Honda Sorta Updated the Transalp Off-Roader, But I Wish They'd Have Gone Harder

While good out of the box, it could be better.

Photo by: Honda

By: Jonathon Klein

Nov 7, 2024 at 9:50am ET

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Honda pretty much knocked the Transalp out of the park from the get-go.

I was on the initial press launch, held on the positively slippery, treacherous, and somewhat terrifying trails of the Pennsylvania Wilds BDR/X, and was blown away by how capable the middle-weight off-roader was straight out of the box. There were a few places where I could see room for improvement, but the overall experience was solid and the Transalp would be great for just about anyone looking for a reliable adventure motorcycle.

Which is to say I get why Honda played it safe in its update for the motorcycle. It's already pretty damn good, why mess with success? Conversely, why not? Or, better yet, introduce a variant that's even more capable than the standard bike.

Yeah, Honda should've done that!

Photos by: Honda

The updated Transalp gets some new bodywork, a "reprofiled" windscreen, new LED headlights, new 5-inch color TFT screen, and some suspension adjustments to the stock settings were made. And that's it. Again, there wasn't a lot wrong with the Transalp after my two-day backwoods ride, and it handled everything, including mud puddles, river crossings, steep rock walls, and more like a champ. But couldn't Honda do something...more?

What do you think?

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I'm looking at a host of press releases coming out of this year's EICMA and the one that stands out to me is Yamaha's Tenere debut. That motorcycle has been the darling of both the press and the consumers since its introduction and is, theoretically, the main competition for Honda's Transalp. Yet, the Honda just isn't as hardcore as the Yamaha, and that feels like a missed opportunity for them.

Photo by: Honda

Honda has a long history of building off-road rally bikes, most notably its Africa Twin. But a lighter, more rally-focused Transalp could be the absolute shit. Throw some fully adjustable Ohlins, some better wheels and tires, give it a slight horsepower boost, and a higher set of risers, and you've got the makings of something that could take Yamaha's lunch money. I'd be extremely stoked to see that.

Instead, we're left with a lightly updated bike we already know is fine. I guess what I'm asking is, "What's the point?" I get you have to update things to ensure they're current, but why not do something at least cool? I mean, Honda just debuted an electrically-powered turbocharged V3 engine. Put that motor or something in the Transalp, why don't ya?

Come on, Honda, do something cool with the Transalp and get folks excited. Cause it is a good bike. It's just a little bland comparatively.