FAST!!!! 10min Airbox Access Honda XL750 Transalp

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

**WARNING** The first 4,000km this was trouble free, last 500km , I noticed lots of vibration sounds from the front when the bike is between 3,500 and 4,200 RPM. Only at those RPM, which is where my bike makes all its noteworthy vibration. I put the bolts back that connect the plastic to the tank, and the buzzing sound is gone. Nothing performance wise or durability wise seems to have happened, before or after, just the annoying sound. (This sound is audible from my helmet mic in some of my other videos) The Bike at a total of 6,400km of 20-30% dirt riding still has a surprisingly clean filter, so this mod is not very necessary to me for all the reasons listed in the video, "under tank vs under seat air filters".

[@Africa-s2y]

Thanks for solving problem. Besides of air filter this machine is best in middle class

[@danbraden4401]

Good job...Had the T7 sold it for the TA best decision .....more power flicks around way better and not top heavy...just my 2cents...

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@danbraden4401 completely agree

[@moulin680]

I really like your videos and I am a future 2025 TransAlp owner, as soon as it arrives in USA … meanwhile . I just subscribed and I’ll be watching your videos.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@moulin680 thank you

[@tonyjourneyman1944]

Nice, one tip is that my small electric rechargeable screwdriver speeds things up nicely. I removed my air filter after 10000 klms and reluctantly put a new one on. I could have left it another 10000klm I think, and that's with about 30% dirt road use.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@tonyjourneyman1944 yes, hondas design is very clean. Not needing as much changes to the filter like rear filter designs.

[@Magnus0311]

Very helpful sir. Thank you.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

Glad you enjoyed

[@patkennedy1]

I agree that the Transalp is better to ride than some of its competitors, but none are as dirt-capable as the Aprilia 660 Tuareg. But the Transalp is much better on the road, and the Tuareg cost half as much again than the TA in Australia when I bought my Honda. Tuareg $22,500 as against $15,740 on the road for the Honda. But, no matter where you live, you will inevitably be doing more miles on bitumen than dirt. Well done with your research on the silly air filter access on the TA. I have only done mine once, and went with the K&N, just as I have on all my bikes. Dirt miles aren't the only measure of how quickly the air element gets dirty - it of course also relates to whether you are riding alone, or behind others. I suspect the oil component of the K&N may compare favourably with the paper element, but have no 'science' to support that - only well over 200,000 kms with K&Ns on other bikes. I have done a lot of dirt road miles on my TA, now 20,200 kms all up, and when I replaced my filter (at 13,000) it wasn't that dirty at all. With many dirt miles, but not so many following (and little traffic out here) I will only clean mine every 12,000 or so, so not a monthly requirement. More like 6 - 9 months. Following a group through the desert may be a different story, but I tend to be mostly solo. Just going shopping here is about a 70 kms round trip, almost half dirt (I can go via bitumen, but choose not to) so it is doing this several times a week, plus longer rides. But I can almost forgive this silly air filter access, as it doesn't dirty that quickly, with a fairly convoluted intake, and yes - it has cleaner air coming in for the most part, compared to the under-seat option. Thanks for your experimentation - I will look closer at your ideas next time. But yes, they certainly overdid the number of fasteners! I counted 10 x panels, and at least 50 fasteners, when I changed mine, and it took almost two hours, going slowly and methodically the first time. With a fair bit of muttering...

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

The saving in Japan for the TA vs ktm and Aprilia, all the mods I've done what what I still have to post, even after doing full öhlins front and rear I'd save vis the other 2. The arbor is a chore, but as you point out, is far cleaner and in less need of changing than most of the easy to change bikes. Not to mention hondas bigger oil sump and reliability

[@patkennedy1]

@@DragoniteMotoJP Yes there can be no doubt the Transalp represents good value, which allows for some of these alterations. I would probably not go over to Ohlins - certainly not on the front - but will investigate improving both ends. I will start off trying to improve the originals, but may go to another rear shock with a preload knob for convenience n the future.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@patkennedy1 I've done spring/oil upgrade on my mt07, it was better but not all that much. I then got an aftermarket shock and was a whole new bike. Big pr8ce difference, bit if this is a 10 year bike, I feel it's justified. But my current income means stay stock fir now😅

