By: Tristan Foley
Pics: Deon van der Linde
The mid weight adventure bike market is becoming quite seriously contested these days. And all of the offerings are solid contenders for your hard earned cash. At the end of the day it basically all comes down to brand loyalty and who is offering the most attractive package overall. A fair portion of the market do seem to hanker after a somewhat more serious offroader with street riding abilities more of a “have to have”, rather than a “want”, and with this in mind we are starting to get offered more aggressively set up bikes to review. Recently you would have seen the kitted out Suzuki DL800 Glenn rode. Well, Honda has sent us a very off-road biased Transalp to bang along some of our favourite trails. And like father, like son – Tristan Foley annexed it and wouldn’t give it back. This is what he had to say about it:
I’m 20 years old, weigh in at around 80 kilos, and stand 185ish cm tall. I’ve ridden a fair share of bikes over the past few years, but the 2025 Honda Transalp, specifically the adventure-kitted version I got my hands on, felt like something else entirely. This isn’t just another 750cc adventure bike trying to appeal to the masses. This is a bike that brought offroad riding to life, with a rawness and readiness that made me want to go sideways around every corner and ramp every little bump. Something that I really appreciate given my dirt biking background.
Let’s start with the basics. The Transalp’s DNA is rooted in versatility and practicality, and Honda’s done a solid job of keeping that spirit alive while injecting some serious offroad capabilities. The version I rode came fitted with a whole bunch of lekker stuff that included crash bars, hand guards, a bash plate, a quick shifter, luggage racks, spotlights, Michelin Anakee Wild tyres and a Dominator pipe, all of which transformed the bike from a capable commuter come weekend adventurer into a trail riding animal. It’s the kind of setup that makes you want to take the long way home, preferably through a few river crossings and tricky climbs.
One of the standout features of the Transalp is how customisable it is. Honda clearly understands that riders want to make their bikes their own, and the Transalp offers a solid platform for that. Riders are free to adjust the engine braking, power delivery, traction control and ABS. This I think helps riders make the bike their own, allowing them to best navigate every kind of terrain. Riders are also able to change these settings on the fly which means not having to stop and fiddle with settings when you get to a dirt road or when it starts to rain.
The quick shifter deserves a special mention. It’s buttery smooth and makes gear changes feel almost non-existent, especially when you’re standing on the pegs and hammering through a gravel section, pair that with the dominator pipe and you’ll just want to gun it at every opportunity. It’s not just a ‘nice to have’ the quick shifter genuinely enhances the riding experience, especially when you’re pushing the bike hard.
Tyres can make or break an offroad ride, and I was stoked to find that this bike came with proper offroad shoes. These were full on offroad tyres they bit into dirt and gravel with confidence, giving me the kind of grip that lets you ride aggressively without second-guessing every corner. Whether I was drifting through loose sand or riding rocky trails, the tyres held their own and made the bike feel planted.
At my height and weight, wind buffeting can be a real issue on some bikes, especially when you’re pushing triple digits on the open road. But the extended windshield and wind fins on this Transalp made a noticeable difference. I felt locked in, stable, confident, and ready to chase the next bend. It’s the kind of aerodynamic setup that makes long-distance riding not just bearable, but genuinely enjoyable. Even at high speeds, the bike didn’t twitch or wander. It tracked true, and I never felt like I was fighting the wind. That tells you a lot about the Transalps set up from the factory, especially when you take into account I was closing down on the double ton on the speedo…. Only aggressive knobbly off road tyres.
I’ve ridden the standard Transalp before, and while it’s a solid machine, this adventure-kitted version is a clear step up. It’s not just about the added hardware, it’s about how those additions change the bike’s personality. The crash bars give you the confidence to push harder offroad, the bash plate lets you take on gnarlier terrain without flinching, and the hand guards are a must have when you’re blasting through tight bush trails. It’s a bike that feels ready for anything, and that’s not something I say lightly.
Now, no bike is perfect, and the Transalp has one quirk that genuinely annoyed me. Every time you switch the bike off, the traction control resets. That means if you’ve dialled it down for offroad riding, you’ll have to go back into the settings and tweak it again every time you restart. It’s a small thing, but when you’re stopping frequently on a trail ride like we were when taking photos, it becomes a bit of a pain. It’s definingly not a dealbreaker, but it’s something I’d like to see addressed in future updates.
From a rider comfort perspective, the Transalp nails it. The seat height, peg position, and handlebar setup felt dialled in for my frame. I never felt cramped or stretched, and even after a full day of riding, I wasn’t sore. The standing position is natural, and the bike responds well to body input whether you’re shifting weight to tackle a climb or leaning into a descent. The bike comes with really grippy footpegs as well this helps with staying planted on the bike especially when traveling through wet terrain.
The suspension, too, deserves praise. It’s plush enough to soak up trail chatter but firm enough to keep things composed when you’re riding aggressively. I hit a few unexpected ruts and washouts, and the bike handled them with grace. There was some bottoming out more on the jumps and rocky sections, but nothing too serious, just smooth, predictable performance. I did have one little incident, (sorry Honda SA), while riding down a twee spoor I clipped a lurker hidden on long grass and as Murphy would have it, it FUBAR’d the side stand switch which immediately brought a halt to proceeding. A quick call to Uncle Séan back at the office, who explained to me how to locate and bridge the switch wire and I was back on the road again – that is just life on the trail.
The Transalp’s engine is a gem. It’s got enough grunt to make offroad riding exciting, but it’s not so aggressive that it becomes intimidating. Power delivery is linear, and the throttle response is crisp and believe me with the aftermarket pipe you’ll spend a lot of time on the throttle. Whether you’re crawling through technical terrain or opening it up on a long road, the engine feels responsive and willing. It’s the kind of motor that encourages aggression not just because it’s capable, but because it’s fun.
Fuel economy was decent, too. I didn’t do a full range test, but I never felt like I was constantly hunting for a fuel stop. For a bike that can handle both city commutes and backcountry adventures, that’s a big win.
The 2025 Honda Transalp, in its adventure-kitted form, is a bike that speaks to riders who want more than just a daily runaround. It’s for those of us who see a dirt road and gun it down there as fast as we can. It’s for the weekend warriors, the trail chasers, and the riders who believe that adventure starts where the tar ends.
For me, this bike felt like a perfect match. It handled my size and weight with ease, offered stability at speed, and gave me the tools I needed to ride hard and aggressive Sure, the traction control reset is a bit of a nuisance, but it’s a small blemish on an otherwise spectacular package.
If you’re looking for a middleweight ADV bike that’s customisable, capable, and genuinely fun to ride, especially offroad, the 2025 Transalp deserves a serious look.
Click here to find your nearest stockist or to set up a demo ride for yourself.
