A year with a Transalp and it is bye-bye time.

The Transalp.

One of Hondas finest machines. Underrated and overpriced.

Replacing it with a Bandit 650SA in the one true colour.

The Transalp is a superb bike, but see below.

Short version. Make it a shaftie, fit tubeless rims and better suspension.
Give it some sparkle, ie, more power. Make it a shaftie. IT IS TOO BLOODY
BLAND AND IT EATS CHAINS.

Long version below.

Dear Mr. Honda,

As a former Transalp owner, I could be tempted back in to the fold if you
made the following changes.

Firstly the suspension. Please fit preload and damping adjusters to the
front suspension. Failing that, please alter the damping characteristics so
the front actually has some feel when riding along Britains finest bumpy
back roads. At the rear, please fit a remote preload adjuster as taking the
battery out to up the preload is not a task to be lightly or regularly
undertaken.

The handling is actually bloody good. Peg down good on BT45s. The front end
is vague to the point of removing my confidence in it though.

Next, the brakes. Please leave them alone aside from installing braided
steel hoses from the outset.

The fairing. Actually quite good and thankfully easy to remove, as is the
screen. BTW, your touring screen creates a low pressure turbulence at visor
level which makes it impossible for me to ride at 30MPH or above with my
visor open more than one click. The stock screen isn't too bad.

Minor servicing issues next. Taking the fairing off to remove the fuel tank
to allow access for carb balancing, changing the air filter, setting the
valves etc is a pain, but I have got it down to a 10 minute job to remove
it and 15 minutes to replace. Why, after dog knows how many years this
engine has been around is it still such a twat to set the front cylinder
exhaust valve clearance?, why is the front forward spark plug such a git to
get to?.

Wheels. Keep them spoked but please use edge spoke wheels so we can have
tubeless tyres. Make the front wheel 19", keep the rear 17" and increase
the rim width to allow fatter than 90/90 and 120/80 tyres.

Comfort. Spot on. Keep the same riding position.

Fuel tank/consumption. Why is the Transalp so thirsty?, after all these
years, why is that engine not giving at least 50MPG average when its more
powerful rivals can?. If you can't make it drink less, then give us a
bigger fuel tank. What good is 300 mile comfy riding position when coupled
with a 165 mile tank range.

Clocks/controls. The clocks are clear and easy to read day or night. The
only control I'd change is the dip/main switch. After a year, I'm still
cancelling non-existant indicators. Please replace with a rocker switch.
The levers are fine.

The engine. Flaccid is one way of describing it. It needs some sparkle. Good
delivery but dull. Needs 10-15HP more.

The gearbox. Ranges between quite good and utterly horrible when changing
gear. Neutral is but a dream when the engine is running and hot. Sometimes
it snicks into gear like a Suzuki, sometimes it clonks and baulks like an
ageing Jawa. The ratios. First is too high, fifth is about right, so can we
have a six speed box with the current first ratio becoming second and a low
first please.

The clutch. Only just capable of coping with the massive output of the
engine. Beef it up and make it a bit heavier please.

Final drive. Why does the Transalp get through chains so quickly?. I suspect
it may have something to do with the 6" difference twixt the output shaft
centre line and the rear fork pivot centre line. Whatever. After 1 year and
22,500 miles, the third chain and sprocket set is coming to the end of its
life. I have never allowed the chain to run excess slack, nor have I ever
over tightened the chain. I use a Scottoiler, it is set to run slightly
fast. My chain is always well lubed. My previous work bike was an ER-5.
That ran to 18,000 miles on one chain with no adjustment required. It still
looked brand new when I sold the bike. Same brand chain and sprockets. Same
oil used to lube the chain. Similar power output bikes. Doing the same job.
Why the difference. Best bet is to use the Deauville shaft arrangement.
Seriously.

Fit a bloody centrestand as stock!.

Junk the fugly subchamber.

Improve the build quality as the Montessa built Transalps rot faster than a
Brazilian built CG125 <MSOHP>. Stainless headers?, why are mine corroded.
The paint on the silencer is flaking off. The heat shield for the belly pan
has split. Furry nuts and bolts abound. Not good.

 

<snip>

I only bought mine to replace the Dominator as a winter bike,
It's a good, comfy bike, had it about 2 months, I like it.
But it's really gutless, and is big and heavy for its engine output.
Although I wouldn't want to go any faster on it.
Much better 2 up, and for distance than the Dominator.

 

Maybe you never noticed but the Transalp is meant to be
able to handle serious gravel and light off road duty. For
availability of tyres that makes this a joy rather than a
struggle, for gods sake keep the rim dimensions that will
take MT21's, T63's and Karoos.

 

I noticed. I tried. On the Trialwings it was sure footed on gravel and dusty
trails.

Do they not do 19" versions?

I guess what I'd like in another Transalp is the wheels and power delivery
of the Suzuki DL650, the shaft drive from a Deauville, better front
cylinder access, DL650 fuel consumption, better controlled suspension but
please Mr. Honda, don't arse about with the ergonomics and don't give me
DL650 levels of vibration.

I like Transalps. One of the best bikes I've ever owned. I've just done a 12
hour day on it and I don't ache anywhere. It is a real pleasure to dink
about on and a great working bike.

Ged, what have I done. Buyers regret kicking in here now. Will the Bandit be
able to live up to the mighty Translapper?

 

Aaah, the famous "Deathwings". No, seriously, they are fine for
what the sane Transalp owner is likely to do. It's the nut cases
that need more extreme rubber. On the other hand, if I didn't
know what an extremist can do on a Transalp it would be nothing
but a sensible bike to me.