Honda XL700V Transalp 2012 — Specifications

Remember 2008. In the motorcycle landscape, a renaissance passed almost unnoticed. While everyone was scrutinizing superbikes and large trail bikes, Honda pulled a machine out of its hat that reset the clock for an entire generation of adventurers. The XL700V Transalp was not just a restyling, it was a thunderclap in a sky that was too tame. Here it arrived with its 680cc, its 60 horsepower at 7750 rpm and a rugged look that had nothing to do with the gentle 650 of before. At the time, at €7690, it caught the eye. Today, searching for a used Honda XL700V Transalp is aiming for one of the best deals to afford an adventure without breaking the bank.

The real stroke of genius is this engine. Honda freely drew from the Deauville’s toolbox to graft its V-twin 680cc engine, but gave it a very different character. With 60 Nm of torque available from 5500 rpm, this engine is not a fury, it is a workhorse. It devours the kilometers with remarkable sobriety and the suppleness of a diesel engine, making long days on the highway or on small roads absolutely painless. Compared to a BMW F650GS of the time, more nervous and single-cylinder, the Transalp bets everything on torque and regularity. It won’t stick you to the tank, but it will take you to the ends of the world without a murmur, benefiting from its 17.5 liters of range.

On the cycle part, Honda played the card of evolution rather than revolution. The simple steel tubular frame and the 41 mm telescopic fork ensure unfailing robustness and exemplary neutrality. The most discussed change was the switch to a 19-inch front wheel instead of the traditional 21-inch of trail bikes. A deliberate choice to prioritize stability on paved roads, even if it cuts back a little on off-road ambitions. But let's be honest, with its 214 kg fully fueled and a ground clearance of 177 mm, the Transalp is not a motocross in disguise. It is a trail-road bike, an excellent compromise for those who ride 90% on asphalt and dream of the remaining 10%. The major improvement came from the combined ABS option, an ingenious system that dosed the power between the two brakes with rare intelligence for the time, offering a welcome extra safety, especially when loaded.

Who is she for, today? The rider who is looking for an accessible motorcycle, reassuring with its seat height of 841 mm, and incredibly versatile. It is the ideal mount for the self-sufficient traveler who prefers back roads to highways, or for the novice who wants a first machine capable of doing everything without headaches. Its flaw? A certain placidity. It doesn't vibrate, it transports. It is not a sportbike, it is a road companion. But in this role, it excels, offering comfort, reliability and load capacity (thanks to a range of dedicated accessories such as side cases) that make it a machine of memories. Finding one used in good condition is offering yourself a passport to adventure without breaking the bank, on a proven mechanical base that has proven itself over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. A safe bet, simply.