The Honda Transalp is the XL400V, XL600V, XL650V, XL700V, and XL750 series of

dual-sport motorcycle A dual-sport motorcycle is a type of street-legal motorcycle that is designed for both on and off-road use. The terms ''all-road,'' ''on/off road,'' and ''dual-purpose'' are also used for this class of motorcycles. Dual-sports are equipped with ...

s manufactured in Japan by

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

since 1987. With the exception of XL750, the Transalp bikes series feature a liquid-cooled,

four-stroke A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either directio ...

52°

V-twin engine A V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Although widely associated with motorcycles (installed either transversely or longi ...

History

The first prototype was built in 1985 as an off-road motorbike with a engine. Further development introduced an increase to and more road-oriented features, notably an improved fairing.

Models

The most usual models are: * The XL600V from 1986 - available in the United States in 1989 * The XL650V from 2000 * The XL700V from 2008 * The XL750 from 2023 Other versions exist, such as the 400 cc version (ND-06) aimed at the Japanese market. The first version output at 8,000 rpm, increased to for the 1989 and 1990 version. Later models returned to the original 50 hp. From 1991, the rear

drum brake A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press outward against a rotating cylinder-shaped part called a brake drum. The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press on the inner surfac ...

was replaced by a

disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hol ...

, with a single-piston brake caliper. The appearance was altered in 1994: the original square lights were changed, and a new fairing was introduced. In 1996, new 34 mm

carburetor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meteri ...

s were introduced, and the CDI ignition system was replaced by a microprocessor-driven design. The front brake was modified in 1997, introducing a second disc and reducing the diameter to . The weight of the Transalp increased over time, from for the first models to for the latest version. In 2000, the XL650V Transalp replaced the XL600V, introducing the engine from the

Deauville Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film Fes ...

and Honda Revere. The power output increased to at 7,500 rpm, torque increased to at 5,500 rpm. A 4 mm bore diameter increase gave a 64 cc displacement increase. The

shock absorber A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulic device designed to absorb and damp shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typically heat) which is then dissipated. Most sh ...

s were redesigned for road use, the

exhaust system An exhaust system is used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes. Depending on the overall system ...

was updated, the fuel capacity increased by one litre, the control panel was redesigned, and weight diminished by . In 2007, the XL700V Transalp was introduced, with a new 680 cc engine, which was also fitted to the NT700V Deauville, and compatible with

Euro 3 The European emission standards are vehicle emission standards for pollution from the use of new land surface vehicles sold in the European Union and EEA member states and the UK, and ships in EU waters. The standards are defined in a ser ...

emission standards. The front wheel diameter was reduced from 21 inches to 19 inches, the exhaust system was fitted with a catalytic converter, the lights were redesigned, and ABS was introduced. The 2008 model reinforces the road orientation of the Transalp, with larger tyres, lower saddle and more road-oriented

s. The 2008 XL700V engine is a liquid-cooled, eight-valve, four-stroke, single-overhead cam, 52° V-twin. The 2023 XL750 Transalp engine is a 755 cc, Unicam 8-valve parallel twin that produced and is shared with the CB750 Hornet.

References

External links

XL700V Transalp
at Honda UK {{Honda Transalp Dual-sport motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1987