Between the Atlas and the desert
From the Atlas Mountains to the dunes of Merzouga, we live a real adventure that allows us to understand the true philosophy of the Honda Transalp 2025. I have not come to the desert to ride a camel for the photo, but to devour kilometers on a trip that combines a 70% asphalt with 30% tracks of all fur. The idea is clear: experience the Transalp through the mountains and into the desert to see if Honda’s “halo of quality” is enough to position itself in today’s competitive market.
We are going to push the bike much further to the limit than we have already done in testing.
The objective of this test is not only to analyze whether the motorcycle complies on a day-to-day basis, but to subject it to the concept of multi-day trail adventure: trips with load, certainly aggressive driving in offroad and ability to travel long distances in any case. It is in this scenario where a motorcycle with a reputation for being balanced and versatile can demonstrate if its versatility is real or if it is simply another shot in the chaotic battle of the trail panorama.
The Test: Motomorocco Discovery Edition
Following the trip itinerary Motomorocco: Discovery Editionwe face an eight-day circular route starting and ending in Tangier. According to the organization, we travel through 1,800 kilometers that take us from the cedar forests of Azrou to the remote mines of Aouli, crossing the Atlas through passes that exceed 3,000 meters in altitude. It is an adventure trip with extensive stages, designed for medium and large displacement motorcycles with off-road capabilities.
The terrain is varied but affordable: 30% offroad composed of medium-easy level tracks, practically without sand, which allows you to focus on traction and the behavior of the suspensions on loose stone. The star stage took us to cross the Saghro mountains for 64 kilometers of winding tracks, an ideal setting for the Transalp to demonstrate its worth in landscapes of pure nature and adventure.
After leaving behind the canyons of Er-Rich and the dunes of Erfoud, the route returns towards civilization passing the waterfalls of Ouzoud and the capital, Rabat. It is a route that requires absolute versatility: from sustained speed on the highway to the necessary maneuverability in towns. amazigh isolated mountain. All this, supported by a support team, but leaving the responsibility of taking us to a successful conclusion in the hands of the motorcycle.
The Motorcycle: Honda Transalp 2025
The engine is the well-known Unicam twin-cylinder 755ccwhich yields 91 hp (67.5 kW) and a couple of 75Nm. My opinion is that, although it inherits the character of the Hornet and likes to turn high revs, Honda has achieved a low delivery. extremely smooth and predictablevital to avoid getting into trouble on broken tracks. It is an economical engine that only consumes a little more than 4 liters per 100 kmand with a Quickshifter —although optional—that works as gently as butter is spread on hot toast.
Regarding the cycle part, the great novelty of 2025 is the new suspension setting Showa (and not Kayaba, as I said by mistake at some point in the video), now firmer to avoid rocking. The 43mm fork (200mm travel) and shock with Pro-Link (190mm travel) are, for my taste, very progressive; Despite my 100 kg, I have not reached the limit more than once that I remember, thanks to the firmness and progressiveness that appears when you support hard.
The front wheel of 21 inches It is a great ally in the field, without penalizing excessively on asphalt. The brakes are completed with 310 mm discs at the front and two-piston axially mounted calipers, which provide fantastic feel and progressiveness for very well-sized braking. The rear brake has a 256 mm disc with a single-piston caliper.
The motorcycle weighs 210 kg in running ordera very contained weight that makes it feel light and reactive to any mistake. It has a wheelbase of 1,560 mm, which gives it long bike stability without sacrificing amazing maneuverability. The seat, located at 850mmit is narrow and allows spectacular standing ergonomics, although the stock footpegs are somewhat bare when you remove the rubber, they are sufficient at least.
In the technological section, the new screen 5 inch TFT is legible and functional; The menus are extensive, as Honda is known for, but the structure is intuitive. We have five driving modes (Sport, Standard, Rain, Gravel and User), all very useful, although perhaps the Gravel mode is too intrusive for the real countryside, beyond traveling some easy tracks at a leisurely pace. User mode is actually the most practical when you’ve already gotten on the bike. In addition, it allows you to save two different configurations, so I have used one for offroad and another for road and I have been able to fine-tune exactly how much traction control I wanted in each one or if I wanted to deactivate the ABS on the rear wheel.
