New Biker Help Needed Transalp

[Ralphie]

Lo all
New to biking - just bought an 04 Transalp, demo model from UK - yes I'm in RIP OFF IRELAND! You Brits think you have it bad - please visit our country soon! - its Rip Off Britain plus 20%
£4600, 200 miles, Top Box, Touring Screen, Heated grips, Centre Stand.
Watch out though - less than 6000 miles or 6 months old and you get to pay VAT again - ouch!
Love it. Never had a bike before but just got way too p***ed of with traffic.
Got most of my info from reading this site!
However - someone in attempting to relieve me of my new pride and joy bent the handlebars - replaced -€100, but they also broke the switch for the heated grips - which Honda don't list as a part?
I want to get the bush guards which are not listed either - my bike didn't come with them fitted?
Got a top box but got quoted 450 Sterling for Honda panniers - this is madness.

So -
Where do I get a new switch, bush guards and cheap panniers?

Any help out there appreciated mucho.

[Neil G]

Hi Chucky.

Good choice of bike - mine's an antique, a 1987 Transalp XL600VH, one of the first ones! I've only had it since last July and one of the best places I've found for Honda spares is David Silver Spares - there's a website - good range of new and pattern Honda bits. For panniers have a look on eBay. There's a seller called Forest Edge Oxford Products (or similar). I bought a pair of Oxford panniers - the soft expandable ones for £26.99 all in, rain covers, the lot. They've got a deal on at the moment with really good prices for most of the Oxford range of panniers, tailpacks and tankbags - it's good quality stuff too.

Honda brush guards are probably going to be dear - try someone like M&P for Acerbis or similar. Worth trying Demon Tweeks as well or even Hein Gericke.

Welcome to Transalp-ville!!

Neil.

[Recycler]

Renthal 'Dakar High' handlebars are better than originals and only cost about £34.
www.bandcexpress.co.uk

[Ralphie]

Thanks Neil and Recycler.
Neil -
Thanks for the sites - they look good.
On those panniers - do you have to get a mounting bracket of some sort?

Recycler - why are they better - is it better to have higher handlebars?

Is there a thread or site or such thing where transalp owners have listed the best accessories/tyres/ etc they have used?

What kind of mpg is normal? I do have a aftermarket restrictor on - will this make a difference?

thanks again

Chucky

[Neil G]

Hi again.

No brackets or mountings for the panniers - they fit under and over the seat with heavy duty velcro and bugees (supplied) for extra security. I bought a pair a while ago, haven't used them yet but couldn't let them go for £26.99!! The Oxford range of stuff is very good quality and well made, I've also got one of the tail packs and it fits in a similar fashion. An Oxford CD came with the panniers, if you want it send me your address and it's yours. My e-mail address is neil_greenway@hotmail.com

Take care.

Neil.

[Recycler]

Recycler - why are they better - is it better to have higher handlebars?

What kind of mpg is normal? I do have a aftermarket restrictor on - will this make a difference?


Similar pattern to originals but much cheaper than you've just payed, stronger & lovely in gold!

As for MPG I get low 50's, don't know if the restrictor will improve this further.

Panniers - I've got the oxford throwovers as well. They went straight on my 600 no probs but on the 650 they are a bit too close to the silencer - instant flambe. They tend to slide forward on the 650 as well. They are not waterproof without the storm covers but very tough. On my last tour I used a small 28litre (£30) topbox and a Hein Gericke (£30) dry-bag on the pillion seat, without the panniers. This was plenty of volume for 10 days away with tent & sleeping bag etc.

Enjoy the bike.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=198

[Ralphie]

Thanks guys.
I have a Honda top box - I think its 46l, it came with the bike, it fits 2 full face helmets and has a pretty good liner expanding bag, so I might be ok with that and a tank bag or pillion bag like you described, for short trips etc.

On the MPG side - the tank capacity is 19litres. Is there a reserve, or does a light go on when you reach low fuel - I haven't risked it yet! I'm just trying to work out my range etc. I thought that the restrictor limited the airflow = more fuel burnt?
thanks
Chucky

[Recycler]

No fuel warning light or reserve tap so watch the guage - but it goes below the red before running out. I usually fill up at 200 miles.

