2024 Honda XL750 Transalp

Much like SUVs have changed the automotive landscape, adventure bikes, their go-anywhere two-wheeled counterparts, have rapidly grown in popularity in the motorcycle world. And leave it to Honda to find a way to make this concept even more appealing.

BRIAN ROBINSON: The Adventure Bike Category continues to grow and grow, and Honda is taking advantage by adding another one to their lineup… only their newest one isn’t so new.

While the Transalp name may be new to many in the U.S., a Honda Transalp was briefly available here in the 1980s, but the concept was lost on most Americans who, at the time, preferred to either race around on sportbikes or relax on cruisers. But now, with the adventure bike market still exploding, Honda thought it was a great time to reinvent the Transalp as a more modern middleweight contender in the ADV scene and reintroduce it here in the states as the Honda XL750 Transalp.

Joining Honda’s larger Africa Twin and smaller NX500, a big part of the appeal of these adventure bikes is the high ground clearance, giving it the capability to handle moderate trail work while keeping it flexible enough to spend long days in the saddle. That’s thanks to the very comfortable seat that sits 33.7 inches from the ground, exactly the same as the Africa Twin, and about average for the ADV segment, there is an optional seat that can lower that by an inch if you need it.

Honda calls the Transalp “friendly but tough,” and since that’s also how many would describe me, we got along just fine. There’s 7.9 inches of travel in the front suspension, with a 21-inch wheel allowing for improved off-road capability and better tire choices if that’s where you plan on spending your adventure time. An 18-inch wheel resides in back with a single shock in Honda’s Pro-Link setup delivering 7.5 inches of travel.

The substantial fairing and tall non-adjustable windscreen provide plenty of wind and weather protection for the rider; this beefy aluminum plating does the same for the undercarriage, but it is an option.

The liquid-cooled 755cc parallel twin, which is a new engine here to us in the U.S., is rated at 83 horsepower and is a real highlight of the Transalp. It delivers a wealth of midrange grunt and runs smooth even when the tach needle hovers around four-grand for extended periods of time at highway speeds. Exhaust flows through a single low-slung muffler on the right side, which provides a decent amount of bark without being too loud.

The Transalp’s great riding position and the well-sorted suspension creates a very confident rider experience that feels more like riding a tall standard than a dirt-bike and is easy to get used to quickly. There are a lot of riding aids too, with five ride modes to choose from including a customizable one, adjusting Selectable Torque Control to either limit or allow some rear-wheel slip, plus power delivery and even amount of engine braking.

Best news of all, base pricing is just $9,999, though there are a host of available accessories to further tailor the Transalp to your specific mission.

With the reintroduction of the Transalp, Honda now has a full lineup of ADV bikes to choose from. This 2024 Honda XL750 Transalp is a great middle-ground option perfectly hitting the sweet spot where capability and affordability come together, offering a whole realm of awesome riding possibilities whether they involve famous mountain passes or not.