Transalp ergonomics
As a big guy 1.86 m and 100 kgthe ergonomics of this Honda seem to me superior and very well thought out. The standing position is spectacular: I only had to move the handlebars forward one point and raise the gear selector to make room for the enduro boots. The seat is narrow, which allows you to hold the motorcycle with your knees when standing, and its 850mm high They make it accessible without slowing down transitions from sitting to standing. The ergonomics of this Transalp is one of those quality points that make the difference with brands that still have a long way to go in the design of the driving position.
Dynamic offroad behavior
On the Saghro slopes, the Transalp has revealed itself as a motorcycle noble, friendly and very capable. What I liked the most is that you don’t need to be a raid pilot to have fun; Flat, compliant low-end power delivery lets you exit loose rocky hairpins without suddenly losing traction. When you find firm ground and open the gas, the engine pulls with a vigor that makes you smile, demonstrating that that “Hornet” character has its place off the asphalt.
Revised Showa suspensions are the key to its performance. They have a very absorbent first phase that “swallows” the embedded stones without you having to choose the line with millimeter precision. The surprising thing is that, even when riding with some joy, the bike maintains its composure and does not transmit dryness to the handlebars, allowing you to ride for kilometers sweating very little and with a feeling of constant control.
The electronics, (configured in my case) in mode Userhas the right complexity (no more). I have traveled most of the time with him ABS offroadwhich allows a slight blocking before acting, and traction control at the lowest level (level 1), which has saved me from some scares without breaking the bank. It is a motorcycle that exceeds expectations in the hands of an average user, being reactive and forgiving of those small errors typical of when fatigue begins to appear after hours on the slopes.
Dynamic behavior on the road
When the asphalt twists in the Atlas passes, the Transalp brings out its agility and balance. I was surprised by how a motorcycle with a 21-inch wheel is thrown from side to side with such ease, inspiring a confidence that allows you to go hard as well as push hard without strange inertia appearing.
The connection between the throttle grip and the rear wheel is masterlywithout jerks or looseness, delivering force like a hammer that pushes constantly. The exquisite touch of the Transalp’s accelerator is a perfect touchstone to understand why Honda remains in a different league from the new brands of Chinese origin.
The engine is a delight for its infinite and usable stretch. You can go in sixth gear relaxed crossing a valley or go down two gears and notice how the two-cylinder howls up while you devour mousetrap curves. Furthermore, the Quickshifter (which came in my unit with the Rally package) is one of the best I’ve tried: it runs incredibly smoothly even at low revs, engaging the gears as if the mechanism were made of cake.
In terms of braking and stability, the 310 mm discs offer a smooth feel. progressive and not surprisingvery much in line with making our lives easier, like everything else in this Transalp. The suspensions, now firmer, prevent the bike from rocking like a boat under heavy braking, maintaining a chassis settlement that allows you to have fun in a very safe way.
In summary, the set is tremendously effective and it is very well sized to enjoy on any secondary road.
The Transalp as a multi-day route
To face a 1,800 km trip like this, the Transalp is proposed as a great route thanks to its general balance. The seat has a firm padding and a shape that prevents early fatigue, something that my buttocks confirm after marathon days. The aerodynamic protection, although the screen seems small, is very successful thanks to the front design that effectively diverts air from the body and helmet.
Another vital factor is that it does not ruin you: consumption has remained below the 4.3 liters per 100 kmwhich, together with the almost 17 liter tank, gives you a range of around 350 km. Details such as the standard carrier, robust and quality, make it much easier to load luggage using octopuses or waterproof bags, although of course, we can buy it with suitcases. Honda has several accessory packages ready according to the intended use, so the bike is ready to be equipped according to the adventure you have in mind.
