1989 Transalp

[trunkfunk]

Hello all
I'm new here so be gentle. I think I am about to buy a 1989 Transalp after many years of hankering and bikes I haven't got on with. I think I know the basics of the 'Alp but I'm no expert. The bike in question has 32,000 on the clock, a scottoiler, top box and seems to have been well looked after (no mirrors though, oddly).
Is there anything in particular I should be careful of / look out for?
And are there any other owners in my area (Hastings) who I can trip to France with?!
Many thanks
Owen

[wheeliebin]

The only bug-bear of the 600 is the CDi units. Think there was a few early models that suffered from high bore wear ('88 ?).

[Fatjohn]

I know it's an obvious question - but I'd find out why there's no mirrors! Might be an indication of it having been dropped. What do the bar ends, levers etc. look like?

[trunkfunk]

Bar ends and levers look fine. Current owner says he just prefers looking over his shoulder!? Is that legal?

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Don't be too scared of milage, as on any older bike, check condition of the consumables, look for usual corrosion, accident damage, service history, have a run on it, of it "feel's" right it probably is right.

Then haggle!

Regard's Phil

[wheeliebin]

For tons of info on the 600 see :

http://www.ta-deti.de/ta/index.html

[newbie]

How Do? just bought an 89 f reg with 54ooo miles on it in great nick off a mate. I don't know a lot about them yet, but places like this are full of good info. whether its a good deal or not depends on how much you spend, i suppose.

[Lord Stig]

Sounds fine to me, and you probably made a good purchase. I really like the earlier TAs - the lightest of the lot. I had an '89 for five years, and it was better built than any Honda I've had since.

Too late now, but the things to check for are oil leaks around the output shaft due to overtightening of the chain (common to all TAs and ATs), the rear drum brake can go slightly oval (squeal is fine and probably just dust, but it will lock easily at low speeds - you'll know if it's bad when you ride it. They can be skimmed but usually it goes back to being oval) - also check the tie groove on the swing arm for damage and the actuating rod (from the brake pedal to the drum lever) for bending (easily fixed); the gold anodised wheel rims can rot from the inside - check the area around the valve; fairing mountings snap off - dzus fasteners are often used to get by this; by this age the rubber bar mounts will have had it, but M24 washers get by the problem.

As Weeliebin mentioned, the CDI units do fail, but the cure mentioned on Deti's page works well - I have done this on two TAs, and in each case the repair lasted all the time I had it. I also used a piece of wooden batten to keep the front of the seat off the tops of the units, which reputedly is what causes the problem in the first place - as the rubber stops where the seat rests on the frame tubes compress and wear with age, more pressure is applied to the wiring connectors. Later (VR post '94 I think) models had the CDIs mounted differently, so Honda must have been aware. The earliest TAs had a grease nipple on the suspension linkage, but later ones lost this. The roller bearings may already have had it, but it's worth greasing them and the swing arm pivot.

Probably not much help and I hope this list doesn't worry you. The mileage is low for one of these - you can easily go around the clock! By the way, do you have one with round or angular clocks? Many of the earlier round clock models weren't sold until later and the odd '89 registered bike turns up with these.

Stig

[trunkfunk]

Thanks for all the advice - yes the list was a bit worrying but thus far she rides nicely. Will have to get on my belly with a torch and a spanner, I guess. And as it happens, round clocks!

[Lord Stig]

Ah! What colour? I had a red and white one, a friend bought his in '89 new and had a pearlescent white and blue one. He's the one to blame for me not having bought any other bike for the last ten years! Have a great time with you 'alp!!

Stig