Bike Review 700 Transalp

[Dilbert]

Just got the January issue of Bike magazine with a ride report on the new 700 Transalp for those of you that are interested, seems a reasonable write up with some fairly complimentary comments.

[Sharribee]

cheers Dilbert, will have to get a copy for a read. TDM has also done a review which was a good read.

Saw it in the flesh at the NEC yesterday and got to be honest I quite like it

[Austin]

just read it. No hysterics about lack of power or anything. Main grumbles are lack of a sixth gear and the poor tank range and for an adventure bike the 19" front wheel, plastics and skimpy sump guard are a bit limiting. Otherwise say its comfy,easy to ride and generally well-sorted.

Also in there is a short review of a BMW F800GS, which I have to say gets my vote. Also one of those bike chooser one-pagers - Varadero / Capanord / 955i Tiger. Says the Vara is a bit lardy for an adventure bike but otherwise a comfy tourer.

[goldiefish]

So is the new Transalp bridging the gap that has been vacant since the @ was withdrawn?

[Dilbert]

So is the new Transalp bridging the gap that has been vacant since the @ was withdrawn?

No, if you want to go off-road, not really rufty-tufty enough

Yes, deffo, if you want a seat up in the air rufty tufty looking commuter road bike

[phil2alp]

I went to the NEC on Thursday and sat on both the TA and the BMW F800GS.

Unfortunately, I think the TA will struggle to outperform the BMW. The TA seemed very "plasticky". The BMW felt much more solid and felt/looked like it would perform much better off road. When you think the BMW makes I think 85 BHP compared to the TA's BHP, it's a big difference. I think the BMW was competitively priced at around £6,695.00.

[beep]

No, if you want to go off-road, not really rufty-tufty enough

Yes, deffo, if you want a seat up in the air rufty tufty looking commuter road bike

The review in Trailbike and Enduro Magazine, makes a point of saying how much better the new TA is off-road, compared to the XT660R, whilst pointing out this sort of bike's limitations. Of course this might be just that the XT is hopeless. It also emphasised just how fualtless the Honda's Efi was compared to the XT660R (wonder if the new Tenere will have better Efi than the XT660R?).

We'll just have to wait for a proper multibike test. However this test, the most comprehensive so far, was pretty glowing! As was the one in TWO. Both emphasised how good the new TA's engine is in terms of delivery (despite being relatively low on power at only 60hp) and that the on-road handling and comfort have also improved considerably.

[RainMan]

From what I saw at the NEC yesterday, the new xtz660 tenere really kicked the new Transalp's ass, very aggressive styling, but really comfortable when you're on board, but it really wins where the Transalp loses, namely a 21" front, 17" rear combination, a 22 litre tank, decent bash plate and folding gear change which means that you don't have to make Touratech rich by adding parts that should have being there from the start. I really think that Honda will have a struggle on its hands against the xtz and the F800GS, can't wait for the head to head tests, but would love to take all three out for a test ride.

[sproggy]

I think the Tenere is probably aimed at a more hardcore audience (or, at least, one that wants other people to think they're more hardcore ) than the TA - remember it's no more than an 'adventure' variant of a trail bike that already had a 21" front wheel and other off-road acoutrements. The TA was never a trail bike (not primarily, anyway) so is starting from a different place and Honda probably don't worry about losing a few sales to Yamaha at that extreme end of the market overlap.

I love the look of the Tenere but as an alternative to the TA for the sort of riding I do I don't think it would stand a chance.

[beep]

I think the Tenere is probably aimed at a more hardcore audience (or, at least, one that wants other people to think they're more hardcore ) than the TA - remember it's no more than an 'adventure' variant of a trail bike that already had a 21" front wheel and other off-road acoutrements. The TA was never a trail bike (not primarily, anyway) so is starting from a different place and Honda probably don't worry about losing a few sales to Yamaha at that extreme end of the market overlap.

I love the look of the Tenere but as an alternative to the TA for the sort of riding I do I don't think it would stand a chance.

Have to agree. The Transalp has always been more of a town/touring bike than an RTW Adventure bike - they even had "Rally Touring" on the side panel of the 600. The natural competition for the TA is the new F650GS, not the F800GS or Tenere (let them fight it out for the wannabe's crown ).

I know a lot of people on this site would like to see the TA become a natural replacement for the much loved Africa Twin. Honda don't seem to have ANY interest in replacing the Africa Twin - no point slagging off the TA because it's something it was never meant to be.

I like the TA because of it road abilities and size, not because of it's offroad potential. From my point of view the new 700 seems an improvement over the 650, in every way, including the 19" front wheel.

Having said all that, I'd probably still choose an old 600 TA, if I was after a RTW type machine - why would anyone take a brand new machine on such a trip?