Honda XL750 Transalp (2025) Review

If it doesn’t seem very long ago that Honda released its revived Transalp into the wild, it’s because it wasn’t! However, Honda isn't resting on its laurels and has just released its updated 2025 XL750 Transalp.

The update is a wide-reaching one, covering the bike’s electronics and technology, chassis and styling. To get to grips with the changes, Honda whisked me off to Portugal, for a wet and wild, and then thankfully sunny, press ride. We completed around 70 miles on the new bike, riding mixed A and B-roads and also a short off-road section.

What’s new with the 2025 XL750 Transalp

The first and most obvious change is the styling, with Honda ditching the CB500F-a-like headlight in favour of a more aggressive twin-LED setup. Joining the new front end are new graphics, with bolder ‘Transalp’ wording, and a couple of new colours; Graphite Black and Deep Mud Gray which are available alongside the traditional ‘Tricolour’ model. A new item on the bike is the screen which now features a centrally-located vent to reduce turbulence while the screen is also made from a material called Durabio, which is a bit like a biologically derived plastic.

The rest of the Transalp’s changes are beneath the skin, with the suspension of the bike now tuned for more responsive handling. The Showa front fork features slightly less compression and rebound damping, while the rear shock features an increase in compression and rebound damping meaning less squat and better control when fully loaded. Suspension travel at both ends remains the same (200mm front, 190mm rear) while ground clearance is still 210mm.

Other changes for 2025 include a new TFT, which is a similar size and shape to the previous item, although new layouts and themes make it easier to live with when riding. Joining the TFT is new switchgear which is borrowed from the new CB750 Hornet (and shared with the 2025 NC750X) which is smaller and neater than the system found on the previous bike. The final tech’ updates are a larger distinction between the riding mores and minor tweaks to the engine’s fuel injection system - power remains 90.5bhp while torque is still 55lb ft.

Price and rivals

What isn’t changing, much, is the price. The new Transalp is still a sub-£10k machine thanks to its price of £9,749. That makes it £1,000 more than the outgoing model - which will still be on sale into 2025 and may see price reductions - but on balance with the changes made and the economic climate, it’s not a huge increase.

More importantly, the price keeps the XL750 competitive with the pack, under-cutting the £10,400 Yamaha Tenere 700, £9,999 KTM 790 Adventure, and £9,995 BMW F800 GS. Going by 2025 prices only, only the base model Suzuki V-Strom 800 RE betters the Transalp’s price, costing £9,699.

What’s it like to ride

After a morning spent testing the new 2025 NC750X, our afternoon was spent riding mostly on the road with a short off-road section lined up for us later in the day. Before we could get there though we had a few miles of very twisty mountain roads to enjoy. I said in my 2023 review of the original Transalp that I thought it was the best handling mid-weight ADV for on-road riding, thanks to its lightweight, balanced centre of gravity and plush suspension. That hasn't changed for 2025, in fact, the new bike is even better.

The suspension changes made for 2025 don’t sound like huge updates, but the tweaks made, particularly to the rear shock, make a big difference to the handling with it feeling quicker steering than before. The bike now sits more on its nose, meaning it tips into corners faster than before. It’s also more composed at the corner exit, holding a tighter line thanks to the reduction in squat that helps the front tyre maintain a foothold on the road. The front fork is also helping the handling, with the new softer settings meaning more consistent brake dive which helps to shorten the bike’s wheelbase on corner entry, increasing the bike’s agility.

Another change to the bike is the tweaked fuel injection system, which has had the knock-on effect of smoothing out the throttle connection. I was critical of the 2023 Transalp for having a snatchy throttle but I can confirm the system is much smoother and slicker for 2025. One thing I couldn’t pick up on was the extra distinction between the riding modes Honda had mentioned. There’s still an obvious uplift in performance when moving through from Rain to Sport, but I can’t hand on heart say the gap between each mode was any bigger or more distinct than before.

The rest of the bike’s handling and dynamics on the road are just as good as before. It feels super light, and very agile, and thanks to a roomy cockpit and spacious lower-body ergonomics, it is extremely comfortable whether cruising, touring, or hammering up a mountain road. It’s also just as accessible as before, with its 850mm seat and 210kg kerb weight, combined with its surefooted handling, meaning it feels like an ideal choice for all riders.

The new switchgear is much neater than before, and with summer riding gloves on I’m having no issues flicking through the modes of changing more complex settings in the TFT. I’m not sure if that would be the same when wearing thick winter riding gloves through. I like the new TFT too, and despite being basically the same size and shape as the previous bike’s system, the new themes and visuals make it a bit easier to find the information I need at a glance. It’s also optically bonded now, meaning that glare is less of an issue. The bike also has the optional quickshifter fitted which works faultlessly, mixing the revs nicely up and down the gearbox and at a variety of road speeds.

How is the off-road handling

It was a taster of an off-road ride on the new bike, but it perfectly highlights how Honda is pitching its mid-weight ADV. It’s a road-focused adventure tourer, with light off-road ability. With that in mind, it wasn’t the most technical stretch or dirt in southwest Portugal, but the wide, fast, and flowing fire trail did at least play to the bike’s highlights.

It’s still perfectly adept in this environment, offering you a balanced and compliant base to get to where you need to go. The now softer front end helped with soaking up any larger bumps, and the composure through the length of the front suspension travel made downhill braking a little less frantic. What I found from riding our short off-road section is that the updates to the suspension haven’t made the new Transalp any worse off-road, but they don’t make it dynamically any better either. It’s still nowhere near as focused in this environment as some of the competition, and its ABS and traction control (both of which are switchable) still hold the bike back and stop you from having fun. That said, when taking the Transalp as Honda has pitched it, it’s an honest enough bike in that it can be taken off-road and it will get you to where you are going. And some supposed adventure bikes in the mid-weight segment aren’t as accomplished as that.

Should you buy the 2025 Honda Transalp

The 2025 update to the Transalp is a case of Honda looking at lots of areas of the bike and making minor adjustments but only where they are needed. Granted the styling might not be to everyone’s liking (going by social media comments alone) although the dynamic difference in the handling should be enough to grab any current owner’s attention.

It’s still a fantastically nice bike to ride, and the on-road handling is still its standout feature. The engine is versatile, characterful, and punchy and while the electronics aren’t the most advanced when it comes to off-road riding, they perform faultlessly on the road which is where most Transalps spend most of their time. Add to that high levels of comfort, room for two people and plenty of luggage and accessory options and the XL750 still looks like the thinking rider’s mid-weight adventure tourer.

More information can be found on the official website.

2025 Honda XL750 Transalp specs