Peanut's Transalp XL650V

Well, I upgraded early, but what an upgrade it is!






A huge thanks to everyone who gave me advice and helped me realise that going to a 250 would not have been enough. This way I get more than five times the displacement, and almost four times the power. It feels like a real bike and a my size and kind of bike!

On Wednesday I drove to Nowra where Jdeks met me with this Honda Transalp XL650V and his other bike. We looked at and talked about the bike for a bit, then we went for a short test loop just to see how the position and the bike felt for me. It felt great.

We talked a bit more, looked at a few more corners and went for a long test ride through Nowra and down to Jervis bay. A bit of the city, a bit of the highway, and a bit of twisties. The bike felt good in all of those situations. Quite different, with some quirks, but very much the sort of bike I could ride for a very long time.

The first impressions were that the position and seat were roomy and comfortable. The bike was tall. I could reach the ground comfortably. I didn't have to stretch too far, but I didn't have to bend my leg either. The torque started quite low and revved out quite high. The aging tyres were still quite grippy and I could see how road tyres would make things even more fun. The brakes were solid.

After a bit more talking and looking over, I was a very happy owner of a Transalp. It is now mandatory for me to wear facial hair and speak with a European accent.

There ride back to Canberra took me up through Kangaroo Valley. The pavement was wet from rain earlier in the day and I was still getting used to the bike, so I took things very easy and cruised at a sedate pace up and down the hills through the twisties, but it was still a lot of fun! The flat cruise on the tablelands was incredibly cold, but the heated grips were amazing!

The bike was very happy on the highway sitting at the speed limit and just chugging along. It was refreshing to have all that extra power in reserve if I needed it. Hypothetically, if one wanted to accelerate uphill from there, one could with ease

So, I got a bike that's decent around town, great on the highway, and fun in the twisties. What more could one possibly want?

Now its just a matter of getting a blue slip, a green slip, rego, and insurance sorted out and then riding, riding and riding...

 

Congrats Peanut, glad to here your happy and that you can now go more than 60kms up a hill

 

Congrats on the new bike and enjoy.

 

ahh, nice job, that bike will really take you places and then some.

 

Very nice!
Now you need some nice wide 17" wheels with semislicks!

 

Not to mention the ability to scratch around a dirt track or 2

 

Alex that bike should serve you well for a long time. Nice pick up.

 

Looks like the perfect machine to start adventuring on - nice purchase

 

WHOO HOO!! HOW EXCITING!! Now you'll have to start leading the rides!

 

I'm not sure about congratulating a bloke on hooking up with a Tranny, but in your case, I'll make an exception.

Well done mate

 

Well, will surely be a bit of a different ride to the CBR

Hope you enjoy your purchase!

 

Totally sweet bike! glad you are happy with it. I know Jdeks enjoyed riding it all over the place, and I hope you do too!

 

Blue slip: done!
Green slip: done!
Rego: done!
All that's left is to attach the new licence plate (and kick the genius who decided that NSW plates should not have narrow holes in the nuts :kicknutz! and it will be ready for its new photos shoot. (Fine and cloudy tomorrow = perfect photo weather, now to think of a suitable location )

 

Excellent pick up. Should last you quite a few years.:thumbsup:

 

Awesome dude! They're as great bike

 

Congratulations Peanut - many years of biking pleasure ahead of you with this beauty.

 

cool nice pick up now all it NEEDS it to lose the top box it spoils a great bike

 

Nice pick up Peanut

Dad's got one and loves it, he tours on and off road on it regularly and it's a great all rounder The top box is not so bad and it's functional, but I reckon a staintune would really tidy up that funny looking blob of stock exhaust.

Congrats

 

Yes, it looks a bit dorky... I'll take it off for show off riding, but oh the practicality: taking books to uni, picking up stuff at the shops, carrying rain gear and a clear visor, stashing a few more tools and spare P-plates... It is a very capable but sedate bike... The prioritising of function over form makes it beautiful...

:heart