New Transalp 700 due in September

**Ruralman** · 21st June 2007, 10:51

Went in to Honda Otago yesterday and they tell me they have had notification from Honda, and a request to order, that a new Transalp 700 will be available from September.
Other than that they know nothing - no pics, no specs,no price, nothing. The guy I had spoken to had done some web searching without results but said he'd been looking at the American sites where he should have been looking at European ones probably.
So its coming - probably the same engine that there were posts about in here ages ago. I haven't done any web searching yet either but the race is on - who can be the first to post a link to some details on the new beast????
Maybe Honda is trying to do some sort of co-ordinated worldwide release?? with everything being kept under wraps? - I would have thought this would be surprising as a staged introduction around the world would be easier to manage from a production point of view.

**windboy** · 21st June 2007, 12:17

Couldn't find anything other than a trannie's fan sketch; However if it's a 700 no doubt it will have a similar engine as the deauville 700 touring bike.

Injection and shaft drive??? nice to have but will add to the heavy 200kg +...

May make it a more touring bike such as the strom... shite...

can't wait for someone to post a link

later,

**windboy** · 21st June 2007, 13:06

wait... there's more!

new transalp concepts

later,

**oldrider** · 21st June 2007, 13:55

Honda will do all of this in time! Their time of course!

Time is something that I don't have a lot of left, that is why I grabbed the Tiger while it was there and so very affordable.

Honda have the opportunity to turn out the perfect bike (for NZ anyway) with variable models to suit the customers requirements, based on the TransAlp, the Deauville and the Africa Twin.

Well if I could afford it I could build one out of them anyway.

John.

**Ruralman** · 21st June 2007, 17:37

Hopefully John they won't bow to the trend towards making these things softer - be nice to see them stick with a 21 inch spoked front wheel and make something thats equally or more capable in the rough as the current bike but with more power, a 6 speed box, fuel injection and greater fuel economy, and better wind screen, and of course with Honda's legendary reliability.
I don't like the look of those alloy wheels on the mock up drawings - if they go that way then KTM and the BMW Dakar are about the only ones left making a serious adventure bike if you discount big trail bikes that people use for longer adventure rides.

**marks** · 21st June 2007, 17:46

Originally Posted by windboy

May make it a more touring bike such as the strom... shite...

Isn't the existing Transalp already the direct equivalent of the wee strom?

**windboy** · 21st June 2007, 18:28

Originally Posted by marks

Isn't the existing Transalp already the direct equivalent of the wee strom?

Well... not quite I like to think

Strom has a front 19" tranny: 21"
Strom has Cast wheels compared to the spoked rims on the transalp
Strom has ground clearance 152 vs 192 on tranny
Strom has 90degree vtwin compare to 52 degree of tranny (make up for a smaller engine and more clearance)
Can't recall the figures but from memory the tranny has more front and rear suspension travel.
Strom has no bash plate, instead one exhaust manifold waiting to get bashed! Tranny has a plastic bash plate (cheap but better than nothing)

On Stroms defence, you can say it's geared more for the sealed road (much higher) and six speed vs 5 on the tranny. It also has more power under the belt and fuel efficiency due to electronic injection. Looks pretty cool and updated, better lights, nicer seat, etc.... As a result I reckon is more of a tourer bike than the tranny....

--sigh--

**timg** · 21st June 2007, 18:59

Originally Posted by Ruralman

- be nice to see them stick with a 21 inch spoked front wheel and make something thats equally or more capable in the rough as the current bike but with more power, a 6 speed box, fuel injection and greater fuel economy, and better wind screen, and of course with Honda's legendary reliability.

Yep, that'd be the perfect TA

**dmc** · 21st June 2007, 19:03

Honda aren't really doing alot to make me want to sell the africa, we'll have to see what the 690 adventure is like otherwise I'd say the africa will still be the garage for sometime yet.

