We are a group of Reprobates known as the eRag gang.
We started an underground magazine in 2010, mostly because we were sick of reading sad corporate drivel. Our magazine was a throwback and none of our content was influenced by advertisers (but they sure tried). We've been black balled by more companies than we care to admit. This rag of a magazine (find all back issues on our website) spawned an enduro adventure tour company, because we learned that other Reprobates wanted to come along on our silly adventures.
We spend time-well-wasted with characters like Barry Morris from Cross Training Enduro Skills, world-class rider Tim Coleman and mechanic extraordinaire Chuck Harder. Subscribe if you enjoy philosophical musings and nonsense aimed at the 40 plus crowd. If you are bored and lonely, you can find out more about us here: www.tractionerag.com
This is one of the best videos about Desert X I've seen. Excellent operator and editor job. Positive vibes from riders and pushing to the limits expensive piece of engineering. Great job, guys!
Man, I really enjoyed your video, just watched it twice. I really like the way you talk about bikes. Things you say resonate with me. Hard to describe but I just really enjoyed it and had no other choice than subscribe right away 🙂 . Thank you!
Hope you guys get the Kove 800X and run it through its paces....Currently riding a 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT and considering the Tuareg, KTM790 or Kove 800X for next bike...Thanks for your content.
Transalp sucks. I haven't ridden it yet and I have no intention of riding one, but nevertheless, it just sucks. Not as capable as a KTM 350 EXCF, not as road worthy as a Goldwing. There's something for everyone to hate.
Bought one last November. I liked it a lot but recently swapped it out for an 2024 Africa Twin. Positives about Transalp - light, flickable, fun, quick, pretty decent off-road. I also have a DRZ400 so I decided to get something a little better for touring - cruise control, Apple CarPlay, DCT, tubeless rims. I got a rear flat on the tubed TA and man was it a PITA to repair.
I test rode the NX500 and the Transalp extensively. Bought the Transalp without blinking. I own it since 4 months and already have 4000 km on it. What a dream to ride. The 30 or so more HP just makes a world of difference. The NX500 is an awesome bike, but being a more experienced rider, I def. prefer the Transalp. If your smaller, the NX500 is more nimble. If you want to take the Transalp off road, you gotta know what you're doing. It is a big bike
Funny how by just about all measures, the Transalp fits precisely in between the NX500 and the Africa Twin...Almost like they did it on purpose. It's like Honda built a bike for people who wanted a slightly more capable version of the CB500x, but didn't want to super capable/powerful/heavy/featured/expensive Africa Twin...it makes total sense. If their lineup is a reflection of their design philosophy for ADV bikes... it's almost like it's perfect... No, it's not a Tenere, or a Tuareg, but it does compare to a Versys. It doesn't have to power and refinement of a Tiger900, a 901 or a 790, but it also doesn't have the massive price tag and crazy maintenance. So many keyboard warriors will spew all over something because of what it isn't. Like dude, the universe is under no obligation to cater to your specific expectations... For my personal taste, it's not quite big enough to be a touring bike, and it's now quite capable enough to be a dirt bike... but if my wallet didn't allow me to purchase something bigger and more comfortable... it'd absolutely be on my list.
i got yet to rid one i have 1993 honda transalp 600. it u said swisarmy knife. we say in transalp world. it do everything get u around the world get u home. but it not do it well it get u there. i love my transalp only 55bhp it dose not like motorways. not the reason i got it for. i got my transalp do small narrow road explore the world with. be my bike get me anywhere. i hope new one be the same. want good offroading adventure bike u get a ktm 890 r. honda not need compate ageinst ktm. becouse 90% people buy adventure bikes never take offroading anyway. i think transalp is the unicorn for the people want a bike dose everything my transalp is my main transport. i rid it in the snow the rain i never had a hic up. i had someone took my transalp for a rid thay offroading trainer. he now looking buying one. he said he felt the bike smileing.
