Honda XL700V Transalp 2010 — Specifications

Who is the Honda Transalp of 2010 still aimed at? Someone looking for an honest motorcycle, without frills, ready to devour asphalt and venture onto a dirt track without throwing a tantrum. The XL700V is neither the most powerful nor the lightest, but it has the pragmatism that made the model a legend. With 60 horsepower at 7750 rpm and 60 Nm of torque from 5500 rpm, the 680 cm3 V-twin is not a rocket. It comes from the Deauville, which says a lot about its temperament: supple, torquey, indestructible. It won't give you shivers in your wrist, but it will pull without complaint, loaded to the guards, with a sobriety that allows it to travel almost 400 km with its 17.5-liter tank. Faced with a BMW F650GS of the time, more lively, or a Suzuki V-Strom 650, more touring-oriented, the Transalp plays the card of serenity and accessibility.

Its main strength is this quiet versatility. With a wet weight of 214 kg and a seat height of 841 mm, it is not intimidating. The simple steel tubular frame, the classic but generously suspended suspension (177 mm at the front, 173 mm at the rear) and the tires in 100/90-R19 at the front and 130/80-R17 at the rear give it a stable road base and credible light-trail capability. You won't go and challenge a hard-enduro champion, but for forest trails and mountain roads, it is perfect. The double front disc brake, with ABS as an option, is effective and reassuring, typical of Honda reliability. It is a machine that does not surprise, for better or for worse. It does the job.

So, should you buy a used Honda XL700V Transalp today? If you are looking for an urban adventure motorcycle without pretensions, a reliable and economical companion to buy, absolutely. Its new price was already reasonable, and on the used market, it represents excellent value for money. It forgives the mistakes of a beginner, will accompany the globetrotter on his travels without demanding cutting-edge mechanics, and will be forgotten in the city by its ease of handling. On the other hand, if you dream of exhilarating performance, the latest technologies or a real off-road character, move along. The Transalp 700 is the anti-diva, the tireless worker. It won't dazzle you, but it won't let you down. That's all its charm, and its strength.