Honda’s mid-weight adventure bike, the XL750 Transalp, has been given a facelift for 2025, including a new headlight inspired by its big brother, the Africa Twin.
That’s right, just two years after the Transalp was revived from Honda’s back catalogue, the manufacturer has decided to sharpen up its styling, and the bike looks all the better for it.
Gone is the old, rather anonymous headlight that made the Transalp resemble Honda’s workhorse, the CB500X, and in its place is a new twin LED projector light resembling the one found on the mighty Africa Twin.
The bike’s facelift is completed by tweaks to the upper fairing and a new windscreen featuring an intake duct, all of which has been designed to improve airflow around the rider’s helmet and body.
What else is new on the XL750 Transalp?
Behind that revised fairing you’ll find a new 5″ TFT colour display. Its menus are navigated using updated switchgear, including a new backlit five-way toggle switch on the left bar.
That TFT can connect to a phone and display turn-by-turn navigation directions as well as allowing you to select music and make calls if you’re also connected to a Bluetooth headset.
However, the technological improvement don’t extend to the introduction of cruise control on the Transalp, which is a real shame on a bike that is otherwise so capable of covering long distances in comfort.
Improved suspension
Honda has also opted to tweak the Transalp’s suspension for 2025, with damping made slightly softer in both compression and preload on the non-adjustable Showa USD fork, and firmer at the rear shock, which is adjustable for preload.
A soft rear end was a particular issue on the previous model. The bike would struggle to hold a line when pushed hard into turns with the rear weighed down by luggage, so it’s good to see Honda tackling the issue.
You still get a respectable 200mm worth of suspension at the front and 190mm at the rear, which is more than enough for a spot of greenlaning here in the UK.
Winning formula
Elsewhere, the bike remains much the same, which is no bad thing when you consider how capable an adventure tourer the XL750 Transalp is, aided by a 16.9l fuel tank.
Honda hasn’t made any changes to the bike’s joyously perky 755cc parallel twin engine with a 270-degree crank which still makes 90bhp at 9,500rpm and 75Nm of torque at 7,250rpm.
There remain five rider modes to choose from, Sport, Standard, Rain, Gravel, and a customisable User option, which all change the characteristics of the bike’s power delivery, engine braking, and more.
For those of you who like nothing better than fiddling with a bike’s settings, you can choose from four levels of engine power, three levels of engine braking, and five-stage traction control.
Trail friendly
The wheels are carried over from the previous model, with the Transalp sporting a trail friendly 21″ stainless steel spoked front and 18″ rear wheel set up, although it’s disappointing to see they still require tubes in the Metzeler Karoo Street or Dunlop Mixtour tyres. Quick plugs of a puncture by the side of the road won’t be possible so you’ll need to be a dab hand with a set of tyre levers.
The brakes also remain the same, with two-piston 310mm floating double discs at the front and a single piston caliper 256mm disc at the rear.
Muddy waters
You can choose to buy your 2025 Transalp in Pearl White, Graphite Black, or Pearl Mud Deep Grey, the latter perhaps being the least enticing name for a motorcycle colour in history, but it actually looks very slick.
As ever, you’ll be able to raid the Honda catalogue to adorn your XL750 with accessories, including new waterproof soft luggage, a 20mm thicker comfort seat, a taller screen, fog lights, and windscreen deflectors.
There is no news on a price yet for the 2025 Transalp but as been as the previous model was one of the most competitively priced mid-sized adventure bikes around, you can expect the 2025 bike to offer great value for money. If Honda can keep it under £10,000, the new Transalp will remain a bargain.
Test ride all the latest bikes at the ABR Festival 2025
Do you want to test ride all the latest adventure, touring, and trail bikes in one magnificent location? Well, that’s exactly what you can do at the 2025 ABR Festival.
That’s right, the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers will gather at the Ragley Hall Estate in Warwickshire from 27-29 June with their entire test fleets ready and waiting to be ridden.
So, if you want to compare a GS to an Africa Twin, a Gold Wing to a Road Glide, or a Desert X to a Ténéré 700, come and join us for the greatest celebration of motorcycling ever held.
Get your tickets before November 15 and you’ll save £40 on the price of a weekend ticket, so don’t hang around.
You can find out more about the ABR Festival and buy your tickets HERE.
