Yesterday, 30.07.24, I had the pleasure of test riding the 2024 Honda Transalp 750.
Let me be very clear from the onset, my NC750X is a fantastic motorcycle and I have enjoyed the 5500 miles we have spent together but I have an itch….
I think I have an unresolvable problem with my butt, specifically my left butt cheek in that so far, Honda and my left butt cheek do not agree on what makes a seat comfortable for long rides.
Or, maybe I have an issue down there that no seat is going to comply with.
My search is on to find a motorbike with a long range comfortable seat and right now the two bikes that I am testing are the Transalp and next week the NT1100.
The Transalp.
As I said in my opening , HGB Motorcycles in Ruislip gave me the chance to ride the legendary Transalp 750, in the White, red and blue livery.
I am not going to go into the tech specs here as these are freely available at Hondas website, and most of them I do not understand anyway.
This is about how I, Dave, feel on the bikes and most importantly, how my butt feels after 2 hours or so in the saddle.
Cocking my leg over I immediately noticed that the Transalp is a bit taller than the NC, say about 2 or 3 inches, but once on the bike by heels where only ever so slightly higher that they are on the NC.
Turning the key on gave me my first glimpse of a TFT screen.
What a really nice, easy to read panel, even in the glorious sunshine and clear blues skies they day gave me.
All the basic controls are in familiar places and the bike felt like an old friend right away.
Starting her up and pulling away from HGB Motorcycles I quickly realized that the foot pedals, rear brake and gear shift, were a bit forward that they are on the NC but that was not a bad thing. Just different which I quickly go used to.
My route to test the Transalp, and the same for the NT1100 later, is my route to work which I know backwards, every lump, bump and curiosity on the roads.
The first roundabout I came too was an eye opener.
The Transalp went road it in a more controlled, planted, fashion than I feel the NC does, this put a smile on my face and you can tell this if you watch the video. This experience happened a few times.
Throughout our couple of hours together she showed my she could glide around bends a take corners with ease, building up my confidence to push it a bit, which I did and enjoyed.
Some people say the larger front wheel, 21 inches, compared to the 17 inch NC750X one, makes for a weird riding experience, but I honestly did not feel that at all.
Maybe the bigger front wheel made the riding position more upright, which I like anyway, and seemed to drop my arms or elevate my hands, same thing I suppose, but it really did feel a comfortable place to be very quickly.
The Seat.
It affords the ability, which the NC lacks, of being able to move around, back to front, if like me part of you butt starts to complain.
It is a comfortable seat but my butt issue emerged after about 30 mins which started my thinking it was a me thing rather than a motorbike thing.
Next weeks test of the NT1100 will seal this once and for all, but I think my issue down there is something I am going to have to deal with going forward.
Note: I have tried all the available “comfort add-ons” you can buy, air cushions, rubber mat things, shorts with gel inserts (baboon pants) and sheepskins, and its only the sheepskins that truly help.
If I was to buy the Transalp, then I will be calling my friends at MotoCoverz to see if a blue sheepskin, full length to cover the whole seat, could be arranged.
The Ride.
As I said, I took the Transalp on both routes I take to work as this covers nearly all my every day traffic experiences, a good real world test.
It was flawless.
Not only was it smooth as silk through corners, it also showed me it had much more to give under the tank than I was allowing her to give. It was not my bike after all.
It felt strong, with a large presence on the road and nimble when needed.
As it is not my bike I did not do close quarter filtering but did give it a go at a couple of places where the gap is always close to a car width between other vehicles, they way the road is designed I suppose, and she did not disappoint.
I did see, though my sun visor, that people where looking at the bike as she dose have a striking and some say imposing, look to her.
Very photogenic as these quick snaps I did on my phone at a park that has a nice very into central London shows below.
Transalp video on my new YouTube Channel @DavesPhotoUK
Well am I buying her?
I have asked Kevin to price me up a deal with various packs added, namely the comfort and adventure packs plus heated grips, center stand, quick shifter if they are not in the packs already, and as long as my insurance people do not kill the dream, then it is a very high chance the next video will be of me picking her up to spend the next three years together.
If you have a Honda dealer near you, highly likely, then do your self a favour, go give the Transalp a test ride. You will not be disappointed unless you are one of our smaller brethren of which I would not advise it.
I had a great couple of hours with the Transalp 750 and I am looking forward to trying out the NT1100 2023 Manual model next week.
Stay safe, upright and I wish you well.
DC x