[@IdealBike]

Great man, perfect and simple explained.The GOOD thing is the service intervals, because even with Off-Road, Rain, Dust, my Air filter was very clean at more than 9000 Km. So 10-15-45 minutes means NOTHING when you are a rational person. Greetings and keep them going ! STILL here is WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ACTUALLY: When you pulled the side fairing you broke at least 3 clips, when you pulled the tank over the top black fairing forcing the fairing into the tank you also scratched the fairing and the tank, I forgot you said you would give up the clips inside the fairing. And that limitation (string) about which you said that you don't understand why Honda would limit how much the tank can be raised simply because the moment you take it much higher than it should be, the fuel pumps are destroyed.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@IdealBike all scratches are from dropping off road. Not sure where you think I broke it. Nothing is broke on my plastics. But as you said, and I saw in the video, very clean filter compared to rear mount filters, so not a big deal to check once every 10,000km. thanks for watching.

[@tonyjourneyman1944]

@@DragoniteMotoJP Is the bike still running since you've destroyed the fuel pumps? ;-)

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@tonyjourneyman1944 hahah, yes, trouble free🤣

[@Corey-pd3mi]

Weird the replacement is done via the clean side where extra precaution needed to make sure no dust spills anywhere on the inside

[@human1513]

After the 1st time I found it to be no big deal and no big time consumer to inspect and / or replace the air filter. I did buy a few spare black plastic clips to have just in case. I do fully remove the front plastic panel and do use all the original hardware, including the 2 small screws at the front of the gas tank which can be a pain and easily cross threaded.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@human1513 yes, very tedious screws. Extras are good

[@jfro5867]

Enjoyed that video, useful insight. TBH unless you do a lot of dusty off road I don’t see the huge issue that it’s made out to be. Even if you change the air filter once a year it’s not exactly difficult is it? Just takes a bit of patience.

[@jfro5867]

Oh yea, and let’s have a 👍 for Honda because we can reset the service schedule ourselves, easily on the dash, no need to go to the dealer or buy a fancy code reader gizmo either.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@jfro5867 right, lots of people complain about it because rear filters like the t7 vstrom 800 and ktm's get dirty quick because they are in the rear. But people who are 50% of road are finding it mostly clean after 10,000km on the TA. A little less plastick would eb nice and look nicer (like ducati) but the position is very clean.

[@andrew390]

Did you notice additional vibrations having removed so many screws?

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@andrew390 nothing

[@Matt-vo1ge]

Honda body panels are a complete PITA

[@paulvandervyver4223]

Removing the seat, removing body/fairing panels, lifting the tank...It's way too tedious.Imagine doing that regularly when you spend 80% plus on gravel with the bike. I grew up on a Honda, but this is the only reason why I won't buy a TA

[@charlesm.2756]

Good video. I almost bought the TA, but the air filter nonsense was a deal breaker. It really is ridiculous...and I don't think they fixed it in the 2025 model. Anyway, it's otherwise a great bike that needs a few tweaks to make it outstanding.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@charlesm.2756 they didn't change it. Lots of people are finding the airfilter still clean after 10,000km riding 50% dirt. It's tough to change, but the position is do clever you'll rarely need to

[@RobinTorrekensTravelVlog]

CFmoto 450MT, why not just under the seat? :)

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@RobinTorrekensTravelVlog I can't trust a Chinese bike not to be made with slave labor. As explained in the video, under the seat is easier to change, under the tank is better preformance in all ways. People 50% dirt riding have a clean-ish filter after 10,000km on this bike.

[@RobinTorrekensTravelVlog]

@@DragoniteMotoJP I do not deny that I am not a fan of China but the quality is there and I am quite sure we all buy stuff made in China. I doubt that in the motorcycle industry they would work with slavery.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@RobinTorrekensTravelVlog lots of car and motorcycle brands were recently found to be sorcing frame parts from the slave camps. I believe CFmoto was one of them but I didn't look into it. I do know that bmw was found to be sorcing parts from those camps. I'm not doubting the quality, but I do try to get things not made in China as much as I can. The old idea of buy quality to buy once. And vote with our wallet.