**windboy** · 21st June 2007, 19:12

Originally Posted by Ruralman

be nice to see them stick with a 21 inch spoked front wheel and make something thats equally or more capable in the rough as the current bike but with more power, a 6 speed box, fuel injection and greater fuel economy, and better wind screen, and of course with Honda's legendary reliability.
I don't like the look of those alloy wheels on the mock up drawings - if they go that way then KTM and the BMW Dakar are about the only ones left making a serious adventure bike if you discount big trail bikes that people use for longer adventure rides.

ditto to all that (alloys look wrong)... I'd throw in shaft drive and take 25 kg off?

It's a shame that the trend is to make them more lousy tourers...

**mbazza** · 21st June 2007, 20:26

You may get something to replace your present Tranny, Michael. Hope they don't go small front wheel or alloy wheels as on my wee-strom. Be good to have an updated tranny about. Will be interesting to see what develops. Cheers

**Ruralman** · 21st June 2007, 20:31

Originally Posted by windboy

ditto to all that (alloys look wrong)... I'd throw in shaft drive and take 25 kg off?

It's a shame that the trend is to make them more lousy tourers...

I'm not sure shaft drive is necessary - that would be quite a bit heavier than chain and sprockets wouldn't it? and there would be a slight reduction in efficiency of power to the wheel with the shaft drive(negligible probably), I suppose you could still get decent rear wheel travel?
The modern chains are so good, especially when matched up to a scottoiler, that they last a very long time.
If Honda were to put a shaft drive on it the system would have to be very different from anything else they use on their road bikes in order to allow the extra travel - I wonder whether they would do it for such a small production model? Having said all that if they do crack it and make it work it would be another real attraction.
It also remains to be seen when they get them here for sale and demo rides if the world launch is going to be in Sept.

**oldrider** · 22nd June 2007, 15:01

Originally Posted by Ruralman

I'm not sure shaft drive is necessary - that would be quite a bit heavier than chain and sprockets wouldn't it? and there would be a slight reduction in efficiency of power to the wheel with the shaft drive(negligible probably), I suppose you could still get decent rear wheel travel?
The modern chains are so good, especially when matched up to a scottoiler, that they last a very long time.
If Honda were to put a shaft drive on it the system would have to be very different from anything else they use on their road bikes in order to allow the extra travel - I wonder whether they would do it for such a small production model? Having said all that if they do crack it and make it work it would be another real attraction.
It also remains to be seen when they get them here for sale and demo rides if the world launch is going to be in Sept.

They don't make them for our conditions, they make them for the city market and then we have to adjust and utilise them for our needs!

New Zealand is such a small market, you gets a "choice" of what you are given mate!

John.

**windboy** · 25th June 2007, 16:33

Check out this link to the french wikipedia

The bit about the future is at the bottom:

"Futur

La Transalp est le seul vrai « trail » encore au catalogue de Honda et il semblerait qu'il soit prévu pour 2007-2008 l'arrivée d'une nouvelle Transalp (peut être sous le nom Varadéro XL700V) avec une motorisation renforcée, issue de la 700 Deauville et un nouveau design mais toujours dans l'esprit tout-terrain. Les agents Honda espèrent sa sortie pour janvier ou février 2007, et sa disponibilité en magasin peu après."

Translated:

"Future

Transalp is only the true “trail” still with the catalogue of Honda and it would seem that he is planned for 2007-2008 the arrival of a Transalp news (can be under the name Varadéro XL700V) with a reinforced motorization, resulting from 700 Deauville and a new design but always in the cross-country spirit. The Honda agents hope for its exit for January or February 2007, and its availability in store shortly after."

Hopefully they preserve the "trail" aspect...

Nothing on the honda 2007 adventure pdf catalogue either...

**warewolf** · 26th June 2007, 09:24

Originally Posted by windboy

I'd throw in shaft drive and take 25 kg off?

Unfortunately the shaft would probably add 25kg, or at least feel like it.

I figure if BMW didn't use a shaft on the F650 - their first ever bike not to - then it is unlikely that Honda will on the Tranny.