Honda Transalp, a resounding name in the motorcycle world. And yet not as well known as its bigger brother the Africa Twin. This model gained name and fame by successfully participating in the infamous Paris-Dakar.
At the beginning of this year, Honda renewed the patent on the name Tansalp, which would indicate that they are breeding a new model. Strange, because they already have a bike in this segment of the market, the recently renewed NC750X.
Would it mean that they would make a more off-road oriented version with the same engine? Note that the 2021 model of the NC750X only comes with an automatic transmission.
In 2012, the last brand new Transalps were sold, then already more a touring / road bike than an off-road oriented bike.
The older PB06 and PB10 models of the Transalp can more than hold their own off the tarmac, especially in the hands of a less experienced off-road rider. Easily maneuverable due to light weight in conjunction with low power numbers so you feel in full control.
With its 55hp, the Transalp will only win a drag race with someone on a step bike, but more useful is its flat torque curve that peaks at 56Nm.
There are plenty of heroic stories to read on the web and various Transalp-themed forums, buy my story has yet to begin.
I was tired of Koen always stealing the show with mind-boggling stories featuring this BMW GS, how he conquered the mud, how he climbed a swampy hill with only a short throttle movement, I wanted this too. I also wanted to play the mud pig, To feel like you are making progress on unforgiven terrain with a bike that is capable of going anywhere, independently of the terrain.
Unfortunately my budget was very limited (due to the excess of motorcycles already in the garage) and it soon became clear that a GS was not in the cards. But of course there are cheaper alternatives.
At first I had my eye on a Suzuki DR big one, but on further investigation it had to make way for a lighter and nicer Yamaha Teneree or a Honda Transalp. Both very terrestrial, light and manoeuvrable.
Over the course of a few weeks, I searched all the second-hand websites, comparing models from different years, to finally stumble upon a project. Or another word, a puzzle, but according to the seller it was complete.
A 1997 Transalp, a PB10 model, one with double brake discs at the front. The story went that this Transalp had served for years as a commuter bike until a major maintenance was offered after years of use / abuse.
It was decided by the current owner to lift the tools himself and perform this maintenance himself. Then normal life came into play and the job was shelved or rather the bike. The Transalp was exchanged for a scooter and was referred to a dark back room with parts in boxes.
But even in this condition I had to be quick for the purchase because there were already privateers on the coast. So I quickly made an appointment and yes, there was the Transalp on an improvised workbench, completely naked with only its chassis, front wheel and engine still together.
The number of boxes stacked on and around the engine confirmed the suspicion that the engine was complete. I shook hands with the seller and dragged the injured Transalp onto the trailer.
On returning home and with help from Koen to lift the Transalp from the trailer, now with the locked front brake and the rear wheel absent, the realization began to creep in that this might be a lot more work to turn this into a running motorcycle again.
The next morning I immediately made a list of all parts to be ordered and replaced: rear wheel spokes, new seat cover, front and rear brake overhaul, full engine maintenance with replacement of all fluids and filters, adjusting valves and adjusting carburettors, new tires, ... the list was becoming very long.
To make the challenge even bigger, Koen had already registered himself and me for a basic off-road course at the beginning of April.
So the deadline was set, I should not and would not use a rental BMW GS for that off-road course, never will.
In the end, the brakes turned out to be the main concern, new pistons are almost impossible to find, or are sold at extortionate prices on obscure websites. And I thought that double disc brakes in the front were going to be a godsend.
Re-spoking the rear wheel was relatively smooth, and the saddle refinishing was left to a professional after many hours of grinding and pulling with the new fabric.
With one week to go before the off-road course, the Transalp could be started for the first time. And luckily he started, without the help of any starter fluids or other stuff, just on his own strength. This was proof that he was certainly not finished yet.
In the days that followed many test kilometers were made, on the road and on the dirt to see if everything functioned as expected.
The front forks were refilled with new oil, which was a good thing, because black dung came out, something that happened decades ago.
In the next chapture of this series we will talk about how the off-road course went and what are the next steps awaiting the Transalp