[@JohnnieV]

Which Aprilia would u have bought if lived close to a dealer ?

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@JohnnieV tuareg in yellow

[@JohnnieV]

@ looks almost identical to yours.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@JohnnieV authentically yes, proformance is why I'd have gotten a European bike

[@bennettrousdale4299]

Like a 1993 Ducati?

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

?

[@patkennedy1]

@@DragoniteMotoJP I think he is referring to the '90s (air-cooled) road models - SS and Monster - which had a similar pivoting tank. But those tilted back after simply removing the seat.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@patkennedy1 ok, that was most older bikes. My 80's hondas were like that

[@ulfheonar9126]

my honda atv ( 700xx)had 4 metal easy tabs for cover 1 screw for air filter , this one 9 screws + 5 for the filter , this is not progress

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@ulfheonar9126 I would assume different amounts of speed and pressure, but yes,this is frustrating

[@wsbygt]

FAST!!!! 10min Airbox Access.... Worst than my GSX-R and thats a full on race bike!

[@Chris-t8z2l]

The design of holding plastic parts with tenons and grommets is not a good idea.😢 i have had the previous version of the Transalp (1996) and after a few years most of the plastic tenons broke. 😮 The best way to avoid that is the lubricate the tenons with silicon grease.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@Chris-t8z2l this is part of the reason I don't have upper crash bars. The chances of the plastics breaking from simple manatanence is high. So why Cary the hlextra weight to protea cosmetic piece that will likely break anyways

[@queenslander954]

Wow , why so long .. ten’s take 2 mins

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@queenslander954 t7 needs it much more in the dusty rear and the position hurts power from less direct air flow. People at 10,000km are saying TA filter is still clean with 50% dirt riding

[@branimirpresecki5803]

As a former TA600 and TA650 owner, I tried riding the TA750. After riding, and when I found out how the air filter is located, I confirmed my statement.....TA750 is a simple piece of s..t!

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

Most people, even in dusty climates are finding the air filter relatively clean after 10,000km. But I'm loving my ta.

[@bryanstoyle6504]

Just buy the 3 year honda service package and then it,s their problem.....just saying.

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

What if you own the bike 4 years?😮

[@jhackett9482]

I wouldn’t let a dealer touch my motorcycle. They would put some 16 year old flunky on it who tears up stuff and scratches everything. Believe me I’ve seen it. A buddy just had his dealer install side cases and they couldn’t figure out how to unscrew the plastic factory plugs. Ripped them out with pliers after he told them to unscrew. Scratches all over too. Bought a new Harley and they insisted on doing the first service. 250 dollars and they put the oil filter on so tight I had to destroy it to get it off. There are some good mechanics out there but not around here.

[@MotoVania]

Now do it with crash bars 😂

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

You can see my lower crash bars in the video. I've dropped many notes trouble free

[@MotoVania]

@ I’ve got outback motortek crash bars, they have to come off to remove the fairing

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@MotoVania I liked outback but that was a concern. I have a video on why I picked these kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYuWm6FvoMiZrKcsi=QIIbxg7GYUeruQad

[@tonyjourneyman1944]

I can't make myself put crash bars on because they make the bike look like one of those luggage carts at an airport. I totally get how potentially useful they might be though.

[@falkost]

I have Hepco Becker and I can remove fairing without removing crashbars.

[@podunkman2709]

Honda gpt old and fat. Not 210kg

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

@@podunkman2709 gpt? Weighed my TA at 209kg full tank

[@SomewhereInside]

@@DragoniteMotoJPAnd if we only fill the 17 litre tank to 10 litres which is still around 200km range , we save approx 5 kg…from when we fill so as the tank empties the bike is only about 200kg. Get a lithium battery save another 3kg or so .

[@DragoniteMotoJP]

My tail tidy video saved close to 2kg. My muffler video saves over 3. Lots of other ways to save here and there like a plastic tank. But I'll stick to all 17l in the tank. Not noticing huge weight savings that are adding preformance to the cost of function. Ex: top rack is 3.4kg but I find it very useful