High spec, low price ‘More power and a greater range than a Ténéré'
The names are old but everything about Honda’s new and is Transalp Hornet high-spec and high-value. And the competition are losing sleep over the pricing
This is the new Honda XL750 Transalp, and it’s not ‘just’ an adventure bike. Oh no. If the Japanese firm’s press blurb is to be believed it’s possibly the only motorcycle you’ll ever need. According to the project leader they ‘wanted to strike the right balance between urban agility, long-distance, on-road touring comfort and off-road ability…’
Sitting between the ‘pocket-adventurer’ CB500X and ‘superathletic’ Africa Twin (their words), the new Transalp is aimed at Yamaha’s Ténéré. The original Transalp from 1986 used a 583cc V-twin, but the new model is based around a new 755cc parallel twin with Honda’s single-camshaft Unicam head design. There’s 55 pound-feet of grunt at 7250rpm, allowing a handy peak power of 90.5bhp arriving at 9500rpm, all promised with a deep rumble thanks to the crank’s 270° firing interval (those with a restricted A2 licence can get a ‘quick ECU remap’ at a dealer). Honda claim a useful 65mpg, meaning a range of 240 miles from the 16.9-litre tank. This is more power and a greater range than a Ténéré, and the Transalp has more tech. There are four engine power settings, three levels of engine braking control, a five-stage traction control system, plus wheelie control and it’s all linked up with four riding modes: Sport, Standard, Rain and Gravel. There’s the option to configure it all to your tastes on the TFT dash using the switchgear control. The 750 also has ABS that can be turned off at the rear for dirt.
Ten percent lighter than the one on the CB500X, the new steel tube frame features a heavy-duty subframe. Suspension is by Showa, with 43mm separate-function cartridge forks and a remote reservoir shock. Both have preload adjustment. Wheel travel is 200mm front, 190mm rear – both 10mm shorter than a Ténéré, and significantly less than Aprilia’s Tuareg. Wheels are a tall, thin 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, with modest two-caliper front brakes. The seat’s 850mm from the ground, and all-in wet weight is 208kg – four kilos chubbier than a Ténéré, but then it has more black boxes and wires. There’s no price yet, but if the higher-spec and more powerful Transalp matches the £9900 Yamaha it’ll be impressive. But don’t be surprised if it does, given how the new Honda CB750 Hornet undercuts the Yamaha MT-07.
Essentially the same platform as the Transalp but with roadfocused running gear and tweaks to the ride-by-wire settings for a fruitier delivery, the Hornet looks good value. Tech lovers will appreciate the three riding modes, assorted levels of engine braking, traction and wheelie control and the TFT display, while Showa big-piston forks, four-pot radial brakes, a wet weight of just 190kg and the twin’s 90bhp punch should ensure an engaging dynamic too. Yet the CB750 costs
£6999 which undercuts every potential rival.
Aprilia’s Tuono 660 is nearest to the
Hornet on spec, but is over two-grand more expensive…