To be clear, I have never ridden an adventure bike off-road before the press ride of the 2024 Honda Transalp 750. Adventure riding was ultimately a brave new world for me. Having the right tool for the right job is essential.
My readers will know that my riding occurs mainly on asphalt, the track, or twisty back roads. And yes, I have ridden ADV bikes in my tenure, and I do enjoy them. What I came to understand is that while adventure riding can include transversing terra firma, it also includes dirt, gravel, sand, mud, stone, and fire roads.
“What the hell is a fire road?” I asked myself while the Honda team went over the route for the ride. Amongst a small band of experienced fire road riders, I was the only journalist with no experience with off-road ADV riding.
Somewhere smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania, with the beautiful Autumn foliage as canopy and backdrop, our crew rode a section of the Backcountry Discovery Route through the Pennsylvania Wilds region. Before so, the fast introduction to the Transalp came by way of a spirited ride on a few stretches of countrified roads and a bit of highway.
The metrics of the Transalp 750 are impressive. Being all of 260 plus pounds and standing at 6 feet tall, the ergonomics of the bike were highly appreciated. I didn’t need to over-stretch limbs to manipulate controls, nor did I feel cramped. Everything was sensibly within reach. The wide handlebar, the seat height (33.7 inches), and the 459-pound wet weight make for a manageable and user-friendly experience. Even after one and a half days of serious riding, I was still comfortable in the saddle. The only source of fatigue that I experienced was mental. More on that later.
The Honda Transalp 750 is powered by an eight-valve, four-stroke, parallel twin 755 cc engine that is liquid-cooled. Power is controlled with ride-by-wire tech, and I appreciated that spot-on release of “get up and go” at the twist of the wrist. Delivery is firm, consistent, and smooth.
There are four riding modes: Sport, Standard, Rain, and Gravel, plus a fifth User mode. I hung out with Standard and Sport while on the asphalt and Gravel mode on the loose earth. The main difference in the modes is how they deliver the power, with Sport mode being the most aggressive path and Gravel being the least aggressive. Modes can be accessed via the button on the left handlebar switch cluster. The vibrant 5-inch TFT dash cluster displays all pertinent data, including ride mode, gear, speed, temp, etc, in multiple layout options.
In terms of torque, the Transalp 750 receives high marks. The power is significant in the lows and mid ranges, but it shines at the top end. During the highway jaunt, I found myself in Sport mode, in sixth gear, throttle pinned, and the bike was still pulling. It was exhilarating. Off the highway and onto the back roads, working the quick shifter through the gearbox, the engine response and performance continued to impress me. The slim design and nimble attributes of the overall bike make for a joyful run even on the Bridgestone Battleax off-road tires. I have requested a press unit with street tires for a follow-up street review. I’ll keep you posted.
And then everything changed when we arrived at the foot of the PA Wilds BDRx trail. With absolutely no experience in off-road riding, I began my trek. This part of the ride was trial by fire. Fire roads, that is. I learned that “fire road” refers to unpaved roads that developers initially built and used for wildfire control, a break in the trees or brush so flames could potentially be starved of fuel. Learning quickly that the earth would be moving underneath me ever so slightly, and not so slightly at times, the Honda Transalp 750 proved to be the ideal partner. In Gravel mode, I adapted to this “new to me” style of riding, moving the bike underneath me, spitting out puffs of dust behind me as I rocked and rolled my way through the gravel, mud, water, and stones of the route. It was an intoxicating yet harrowing experience.
In all my years of attending press launches, I had never dropped a motorcycle until now. It happened when I transitioned from the asphalt to the gravel, and down I went. However, partly because of my size and strength and primarily because of the Transalp 750’s lightweight, it couldn’t really be considered a drop, more of a tip-over. I was able to plant my foot and gently lay the bike down on the ground. When we righted the bike, the lack of damage was admirable. There was a little scruff on the front brake lever and exhaust. Other than that, barely any. It was one of those things where if you weren’t there to see it, you would never know. Having got that out of my system, I carried on up, down, over, and through some of the most beautiful Pennsylvania trails and roads.
As a package, the Honda Transalp 750 is a multi-tool based on its performance and functionality. As a novice to off-road ADV riding, the Transalp 750 was the ideal motorcycle for the introduction. Power, performance, and technology with an MSRP of less than $10,000 are very attractive factors to anyone who is looking at entering the world of ADV off-road. There are plenty of features that appeal to experienced ADV off-roaders, as well. It’s also a full-on street machine with enough torque, pull, tech, and comfort amenities that appeal to the none off-roader. The heated grips work great!
If I were riding something else on my first venture into the world of ADV off-roading, perhaps something larger, heavier, or with a different assembly of components, I may not have fared as well as I did. The Honda Transalp 750 had the stones and spirit to get me up over and through the woods.
Shout out to the team at Honda for the help, guidance, and patience. And an apology to my fellow journalists for making you wait so long at the bottom of the mountain. Good times, indeed.
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