Honda XL700V Transalp - Known niggles and issues.

[Wee Jack]

Hi T- rider. Honda South Africa replaced my front tyre to try to cure the headshake. I thought that it had made a difference but it really hasn't. My friends TA is absolutely rock steady. I suspect that the trouble lies in the wheel itself. There is a discernible "untrueness" in the rim, but it is within the allowable tolerance according to Honda's specification.
Have to put up with it I suppose.
As you point out, most TA problems are niggles. The forums on the GS 800 list severe engine problems (piston slap). A pity because they seem like nice bikes.

A set of Continental "Trail Attacks" cured my headshake. They give lots of grip wet and dry but more road orientated than trail !!!

[ABC]

Seat hotspot is more of a niggle but not a fault - its design rather than issue.

The seat area around ones b####ks gets extremely hot in hot summer weather like weve recently had and ive found it uncomfortable even when riding at speed in hot temps.

Spend most of Saturday in over 30deg heat, riding round at 30mph and my b####ks where pretty much cooked...boil in the bag as they say.

Fact is - to squeeze that 680cc engine in, theyve ended up with the cyclinder head just 3 inches away from your nads and with very little air circulation around it. It copes with this okay and the rad does seem to work in traffic but it will go from 103 down to 100 and back up again as quick, whilst in the meantime id say sit well back, stand up on the pegs or find water cooling technology for your pants!

TA700 causes infertility!?

Funny that, I haven't noticed this effect and it hasn't been reported much, if at all, on this or the other Alp forum I follow. In fact many owners on the other forum live in very hot countries like Greece where if this was a common problem it would be far worse, for the male riders at least.

Look at it this way, if this does affect you, we live in such a cold damp country that 99% of the time it is far more of a benefit than a disadvantage. There are two remedies for those really bothered by this. The drastic one is to change the Alp for another machine. The simpler and far less traumatic approach is to have your testicles removed.

[Orinoco]

If I were to complain about the heat on any part of my anatomy it would be when the fan comes on and blasts hot air over my knee. Never really noticed my wedding veg getting any hotter as a result of engine temp, but then again in leathers and this weather it's difficult to see how they could get any hotter without spontaneously combusting.....!

[Alistair]

The drastic one is to change the Alp for another machine. The simpler and far less traumatic approach is to have your testicles removed.

Lovely ABC, never noticed it and our bikes can get quite hot.
One thing is for sure, we'll all be checking every 5 minutes from now on. Thanks so much Farky for pointing this out!
Thanks for the "Continental Trail Attacks" info Wee Jack. I was spinning my front wheel yesterday while cleaning the bike and I am wondering if the wobble is not caused by the tyre/ rim combination being out of round. This could be an explanation for your problem being cured with a change of tyres. I am going to try to convince my friend, who doesn't have the problem, to swap wheels. That should tell us whether or not the problem is the front wheel.

[Bikerider]

Right! ...so it wasn't my imagination!
The seat does get pretty hot.
I guess the thing to do is to insert some sort of insulating material under the seat. That should help somewhat.....

[MandoBear]

Sorry, but I don't think that'll help much. Your seat is made out of plastic and foam - which is a pretty good insulator. Also bear in mind that under that part of the seat is the ABS unit and electronics and the battery - you really don't want to keep any more heat in that area - for reliability/safety reasons.

[Farky]

As mentioned, you can't really insulate it any more to protect you. Sit back further would probably be best as I normally am right up against the tank.

For the number of days we do get this kind of heat it isn't a big issue and yes it is more of a benefit the rest of the year keeping your bum warm along the way. Also dries out a damp crotch!

I did struggle with 2weeks round Sth France though!


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[Bikerider]

Sorry, but I don't think that'll help much.
<snip> you really don't want to keep any more heat in that area - for reliability/safety reasons.

Hot seat? burning bum? nuts boling in the bag (as it were)?
Thinking of changing your bike or even seharing them nuts?

Despair not!

Fit a heat shield!!

Something like this or similar....
HEAT INSULATION CLOTH | Denis Welch Motorsport

Superb! excellent!
Cool bum, cool ride

Problem sorted,
Job done!

[Nareef]

Also look out for the shonky tax disk holder... mine was a little rusty then it was gone... no idea if it fell off or was pulled off. Lucky for me I work near a DVLA office!

[Farky]

Bump so it's easy to find.

Moderators! Can we sticky this one so it can be added to.



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