In May, my friend Laura and I were kindly invited to Honda Adventure Centre to try out two Honda Transalp XL750’s during their Exmoor Adventure Taster Day. After spending a very long day next the Adventure Centre guys on the Honda stand at Motorcycle Live, I think instructor Pat took pity on us!
The taster day allows you to take out an Africa Twin, Transalp or CL500 on a guided ride of over 130 miles of moorland & coastal roads, with the occasional green-lane added in for good measure.
The day started off with pretty miserable weather. It was WET. The kind of rain that seeps into every pore and chills you to your bones. By the time I’d finished my 1.5 hour ride from Devon, my spirits were well and truly dampened, and I was about ready to turn around and go home. I’m so glad I didn’t. By the time we’d downed a coffee, finished the morning briefing and familiarised ourselves with our steeds for the day, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining.
We set out for the day, taking in the sweeping coastal twisties of the A39, descending the notorious Porlock hill and eventually arriving in the quaint coastal town of Lynmouth. By this point lunch- a bacon bap and more coffee- was very much needed. So far the riding pace had been fast, and the roads technical and tiring. But the Transalp felt like it could keep going all day, handling remarkably well for a bike with a skinny 21 inch front wheel. And that Hornet-derived engine just begs to be revved. Want to pootle along below 6000 revs? It purrs like a cat and is smooth and unintimidating through town. But open it up and it BEGS you to ride it hard, especially in Sport Mode. Just ask Laura, she was giggling in the Cardo every time she cracked the throttle.
We carried on to the famous Valley of Rocks, soaking in the spectacular scenery and stopping for a quick photo opportunity. Sadly no feral goats were to be found!
The rest of the afternoon was spent tackling some muddy woodland tracks, easy going gravel roads and shallow water crossings. The standing position on the bike felt comfortable and neutral, and the 210kg weight low in the chassis. The 850mm seat height was perfect for Laura, who’s 5’8. With the low seat add-on, the height drops to 830mm. At 5’4, with a 30 inch inseam, I could easily flat foot one side, or dab a foot if needed. However, taller riders than us might find the stock XL a little cramped.
The only other thing of note is that even in gravel mode the traction control and ABS felt very intrusive off-road, constantly cutting power when accelerating on the loose stuff. I ended up turning it off completely, leaving ABS at the front wheel engaged only. The difference was night and day, and the skids were satisfying.
I’d say the XL750 the perfect step up for someone coming from the likes of the CB500X, or those looking at an Africa Twin who need something manageable & a bit more road focused (it may be a 750, but with 90BHP it has 90% of the power of the Africa Twin and weighs 36kg less). I definitely wouldn’t mind if one appeared in my garage. I’m looking forward to seeing the updated model- especially the retro inspired SP- in the metal at Motorcycle Live this weekend.
We ended the day with a debrief back at base, thoroughly worn out but inspired to revisit Exmoor and explore more of what the area has to offer.
Thanks to Pat and the team for having us. We had an absolute blast.
For anyone looking to book on to a taster day or course, the guys will be on the Honda stand (Hall 3, stand 3E20) at Motorcycle Live from 15th-23rd November, offering exclusive show discounts. You can find more information on their website here.
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