Honda need to up their game by fitting tubeless wheels to the transalp, for me that put me off even having a test ride.
New transalp
- Thread starter Neil W
- Start date
I agree on the first part...at least the option of tubeless wheels......but it didn't put me off buying and running an Africa Twin for 35k miles and zero punctures.
I run both tubed and tubeless bikes.
The last time I had a puncture was on a tubeless tyre. Twelve years ago riding north up the Holloway Road in north London I got a nail in the 160 section back tyre. Because it went in at an angle the plug kit I had didn't work. I pushed it to a local bike shop who said it was unrepairable and needed a new tyre.
Three hours later I arrived home with the bike on the back of a recovery truck.
Had I been on a bike with tubed tyres I would have been able to fix it at the roadside and continue...
Tubed tyres can leave you stranded.
The last time I had a puncture was on a tubeless tyre. Twelve years ago riding north up the Holloway Road in north London I got a nail in the 160 section back tyre. Because it went in at an angle the plug kit I had didn't work. I pushed it to a local bike shop who said it was unrepairable and needed a new tyre.
Three hours later I arrived home with the bike on the back of a recovery truck.
Had I been on a bike with tubed tyres I would have been able to fix it at the roadside and continue...
Tubed tyres can leave you stranded.
I bought a Transalp last month. I’ve been looking at them since they came out and eventually decided to just go for it. I’ve only done a few hundred miles and it’s now sorned but I’m very happy with it. Fast enough, very smooth, comfortable, good instruments, light, decent seat height, good riding position. It came with a lot of extras - Touratech pannier racks, crash bars, sump guard, hand guards, touring screen, wind deflectors, rear hugger, front fender extender, centre stand. So all I had to do was get on and ride.
Currently I’m happy with the suspension but I’ll see what I think after a decent trip next year.
It feels like a mid range weight bike but goes like something bigger.
All my comments are from comparing the bike to my 800GS, which will be for sale in the spring or whenever someone asks. There are faster, heavier, lighter, whatever bikes out there but I like this one.
Currently I’m happy with the suspension but I’ll see what I think after a decent trip next year.
It feels like a mid range weight bike but goes like something bigger.
All my comments are from comparing the bike to my 800GS, which will be for sale in the spring or whenever someone asks. There are faster, heavier, lighter, whatever bikes out there but I like this one.
Well said
The best bike out there, is the one you are riding
Saw the new one in the flesh yesterday at the bike show, Same dash as my 2025 X-ADV which is nicer than mine, the function 4 way button is silly small and I think it will be a faf with gloves on, not sure about the headlight to be honest
Im not totally worried about tubeless although I would prefer them, cruise control not bothered with although it still does not have it, Ive got a £6 throttle lock that works fine If it was laser controlled then yes it would be worth having, Blind spot detection yes,
its not got enough on it for me to trade my 2024 one with 600 miles on it for maybe the 2026 model will have it all but it will be the same price as the Africa Twin then !!
Rob
Im not totally worried about tubeless although I would prefer them, cruise control not bothered with although it still does not have it, Ive got a £6 throttle lock that works fine If it was laser controlled then yes it would be worth having, Blind spot detection yes,
its not got enough on it for me to trade my 2024 one with 600 miles on it for maybe the 2026 model will have it all but it will be the same price as the Africa Twin then !!
Rob
Collected the new comfort seat Saturday got a little discount £125 seems very nice did about 100 miles on it Sunday and all good, does make the bike a little higher though, but little price to pay for a happy botty
Rob
Rob
It does 'read' hilariously that in the brochure/online, an extra is a comfort seat....like the one you normally get is a bit shit...an "uncomfy seat." Can you imagine going into a restaurant and being offered a wooden bench or a proper comfortable seat.....erm
I test rode one - would have bought , but tubes are a deal breaker for me .
I have always changed my own tubed tyres ,,,, BUT ,,, the rear on this tranny is ( I think a 150 ) ,, a big tyre to be bead breaking and re tubing at the road side with hand tools .
Not had a failure ever , with a string - or several strings repair at the roadside . Quick / easy .