Owned one since January, and you are right. It is a road biased adventure touring bike, NOT a KTM or T-7. Just did 3 sections of the WABDR last week and it did well. The poor clearance is because of the oil sump which hangs down really low, which is designed that way to give it a huge oil capacity and a 12,000 km oil change interval (great for touring). People complain it doesn't tractor at low RPM, but they are wrong, it tractors better than my DR650. The suspension is designed for a 160 lb rider on a day trip, and fully loaded with gear and my 220 lb chubby body plus 40 lbs of clothing, it bottoms pretty easily and the rear chatters on washboard. Easy fix though. My last bike was a 2020 Africa Twin 1100 which was a peach of a bike (got written off when I got rear ended) and this is not an "AT-lite". But it is better in every way than my V-Strom 650 was.
Commenting on your graph....How can a WR250R be more Starbucks than a DRZ and DR650? Nice off road riding in the video. For me this class of bike is all about a touring bike you can take anywhere that suddenly makes sense to try. A Wandering touring bike class. I think I'd like that over my Corolla in many ways, ....I meant my Vstrom 650...which is unlikely to ever wear out.
It’s a good bike , I found the seat uncomfortable so I preferred the ride on the vstrom but the v storm doesn’t look that good. The Ténéré is sort of top heavy I’ll stick with my 2007 air cooled boxer.
Great adv bike. I think the T7 is more of an ultraheavy dualsport that can be made to be an adventure bike. This transalp seems to be more of an everymans adventure bike for the realistic adventures people will take it on like maybe rougher gravel roads at worst. People who have enduro experience and want the challenge of throwing around a large bike offroad appreciate a modified T7, but I bet if you modified this transalp it wouldnt be much of a difference. The only thing im dissapointed with about the transalp is no cruise control. Thst is a must have for a mile crunching adv bike.
I purchased a 2024 Transalp 8 months ago, and now have over 7,000 miles on it. Most of the miles are pavement, but I have taken it on three off-road trips and it performed well. This bike is what I expected, a really good 750cc road bike with reasonable capability for off-pavement riding as well. Standard bike has little protection, so you need to add crash bars, skid plate, and handguards. However, that's the same as most any other ADV bike, none come fully protected. The one thing I didn't like about the Transalp was that the gearing was pretty tall. The bike red-lines at 10,000 rpm and in sixth gear you are only 4,000 rpm at 70mph. I installed a 15T front sprocket to increase the engine rpm by about 7%, recommend this to anyone who buys one.
A great, 'to the point' review, Dallas. I couldn't agree more with what you've said. You nailed it where it fits in the market. I was lucky to test ride one back to back with a Tenere World Raid and was so impressed with how good the engine was in the Transalp. Almost wished for an engine like that in the Tenere. The rear suspension was a little too soft, but it is great value for money compared to other bikes in this segment, when you consider what you get. Daryl Beattie Adventures in Australia has done some great work with upgrades on suspension and exhaust (gained extra 10hp) and has a fleet of them for his Outback tours. Check it out if you haven't already. Great review, thanks. 👏 Cheers, Grant. 🍻👍
its odd, if the aim was a supreme relaxed ergo streetbike why didint they go 19 instead of 21 and take the benefits of more street orientated rubber. or even 17 for that matter and make killer quasi sm city crusher.
@@stevelarson4487 thats what im saying if the goal was just "off-pavement" a 19 is fine. the transalp as built ain't hoping logs or carving up dunes where a 21 would be usefull. and with 19 it could be comfortable and great in the twisties period. not in spite of the wheel size. it could've been the vstrom 650 or standard strom 800 killer. but instead its a lame t7 thats a bit better on road.
@@nick4506 The 18-21 wheels are for more than just hopping logs or carving dunes. The larger wheels are more stable on dirt & mud, get out of ruts better, and have better options for off-road tires. The Transalp is nicely balanced and nimble, still quite comfortable in the twisties despite running larger tires.
Thank you for the honest review. I tried a lot of bikes before I purchased a new Transalp almost 12 months ago and am extremely happy with my choice. The low center of gravity, fun motor and comfort are fantastic. Perfect for my style of riding, thank you Honda!
