Does the Honda Transalp commute in Tokyo City? (pt.1)

Honda made the XL 750 Transalp and advertised it as a road bike, despite having long travel suspension, 21in tubed spoke front and 19 inch tubed spoked rear wheels. No tubeless option and not even a 19in front wheel option like on the Suzuki vstrom 800 re. Despite this seemingly off-road design, I decided to take Honda at their word and put this midsized Africa Twin to the test as a road bike.
This is the first installment of my 24 Hours with the 2024 Transalp 750 in which I treat it like a road bike and only a road bike. I want to fine out, “if you never took this bike off road, is it still a good bike”. And I don’t mean to play nice. I rented this bike with my own money so I own no curtesies to anyone. I have no car, only have the means for 1 motorcycle, and it’s my main form of transit.
In this part 1, we see if the Transalp is a good bike to commute in the biggest city on earth, my home of Tokyo Japan. In the following parts we will see how well it holds up on high speed highways without cruise control. Can it be a sport bike in the twisty Kanto mountain roads? What is its real value for money? And would I actually buy this as my one and only pavement prowler for everything I can imagine?

[@cali3603]

Will you try the hornet too?

[@KairyuRider]

I think I put a note in this video. If not, part 2. There is no hornet in Japan. Honda has said nothing to even hint that we will get it. Yes, they are all made here. No, we can't have them here.

[@cali3603]

@@KairyuRider usual japanese manufacturer's logic 😂

[@KairyuRider]

@@cali3603 it’s really getting annoying how much mad in Japan things are not sold in Japan. The oval shaped arai helmets made here cannot be sold here, so I don’t buy arai. No other country would accept this from a domestic maker.

[@bogdangheorghe5427]

One of the best moto! I will buy Transalp, next year! All the best from Romania, Bucharest:)

[@KairyuRider]

I ended up buying it last week, will have it some time June. I have a whole playlist on it and you can see why

[@omordonez]

Nice to see you uploading again. Really enjoy your videos. Keep it up!

[@KairyuRider]

I've got atleast 7 that will be up over the next 2 months. So we will see how things go

[@rezangyal]

Loved your review and opinion about the bike

[@KairyuRider]

Thanks. Part 2 comes tomorrow

[@robbyds5186]

nice to see youy video again after so long. i still waiting the 1917 combo and its not tubeless

[@KairyuRider]

I'm partial to the idea of doing it on my own with some vmx rims. I've heard the africa twin wheels will fit, but I don't know that I have $1500 for wheels.

[@robbyds5186]

did vmx already made 1917 rims for the africa twin?, honda should make transalp 1917 next,because they make 2024 africa twin that way

[@KairyuRider]

@@robbyds5186 yes, vmx has had them for a while. And I believe vmx makes bmw gs wheels so should be trust worthy.

[@RedSunGamerTV]

I just recently moved to Tokyo from Nagoya, I'd love to be able to ride with you one day.

[@KairyuRider]

Pm me in Instagram gregory.t_44

[@kurc24k76]

Would love to see more videos like that it's a shame you don't get some of these bikes in Japan, it's really weird not to sell them there. Are you getting the new MT-09 in Japan?

[@KairyuRider]

The mt09 will come to Japan. But it took 4 years to get the t7, we only get the standard t7, no world raid or anything. The tracer 9gt+ took 9 months. So very real chance the new mt09 is coming in 2025. Suzuki all come to Japan and at the same time as the world. The hornet is the first time I'm aware of honda not selling in japan. And usually honda only makes us wait a few weeks after europe. But honda always limits colors, yamaha, suzuki, and kawasaki give all the colors usually

[@advinjapan]

Yeah, a dual sport is not worth the money here, we just don’t have the kind of trails you do in some other countries. I’ve been looking at the Translap myself, is this what you’re thinking about purchasing for off-road? The only downside to these bigger bikes if you gotta be able to pick that sucker up if you’re out on your own. I already have a hard enough time with my 390. And the quick shifter is nice, almost completely useless off-road though, in some cases outright dangerous. Btw, dropped you a few messages on instagram.

[@KairyuRider]

I'll be 95% road most likely. I have more videos where it's surprising in the mountains. Very low center of gravity and I do lift quite a lot, so I think it will be OK. I used to biuld custome bikes so I think I can't keep the weight very lower on this

[@DashRendar308]

Got a Hornet 750 and love the engine. Sure 20 - 40 more hp would be nice, but that would cost you a whole lot more, also taxes and insurance will be higher and the fuel consumption also. So the Hornet is really a good middle ground between having fun and being reasonable.

[@KairyuRider]

My tracer was too much power,kept getting in trouble and would surely shorten my life expectancy. The MT is a little to low. I find the transalp a perfect amount of power

[@veljkovic92]

I'm always liking your objectivity. Of course that front wheel can be felt and it won't perform as a naked bike on the street, but reviewers are mostly biased and won't tell truth. Honda should make some crossover bike like what Fazer was with this engine, or at least a Tracer type road focused version.

[@KairyuRider]

I head the 19 17 vmx wheels for Africa twin can fit, but not sure. Honda thinks they can make us go for the A.T. But instead we will just send our money to after market companies

[@veljkovic92]

@@KairyuRider of course, that was so lame not putting Cruise Control on legendary transalp. I'm glad there's mote competition nowadays from old and new companies. That will push japanese bikes to upgrade. Not sure about Chinese manufacturers still, but they might be sharing the podium one day.

[@KairyuRider]

@@veljkovic92 they are top speck in China now. But reliability is still top for me, so japan it is

[@le_kakis]

I also was looking at it for many of the same reasons as you,but...tubed tyres for me is a definite no because of my intended use

[@JohnnieV]

I’m looking at the 800cc Suzuki 8s or the 750 hornet.

[@KairyuRider]

Suzuki will have better breaks and suspension and comes with everything you need want short of heated grips, Windscreen and crash protection (hopco&becker crash bars look good) My friend is getting the gsx as his first ever bike

[@apz5817]

​@KairyuRider I'm 1,88cm 6,2 and I'm between v strom 800 re and transalp. Transalp fits me better but has tubes.V strom is tubeless better on street but I think it's maybe short for my height especially for long rides.Whats your thoughts on these .nice video

[@JohnnieV]

What do you think about the 750 hornet? I’m thinking about a bigger naked.

[@KairyuRider]

Not available in japan. But how much bigger? If I wanted a bigger naked than mt07 I'd look at mt09

[@JohnnieV]

@@KairyuRider 825 seat height is too tall for me. I’m only 1,65 m

[@KairyuRider]

@JohnnieV taller boots?😅 It can be lowered, I know someone on the current mt09 sp, she is 160cm, have taller boots and it's just a surprisingly narrow bike. But sit on one with you riding boot on. It can be lowered too. My forma adventure boots make me almost 3cm taller. But I understand if you wanna go another way. If the hornet is anything like the transalp you'd love it. The gsx-8s and 8r look epic too.

[@googlelimp9834]

i took one for a test road nice bike but as soon as I turned up I saiddnt likeit, right next to it was the cb500x and not much of a difference at all, very disappointed if it had the front simular to the Africa twin then I would f got one.