[Ralphie]

Thanks Recycler - I'm at 150 miles on the trip meter and still circling in the petrol station..........................
Just how far past red before the E can you go!

[JohnW]

Chucky

The most I have pushed my 2002 Transalp to before filling up is 215 miles. It took 18.6 litres to fill it up so I think that is about the safe limit unless you fancy pushing it to the nearest filling station! :colors:

[Ralphie]

Seriously though, how far below red and how close to the "E" are we talking, coz I'm at only 155 on the clock and pointing at the lower part of the RED bit on the guage?

[Recycler]

The guage stays on full for about 80 miles then drops fast.
Last year I did a tour of the Pyrenees, decided I'd had enough while in the deep south of France and made up my mind to head home in one hit.

About 9pm that night I stopped at a petrol station in Le Mans.
Whilst I was filling up a fella rolled in on an R1 with masses of luggage.
It was about 9pm and we got talking: I thought I was going for it but he had left MALAGA 23 hours before and wasn't going to stop until YORKSHIRE because he had a flight to pack for at Heathrow the day after!!!! - top geezer!!

I struggled on to Roscoff for the 8am crossing to Plymouth.
By 1am I was on the red and being late night petrol stations are mainly closed. I kept seeing mileage signs to fuel but they were always shut. Onward at a crawl I left the main road for the town of Guingamp. Luckily someone was still up and directed me to an automated station at a supermarket. The machine didn't like my English credit card and I sat on the floor thinking I was facked 'til morning with 220 miles showing.

Luckily (again) a French family pulled in who had just picked up a Brit lad from the ferry. They let me pay them in cash to fill up on their card. Other than that I would of been proper facked.

I rolled into Roscoff ferry terminal at 2.30am on a cold windy night expecting to sup coffee in the lorry driver's lounge - but it was closed.

Moral of the story:
If your guage is below red, it's Tuesday morning in anytown - chill out, at worst it's a walk or a hitch. Sitting on a concrete step for 5 hours overnight after 650 miles and no tea is only mildly funny.
But it's proper funny now!!

[Muckybill]

Chucky
Fill up and ride. Strap a gallon on the back. See how far you get on a tank. When you run out you can fill up from the can on the back. I do this whenever i buy a new bike. Saves a lot of hassle. I try this riding briskly and then another tank full just pottering about.
Bill

[Ralphie]

Thanks guys
I think I'll take the bike and fill it keeping an eye on the measurement and the gauge position - then I can work out 19litres less fill amount to see what the gauge vs remaining is. This theory is based on
1. Beer consumption levels tonight
2. Life preservation (I'm not keen on the whole extra petrol tank dangling over a hot exhaust thing)
3. Laziness - I'm buggered if I'm gonna push this thing its really heavy!

Still can't believe that its £450 Sterling for 2 panniers and mounting bars! The mark up on accessories must be 5000000%

Chucky

[fw600vj]

Hi Chucky do you mean the bike has no handguards at all , or do you mean the BARK BUSTERS that you see on supermoto bikes ? . Does anyone know if the handguards from 1991 will fit a 2004 bike or has the fitting changed .fw600vj

[sean]

As for MPG I get low 50's, don't know if the restrictor will improve this further.

50 mpg??? do you push it everywhere? mine is doing 120 -130 miles before the needle is well and truley in the red! mind you it has got honda panniers, top box and 16 stone of fat b*stard on board!

[Ralphie]

Thanks FW & Sean
FW - it had no handguards at all, and I can't find the ones you see in the photos? I looked up the web for the Acerbis ones Neil mentioned but I kinda just want to get the simple plastic honda ones.Its getting warmer now so I'm probably less bothered...

Sean - I got to 160 on the clock and filled it - 15.75 litres, so that gives a total range of approx 190 miles I guess, I think the restrictor lowers the mpg figure? Or maybe the coz the bke only has 750 miles on the clock - does it get better after the first service/running in period?

I don't mind that much - petrol in Ireland is pretty cheap - it only costs 15 Euros to fill it - pity it costs 2 grand to insure it!


thanks again
Chucky