy such a bike.

Nico, a rider from Spain, is travelling around the world on his Transalp. He's currently at some point of Africa.

Videos are in spanish, but you can find him in Youtube by Ridemefive

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtZ...wRGRR48AtrYLjg

I'm currently travelling through south America with my XL600V from '91. While the bike itself is just pure beauty it's also pretty much indestructible. I was driving on all possible road conditions (from mud to sand) and on over 5500 height meters without problems. Only bad thing is the high fuel consumption, the weight and the high price or even lack of spare parts (depending where you are).

I recently heard from bloke called Pedro Mota who's been on the road for 5 years with his old T/A. Over 120,000km. He does vids on youtube.

18,000km in Oz, 3000 in Europe so far
 

2005 Transalp 650 in Brisbane Australia, rode anticlockwise around the coast line to about 500km south of Perth. Probably about a third on dirt/4WD tracks. About 2500km of really hard core 4WD tracks (like never seeing 3rd gear for days), some SERIOUS pounding in deep dust/sand/corrugations.
Issues:
1. Front sprocket/final driveshaft wear. Was already pretty worn when I bought it (just not aware cause it was PACKED with old grease/sand/dirt/shit). Dealt to with new sprockets/chain and most importantly new fixing plate/spacer/washers/metal epoxy to take up the slack play. Search forums for various ways to temp/permanent fix this if it happens to you. At the time went to 16 tooth front, 1 less rear - gearing relaxed on road, small improvement in milage. But too tall for 1st gear off road work.
2. After several particularly tough days of real rough roads/river crossings the rear shock came apart between bottom mount and shock shaft. About 500km of careful pogo riding on the spring alone - just sitting, not fixed between frame and swingarm until I got to a place that I could deal to it. Turned out the bottom mount had just unscrewed from shock shaft. Dismantle, screw together again with Loctite and lock nut, reassemble. Sweet.
Impression - solid, slow (not an issue), bit heavy but could still get into places steep enough to struggle keeping the front wheel down carrying full luggage, reliable.

2002 Transalp 650 - Netherlands to Greece (so far) and plans to Africa
Well maintained but an odd transmission sound only in 3rd gear under load. I was sure it was the same output shaft/sprocket/chain problem & bought it anyway. A lot of looking/thinking/measuring/sprocket and plate replacement later - still the same noise. It sounds very much like chain rubbing against plastic type noise (thrumming?) only under load. Like slack on bottom of chain loop touching something. But nothing to be found - no marks, no change when chain guard, chain guides removed. No noise running through all gears with no chain on. So I've still got this odd transmission sound, but it hasn't changed in 3000km of fully laden road work including some good work out in the alps. Fingers crossed. Plans to overland Greece to Africa maybe via Saudi to Sudan. Then lap of Africa. Expect that to be maybe a couple of years. Expect that the bike will be pretty well worn in by then. We'll see.