It is Crazy that you have to buy a comfort seat to get a comfortable bike now days !!
the tubes are a worry as you say Baotman breaking the beads by the side of the road is a proper faf, as is carrying tubes tyre levers etc, id the 2025 model had tubeless wheels, and a miles to empty, im not even bothered about cruise control I would have traded my 2024 in for one, but not worth it for such small changes
Rob
the tubes are a worry as you say Baotman breaking the beads by the side of the road is a proper faf, as is carrying tubes tyre levers etc, id the 2025 model had tubeless wheels, and a miles to empty, im not even bothered about cruise control I would have traded my 2024 in for one, but not worth it for such small changes
Rob
Look smart and lightweight, similar to Motion Pro tools
I used them for my last tyre change. I was surprised how well they work.
Breaking the bead on tubed rims is a piece of piss. Do these bikes have tubes and tubeless rims?
I’ve got two of the Motion Pro tyre leavers with spanner ends, what I need is a way to extend the length of one of them to undo the axle nut. Any ideas welcome.
They have the bead retaining lip on the rear wheel like the Africa twin and the Tenere? It would make breaking the bead at the side of the road a bit of a pain.
A friend of mine successfully sealed his Africa twin rear wheel with 3m tape and Silkaflex. But he left the front one with a tube in it as it has no safety bead. The logic was the 21 inch front is easier to change anyway, a plug kit is small and quick and he would take a 21inch tube. If he had a slice in the rear tire he could break the bead and stick the 21inch tube in the 18inch rear wheel if necessary until he could reach a garage/tyre place if it could not be plugged.
I prefer tubeless rims. Last September we were going over Braid Fell in Scotland and a sharp flint punctured a 17 rear Michelin Road 6 on a Yamaha Tracer. I use rats tail plugs and ended up sticking two of them in the insertion tool......so 4 widths of sticky string. They sealed the tyre and he went round the rest of Scotland with it in and changed the tyre when we were back in Belfast.
I’ve worked it out, photos to follow
Meanwhile nice to be out again, been a while. Had a great wee run up Cairngorm
10000 miles in and the motor just gets better. Great fun to rev to the limiter and nice to lug through the gears as well.
Added the veridian cruise and cheap ali express screen adjuster brackets and its the perfect road/ off road touring bike for me.
Very light clutch and throttle and superb balance.
Added the veridian cruise and cheap ali express screen adjuster brackets and its the perfect road/ off road touring bike for me.
Very light clutch and throttle and superb balance.
Fantastic 6 days in Wales on the Tranny, the bike performed perfectly, only issue was the handlebars have started to wobble when slowing down with either a very loose grip or hands off, I put it down to being loaded up with metal panniers and top box all full of crap, anyway upon my return I removed all the luggage and took it for a ride the head shake is still there, I think its the tyre so Ill order one and balance the pair of wheels see what happens bike has only done 1700 miles !!
I did notice how budget the rear shock was over the 1200 mile trip, so ordered a Wilbers 640 with remote preload adjuster and blue spring matched to my weight and luggage,
that arrived Tuesday so was fitted straight after work and adjusted correctly for rider sag, I also gave the front forks full preload and rode it to work yesterday WOW what a transformation the bike feels so much better no where near as wollowy feels much plusher and compliant you can now feel what the road is doing beneath you but its not harsh in any way, perfect for me, May have pulled the trigger on the new Triumph Tiger Sport 800 too soon !! albeit that really is a lovely bike, O Well Ill just keep both for now and decide what one to take to Spain nearer to July !!
Rob
I did notice how budget the rear shock was over the 1200 mile trip, so ordered a Wilbers 640 with remote preload adjuster and blue spring matched to my weight and luggage,
that arrived Tuesday so was fitted straight after work and adjusted correctly for rider sag, I also gave the front forks full preload and rode it to work yesterday WOW what a transformation the bike feels so much better no where near as wollowy feels much plusher and compliant you can now feel what the road is doing beneath you but its not harsh in any way, perfect for me, May have pulled the trigger on the new Triumph Tiger Sport 800 too soon !! albeit that really is a lovely bike, O Well Ill just keep both for now and decide what one to take to Spain nearer to July !!
Rob
Hello
I had a Bandit 600 S many moons ago that wobbled its head on deceleration with top box fitted .
Putting it back standard solved the issue.
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