Say bye to the Transalp ?

[wheeliebin]

I've got a sneaky feeling Honda UK are dropping the Alp from it's line-up for 2005.

Or, they're holding it back to shift the current 04 model.

The main Honda UK site no longer lists the Transalp in it's 'Adventure Bikes' section.

A friend of mine rang a dealer to enquire when the 2005 bikes would be available and was told they are all available now, when asked about the new orange Transalp with black wheels, the dealer was stumped.
The dealer checked with Honda on a release date, but still nothing. "Can I interest you in a 2004 model ? Honda have extended the free luggage offer on the 04 model."

Seems a shame after 18 years.

[Unmutual]

Could just be a clueless dealer. Or they're trying to get him to buy up the older stock.
But no listing on the website does seem odd though.

[Unmutual]

It's still on the website....HERE! (http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/DispatcherServlet?hidActionDetail=viewproductdetai l&hidAction=Lookup&hidProductID=3&hidSelectedProductCode=TRANSALP_XL650V&hidProductName=Transalp+XL650V&hidMSGID=1&hidMSGCode=null&hidMSGName=Adventure&hidBannerPath=en%2Fpicture%2Fproduct%2FTRANSALP_XL 650V%2FMain%2Fprd_main_Banner.jpg&hidHomePath=%2Fjsp%2FmsgADVENTUREHome.jsp)

[wheeliebin]

Yep, I checked earlier and it wasn't there, must have caught them during an update.....................

.............and put 2 and 2 together.....

........and got 5 :sad11:

[DaveS]

They also listed the TA in a recent Bike article on 2005 bikes so I think its here to stay.
I think it would be suicide to get rid of it without a replacement. I really think the big trailie market is going to take off over the next few years as it gets more and more difficult to speed on UK roads without getting caught.
So I think you'll see more and more manufacturers bringing bikes out / revising bikes to meet this need.

[Lord Stig]

The Japanese are famous for ritual suicide. There won't be a lot of point pushing big trailies if they keep on making them more road oriented and powerful - eventually they might just as well be road bikes, and then everyone who decamps from the sports bike side to save their licence might just as well have stayed where they were.....

Stig

[paultheold]

On modern British roads you need a big traily bike to navigate the pot holes

[fewtrees]

On Honda's investor website it says that because of the slowdown of bikes in Europe (the only geographic area to experience this) and the fact that Europe only accounts for 10% of its entire business revenue our bikes will just get revamped (a makeover). New models are developed for the Japanese market but these are smaller cc bikes like scooters..

So no @ replacement and the transalp will remain the 95%road 5%off-road enduro!

Some may ask why but Honda have a more diverse range of bikes than say BMW, whose f650gs is probably the closest competitor. Honda promote the XR650R as their serious off-road enduro bike. I think all this adds up to the fact that even though the @ was poorly received initially, it really is a damn good bike that had the right mix of attributes but probably came along 8 years too soon.

Imagine what would happen if the @ was developed now. There wouldn't be the f650gs and the r1150gs would be outclassed!

[wheeliebin]

I remember when the Transalp was launched, it was billed as a 'paris-dakar' styled bike. I think the XRV650 came about as the 'hot' version with better quality components with more focus off-road. Don't think Honda realised how successful it would be.

[robelst]

So what happened to that 750 Transalp that was to be launched next year? That looked pretty neat. Or was that just a phantom vision of someone who would like to see Honda make one and happened to have the "teach-yourself-Adobe Photoshop-in-10-minutes" guide? :colors:

[wheeliebin]

2005 model still not hitting the dealers yet ?

Maybe they're not bothering with it to clear stocks of 2004 bikes, can we expect a (or THE) new model for 2006 ?

[Zappa]

Strange we got them here in Sweden or atleast it's possible to order one... Don't know really when the stores while have them in stock though.

And it's not that big difference between them, two dildos for a pipes, a better shaped tank, black rims and a new instrumentation (?)....

/Zappa

[JAK]

The new ta may be on the way but it is difficult to know if Honda have them yet. A touch sacrastic maybe but Dobles advert in MCn shows a 2005 TA with the black wheels and luggage fitted. Honda's main site shows 04 bikes in the main ta page but in the accessories page displays a bike with accessories that does not correspond to the 04 blue and silver. The bike shown on the accessory page is blue all over including fornt guard and side panels but does not have the black wheels or clear fornt indicators. Which by the way look very nice.
Therefore if Honda are confused what hope is there for us mere mortals.

Regards
JAK :scratch: