Versatility
It was the all-purpose motorcycle, always ready to go, puncture-proof, and with that an appetite like a bird. Launched in 1986, the Transalp is a legendary motorcycle, of which Honda has been marketing a new, completely redesigned model since the spring. This 2023 version follows numerous developments, but this one is major: in addition to a redesigned line, it features a new 750 cm3 in-line (and no longer V) twin-cylinder engine, taken from the Hornet roadster. Following the trend in the two-wheel market, the Transalp is abandoning the track of its younger years a little more to target the road.
Genesis
When it was presented at the Paris Two-Wheel Show in October 1986, the Transalp created a sensation. Until now, the majority of trails, these machines from rally raids, are powered by a single cylinder, like the famous Yamaha 500 XT. Honda decided to place a 600 cm3 liquid-cooled twin-cylinder (another innovation) in its new, high-legged model, already renowned for its reliability. The Transalp takes its name from a race dreamed up by Honda in 1977, which connects the Austrian city of Graz to Monaco over 3,500 km of track and road.
Evolution
In nearly thirty years of career, we have seen it everywhere: robust and economical, the Transalp appeals to heavy riders as well as couriers. It benefited from around ten major developments, particularly in 1994, 2000 and 2007, when Honda completely redesigned the line of its best-seller. Over time, the engine changed to adopt the 650 cm3 twin cylinder of the NTV, then that of the Deauville, this time in 700 cm3. On the latest version, released in 2007, Honda reduced the size of the front wheel from 21 to 19 inches to improve road use.
Revelations
For more than thirty years, the Transalp was rightly considered a quiet motorcycle, favoring comfort over sensations. The 2023 version breaks with this spirit. The model is equipped with a vigorous engine, which enthusiastically develops nearly 92 hp, and a dynamic chassis. Honda has taken care of the equipment with a complete 5-inch TFT dashboard, five driving modes, double disc brakes… We can discuss its line, but the Transalp has also stood out, since its creation, by this aspect : it is all-purpose, in every sense of the word.