The Japanese adventure bike that can do it all

With the motorcycle industry in something of a slump, one segment in particular seems to be largely unaffected. Adventure bikes have been big business for quite some time, and middleweight adventure bikes offer us a fantastic escape tool for much less than we previously thought. It is within this segment that we find some of the most versatile motorcycles ever created.

Honda acted relatively late, but with the Africa Twin we got one of the most balanced full-size adventure bikes on the market. It took a while again Honda motorcycles to develop a true middleweight contender, but once they did they gave us what is one of the best all-rounders money can buy. Like any great all-rounder, it may not be the best at anything specific, but it can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.

The Honda Transalp is the Japanese adventure bike that can do everything

We’re currently spoiled for choice when it comes to middleweight adventure bikes. Each one can be called an all-rounder that can handle everything from the daily commute to a multi-day adventure ride. Modern adventure bikes are slightly different. The Transalp came onto the market a little late, but is distinctive enough to make it a real competitor.

Yamaha really got the ball rolling with the Tenere 700. It showed the world what was possible with a lighter, more off-road capable adventure bike. Features were sacrificed in favor of weight savings, almost to a fault, as the original bike left out some of the features most adventure riders want. A crop of fantastic European bikes followed, all feature-rich, all considerably more expensive than any Japanese competitors.

The only European motorcycles that still compete with the Transalp are the Aprilia Tuareg 660 – which is perhaps even better in some respects – and the Chinese-made KTM 790 Adventure. Both bikes still cost more. The most comparable alternative might be the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. It’s the heaviest of them all (it weighs almost as much as the Africa Twin), but carries its weight quite well and handles the rough stuff as well as any modern middleweight adventure bike. Yet the Transalp is still cheaper.

Rivals

• Yamaha Tenere 700

• Aprilia Tuareg 660

• Suzuki V-Strom 800DE

• KTM 790 Adventure

The Transalp has a powerful parallel twin

Power: 90 hp

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Transalp is the fact that its parallel twin delivers so much power. It’s a really fast bike on the road, and in the wrong hands a really dangerous one off-road. Fortunately, Honda is all too aware of how quickly things can go sideways off-road and offers a range of rider aids to keep you on the right side of the trail. Unlike some manufacturers, Honda didn’t feel it necessary to mess with the melody too much.

You will notice that this engine has the same power as the new Hornet. It already has a very flat torque curve and is very suitable for adventure tours. Honda’s take on the 270 degree/crossplane engine is actually exceptional. The Unicam design is smart because it saves parts and complexity. Like any other parallel twin on the market, it is reliable and meets all emission standards around the world.

For most motorcycles, 90 horsepower may not seem like a game changer, but most motorcycles don’t go anywhere like the Transalp. It’s all things to all people somehow, and a lot of that has to do with how flexible the drivetrain is, making long highway trips, short off-road excursions, and commuting easy.

Engine specifications

The Transalp offers all the features a novice adventure rider needs

More for less

The first and most obvious feature the Transalp offers is a truly adventurous 21/18 inch spoke wheel combination. It’s a necessity if you want to find suitable off-road tires, and although the stock tires are closer to street tires, you can fit whatever you want later. The suspension travel is sufficient, but Honda has chosen not to add a skid plate. You could argue that most adventure riders replace the stock skid plates, but it leaves the bike looking unfinished. The wind protection is also far from perfect, but it’s still by far the most comfortable middleweight on the market, making longer highway rides relatively easy.

Honda also offers several nice electronics. You get a nice 5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, a ride-by-wire throttle that allows for five riding modes, and a quickshifter. Not to mention the traction control and ABS, which can be switched off on the rear wheel if necessary. Honda was able to integrate all these features without adding too much weight. At 459 pounds, it is actually one of the lighter modern middleweight adventure bikes.

While the Transalp is often criticized for not being as capable as the other middleweight adventure bikes, it really misses the point of the bike. It’s not designed to be that “all-conquering” off-road middleweight; in fact, the intention was always to provide a more balanced approach. Thanks to its relatively low weight, it can certainly go off-road.

But he can also drive for hours on the highway without feeling uncomfortable. Thanks to its reliable yet tractable Unicam engine, it can also be your practical commuter during the week. Somehow it also remains quite affordable. The Transalp may not be particularly good at anything, but what makes it impossible to ignore is the fact that it’s pretty good at just about everything.

Features

• TFT dashboard

• Driving modes

• Traction control

• ABS

• Spoked wheels

• Quick changer