Australia’s rugged landscapes are no strangers to tough adventure machines, and the return of the Honda Transalp XL750 is already stirring excitement across the continent.
Reimagined for modern adventure riders, the midweight dual-sport machine is being put through its paces on Aussie dirt, gravel, and twisty backroads — and early impressions suggest it may just be the versatile trail companion many have been waiting for.
A Name with Legacy, Rebuilt for Today
First introduced in the late 1980s, the Transalp carved a niche for itself as a capable mid-range ADV (adventure) bike with a reputation for reliability and comfort. The 2025 Honda Transalp XL750 revives that spirit with a modern edge — and Australian riders are already lining up to see if it can hold up to the country’s unique off-road demands.
Built around Honda’s 755cc parallel-twin engine, shared with the Hornet 750, the new Transalp is no powerhouse by spec sheet standards, but what it lacks in outright numbers, it aims to make up for with balanced performance, user-friendly ergonomics, and genuine adventure-readiness.
Taking on the Trails – First Aussie Impressions
The Transalp’s debut on Australian soil has been met with cautious optimism. Trail testers in regions like the Blue Mountains, Victoria’s high country, and outback New South Wales have taken the bike on everything from sealed roads to loose gravel fire trails. The feedback? It’s a smooth, confidence-inspiring ride that welcomes both beginners and seasoned off-roaders.
The bike’s 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup with long-travel suspension has been praised for its ability to soak up ruts and rocks without overwhelming riders. Its off-road settings, accessible seat height, and switchable ABS make it friendly for bush bashing, yet it retains enough road manners for comfortable tarmac cruising.
That versatility has been key to its reception. As one Sydney-based rider put it after a weekend ride through the Snowy Mountains, “The Transalp doesn’t try to be the fastest or the flashiest, but it’s the kind of bike that just gets the job done. You forget about the spec sheet and focus on the ride.”
A Midweight Segment Challenger?
In Australia’s crowded adventure bike market, the Transalp XL750 finds itself up against rivals like Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, KTM’s 790 Adventure, and even Honda’s own Africa Twin. Each of these models brings a distinct flavour — the Ténéré with its rally DNA, the KTM with its aggressive tech, and the Africa Twin with its big-bike confidence.
Where the Transalp hopes to win riders is in approachability and real-world usability. With a kerb weight around 208 kg and a manageable power delivery, it’s drawing interest from those who find bigger bikes too intimidating and smaller ones underpowered for long-haul trips.
Still, it’s not without limitations. The lack of tubeless tyres, basic electronics package, and a relatively modest fuel tank (17 litres) have raised some eyebrows, especially for those planning cross-country tours. But Honda seems to be betting on simplicity — and in the Aussie bush, that could be a winning formula.
Adventure Touring with Aussie Flair
Perhaps what makes the Transalp XL750 especially suited to Australia is how it feels right at home on the mixed terrain many riders encounter. Whether it’s weekend getaways through the Grampians or spontaneous off-road detours in the Flinders Ranges, the bike seems purpose-built for exploration without excess.
Importantly, it’s also tapping into a growing demographic — mid-career adventurers and newcomers alike who want something more than a commuter but less than a full-size ADV behemoth. For many, the Transalp could be a bridge between dirt tracks and daily riding, with just enough grunt and grit to justify the name it carries.
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Final Word
The Honda Transalp XL750 may not be the loudest or boldest arrival on the Aussie ADV scene, but it’s carving out a lane that makes a lot of sense. As riders continue to push it through the unforgiving trails and endless highways of the Australian landscape, it seems the bike is steadily earning its stripes.
In a country where reliability, comfort, and adaptability matter more than flashy horsepower figures, the new Transalp might just be the quiet achiever the adventure crowd didn’t know it needed — until now.
