Today's Transalp

[hotbulb]

I've had my 650 Transalp for about 7 years, and 40,000 odd miles.
What would you suggest as a suitable, up-to-date, successor?
A new Africa Twin would be exceedingly nice, but, being realistic, I should be looking for something lighter and less tall (and no more than £4-5000).

 

[boboneleg]

Another Transalp or V-Strom 650.

 

[OhJ]

The RWB new type transalp with Gold wheels looks amazing .


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[austin]

Honda CB500X ?

 

[MooN]

I've had my 650 Transalp for about 7 years, and 40,000 odd miles.
What would you suggest as a suitable, up-to-date, successor?
A new Africa Twin would be exceedingly nice, but, being realistic, I should be looking for something lighter and less tall (and no more than £4-5000).

S'funny, I've been asking myself the exact same question lately ( 'cept I've had my 600 for 16 years and 100,000km). I too would lurve a new affy twin but at 12,000€ that ain't going to happen. I've been looking at XRV 750's, BMW F800 GS, possibly an XTZ660 Tenere which I like the esthetics of but would like to try cos I've never ridden a mono and I expect that it's an aquired taste... or possibly a KTM 990 adventure?

 

[hotbulb]

A sort of provisional shortlist would be Weestrom, NC700/750, CB500x (and possibly Tiger800, BMWf700/800, but maybe too salty). But I like V twins, and for nostalgia's sake I'm half-tempted by a MotoGuzzi V7. (XRV 750 @ is ruled out, I think, by my short legs, otherwise it would be high on the list ..... same goes for the Tenere, and all KTM's ).

 

[MooN]

A sort of provisional shortlist would be Weestrom, NC700/750, CB500x (and possibly Tiger800, BMWf700/800, but maybe too salty). But I like V twins, and for nostalgia's sake I'm half-tempted by a MotoGuzzi V7. (XRV 750 @ is ruled out, I think, by my short legs, otherwise it would be high on the list ..... same goes for the Tenere, and all KTM's ).

Oooh yes, I hadn't thought of the NC7oo. (Don't like the NC700X version though, esthetically speaking.) Might be a bit small for me though as I have the opposite problem to yourself in that I'm 6footplus so am drawn to the taller bikes.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

I guess we're spoilt for choice at the moment.
Theres everything from budget soft-roaders to sportier stuff with a slight styling nod to the adventure market to full on rufty tufty bikes.

Find something that you fancy and within budget & go for it.
But then do you get a new cb500x or a 8yr old KTM or a 4yr old Tiger. Choices choices [emoji3]

 

[Jon davies]

Find a fully tricked out vstrom 650 XT for not much money. Makes me cry having bought mine new.... I have knobblies on mine and provided you don't want to ride it like a 2 smoke enduros it will pull through most green lanes.

If your handy with the spanners I would get a low mile cb500 and a rally raid kit. I rode one (around a car park effectively) but it felt right somehow.

 

[Buggles]

I'm not too up to speed on used bike prices in the UK, but my shortlist would be:

Tiger 800 XC (good value for money, as these tend to come with lots of farkles)
BWM F800 GS (less farkly from factory, so you may have to spend on that)

Both can be lowered if need be.

If you want to spend a little less and have some money left over for farkles or a trip, try the F650 GS (the old single cylinder one), same power as your old TA, bullet proof and nice to ride.

VStrom is a very nice bike, but I've always found it a bit too middle-of-the-road. It does everything well, but just doesn't make me grin in the way the Triumph or BWM does.

If you don't take it offroad, the Kawasaki Versys is supposed to be a very nice bike, I've never ridden one, so can't comment on it myself.

Whatever you choose, enjoy the hell out of it!

JB

 

[hotbulb]

Thanks, all for your suggestions. I should have updated this a couple of months ago - I tried an NC750X , and didn't particularly like the handling (17 inch front wheel too small for my wobbly sense of ba;ance, perhaps?) although it went well (until I hit the rev limiter!). I then tried a VStrom 650 (not the XT) which seemed to fit like a glove......so much so that I put a deposit down there & then, and didn't test other bikes.
And I'm still very happy with the "Glee" - and particularly its frugality - last Thursday i bimbled around mid-Wales for about 180 miles, with the MPG meter showing 71mpg.

 

[Mikey]

last Thursday i bimbled around mid-Wales for about 180 miles, with the MPG meter showing 71mpg.

You do know how the right twist grip works do you?

 

[hotbulb]

You do know how the right twist grip works do you?

Oh yes! ... I was helped because it seems to be downhill all the way from Llandovery to Cardiff

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

You do know how the right twist grip works do you?

Don't knock it Mike, 70 odd mpg is easy enough with a little moderation [emoji2]

 

[Mikey]

Don't knock it Mike, 70 odd mpg is easy enough with a little moderation [emoji2]

Ha, how would you know ?

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Don't knock it Mike, 70 odd mpg is easy enough with a little moderation [emoji2]

Ha, how would you know ?

I read it somewhere!

I did deliberately run it out once and got 320 miles on 20ltr @ 72mpg but you don't get much warning when an fi bike runs out of fuel which makes the whole process a bit scary and potentially dangerous! I wouldn't recommend it.

That figure drops more and more you use the throttle, giving a low of ~44 mpg at sustained ~ 3 figure speeds on the autobahn. It used more fuel than a thirsty fireblade lol

 

[Mikey]

I read it somewhere!

I did deliberately run it out once and got 320 miles on 20ltr @ 72mpg but you don't get much warning when an fi bike runs out of fuel which makes the whole process a bit scary and potentially dangerous! I wouldn't recommend it.

That figure drops more and more you use the throttle, giving a low of ~44 mpg at sustained ~ 3 figure speeds on the autobahn. It used more fuel than a thirsty fireblade lol

I know what you mean. I had a V6 three litre Peugeot and I once got 39mpg out of it on a run. It was sooooooooo boring.

I once dropped the fuel consumption on a ZX12 to under 30. That wasn't boring

 

[hotbulb]

I admit I wasn't pushing it last Thursday, but still "making progress". Consumption seems to be at its best at 60-70mph, and worst around town (with a cold engine)..... as I'd expect. But I AM impressed - it's about 10 mpg better than the late, lamented, TA650 (averaged using Fuelly) despite the fact that I seem to be covering ground more quickly, the 'Strom having rather more ooomph and (in my mind at least) cornering rather faster.
(Much better than my old Series 11A Landrover - could drop below 15mpg, and no better than 20mpg on a (very) good day )