As a keyboard warrior armchair expert who has never ridden the bike but also doesn't hate the bike, I think there are two interesting things about the Transalp. The first is I wonder if they intentionally made it more road biased than people wanted in order to avoid cannibalizing AT sales. The second and more interesting thing is, I think they ignored people asking for a T7 competitor and built a bike that accurately reflects what most people are actually going to do with this bike. And I think there's a convincing argument that the "offroad capability" of this bike accurately reflects what most people are doing with the T7 as well. Customers may want the offroad look like the T7 has but the reality is, most of them are doing dirt roads/fireroads/easy two track. Maybe the occasional BDR. The Transalp is plenty capable of that. I have a feeling that 95% of riders, even those that critique this bike, would reach their skill limitations before coming close to the bike's limitations. I'm still not sure if this is how I feel 100% but I think Honda built the bike that customers actually need instead of building the bike that customers say they need. 95% of ADV/Dualsport riders (myself included) probably have no business taking these big bikes on any terrain that's more difficult than a bike like the Transalp is capable of.
Think you have nailed it here Michael. If you ride a Transalp you will want one! It does what most people actually do very well indeed. Why compromise that ability for the possible 1% of time the bike is seriously off road? Dreamers!
One thing riding deep into the wilderness alone along challenging trails , the other dropping a bike that weighs 210kg wet , and having to walk out , because you can’t lift it up. That’s why I wouldn’t use my KLR 650 on single trail if alone . This bike will cover everything else , it’s too heavy to do enduro , so is any bike above 160kg. Some people especially lighter riders or medically challenged riders cannot lift above 120kg safely whilst wearing boots ect and stuck in sand or mud , or on a cambered rocky hill. People need to face reality , if you can’t lift that shiny bike off the dirt , don’t use it on isolated trails if riding alone . Until someone invents some device you can put easily in a tail bag .😊
My Tiger 900 Rally is perfectly capable of doing snotty trails on the right tyres in my very average hands. I wouldn't want to do one of the tougher TET trails on my Tiger but I have an FE501 for properly tough stuff, which is (after spending a King's ransom on it) a surprisingly acceptable bike for tarmac. But these bigger adventure bikes, unless you're really good, are designed for easier trails and blindingly good all rounders.
Very transparent review guys!!! Truly enjoy your motorcycle critiques & reviews!! Keep up the great efforts & work as a motorcycle off/on road enthusiast👌
I love mine. I don't need a T7 killer in every facet of its being. I wanted a midsize adv bike with more on-road bias than the T7 because I don't even have the option of highly technical off-roading where I am. And I trust Honda engines because I still have the Honda generator my dad bought 30 years ago. The only thing I wish it had from the factory was cruise control.
I have watched thousands of vids about motorcyckling. This is the one that inspires me the most and encourage me to keep on driving and I can watch it again and again. Thanks for the upload!
This video was original released in 2016 on the channel of a production partner. We just never got around to uploading it to our channel as well! The good news? As of 2024 Larry and Paul are still riding.
What a fantastic mini, doco. Paul and Larry, you are an inspiration. I can’t ever imagine not riding, I don’t know what I would do. Here’s hoping I’m riding into my 70’s and beyond. @traction eRag, well done and keep em coming 👍🏻
These old guys are great, wicked video !! I am only 48 but one of my best riding friends is 74 and he goes like stink, he backs away from nothing, rides 10 hour days without bitching and every time we welcome new young men onto rides you see them thinking oh shit it's gonna be a slow day - 10 minutes later they are wondering wtf and even more so when we stop and chat and they find out his age....KEEP GOING MEN AND WOMEN, stay fit as you can and keep riding 🙂
These guys talk just like my father does about hunting. He has always said if he died in the woods chasing whitetail or chasing elk through the mountains then he would be a happy man. No need for a burial just let the bears and lions get him. He's also always said the mountains and forests have blessed family with food since he was a boy. So it may ask for a gift in return. He's 67 and still bow hunting like he's in his 30's and 40's. Also still gets out and trail rides with me a couple times a year.
Awesome video. This is a repost or a remake though isn't it Dallas? Or were parts shared before? Excellent anyways I hope I make the next twenty years to he riding at 74
I met Larry at the Cord 2 years ago. When I recognized him I said: " I wanna be like you when I grow up". I'm 42. What a legend, so nice and so humble.
