Honda Transalp XL600V

This page applies most directly to the 1989-1990 US-spec Honda Transalp. See http://www.ta-deti.de/ta/ for thorough technical information on all Transalp models.

Consumables

Spark Plugs

NGK

These part numbers come from the NGK parts finder for the 1989-1990 XL600V:

• Standard p/n DPR8EA-9, stock no. 4929, gap 0.035" ($2.24 from Amazon.com)
• Iridium p/n DPR8EIX-9, stock no. 2202, gap 0.035" ($7.32 from Amazon.com)

Modifications

Africa Twin Parts

Many parts from the XRV750 (RD04) and XRV650 (RD03) Africa Twins are interchangeable with the Transalp. This page (Japanese) has a full history of the Africa Twin.

Fuel Tank

RD03 and RD04 fuel tanks (identical other than color scheme) fit the Transalp frame. According to this page, "the left AT petcock is the same as the petcock for a 1990 NT650 Honda Hawk" ($55 at BikeBandit.com).

Interference

The RD03/RD04 tank's petcocks may interfere with the Transalp engine.

Blackbert says that the right-hand petcock hits the clutch cable mount, and the left-hand petcock hits the coolant line. The right petcock is larger due to a drain plug, so swapping it fixes the clearance problem on the right-hand side, but leaves the left side unfixed.

Support Bracket

Ladder106 replies that the Africa Twin tank requires a support, which is shown here.

This item may be listed on ebay as "Verkleidungshalter" (translates as "Fairing bracket"). Currently, I don't know if this is different from "Kühlerhalter" ("cooler holder") which certainly appears to be identical.

It appears in the XRV650K microfiche as

XRV650K "PIPE COMP., COWL MOUNTING" 64209-MS8-000

Fuel Pump

The Africa Twin tank needs a fuel pump in order to pump the last few gallons.

Stock Africa Twin

The Africa Twin's OEM fuel pump is electric, and it's prone to failure due to internal electrical contacts which arc and destroy themselves. The pump itself can be hardwired and controlled by an external relay, which prevents the arcing problem.

Substitute Pumps

Many people run vacuum-operated fuel pumps.

Another alternative is an electric fuel pump from Spruce Aircraft and Supply.

Swingarm

The Africa Twin has an aluminum swingarm which is is longer than the steel Transalp swingarm. It can be fitting with relatively few problems. Notably, the drum brake stopper has to be ground to fit the Africa Twin swingarm (assuming an Africa Twin disc rear wheel hasn't been used as well), and a 124 link chain is needed.

• Translated "Transalp with Africa Twin swingarm" (from transalp.de).

Interchangeability

These parts diagrams indicate the compatibility of many of the swingarm parts between the Transalp and the RD04 Africa Twin. Green indicates that the part numbers are the same, while red indicates that the parts differ. Yellow indicates that the part numbers are different, but the parts may be compatible nonetheless.

Suspension

Rear

Works Performance

The Works Performance Catalog provides detailed specifications on the stock Transalp rear shock (source):

Make/Model	Years	NO.	OAL	STK	SPRING	Duracross		Ultracross Adj. Damping
						STD	REZ	REB
XL 600V	1989	Un	14.69	Y	SRS	569	619	749

Legend:

• NO.: Pr for pair, Un for Unit (i.e. single shock)
• OAL: Over-all length (unstressed, bolt-center to bolt-center)
• STK: Stock size (Y=Yes, S=Short, L=Long, WS=Works Stock)
• SPRINGS: Single Rate (SRS), Dual Rate (DRS), Triple Rate (TRS)
• STD: Standard shocks without reservoir
• REZ: Hose mounted remote reservoir
• ADJ Ultracross: Rebound adjustable with reservoir.

So, the shock is sold as a single unit, it's 14.69 inches long, which is stock length, it's a single-rate spring, and it's available as standard, with a reservoir, or with both adjustable rebound damping and a remote reservoir.

Brakes

Stock

The US-spec 1989 through 1992 Honda Transalps use a rigid rotor which is 276mm in diameter. The brake caliper is a floating, twin-piston unit.

Upgrades

Kits

Lenac

• This thread (transalp.org) discusses the Lenac Big Brake Kit.

DIY

Rotors for Transalps

No upgraded rotors appear to be available for US Transalps. Rotors intended for some other bikes may work, however. In Europe, various brake upgrade kits have been sold.

NT650 Hawk

The Honda NT650 Hawk uses the same bolt pattern as the Transalp. The stock rotor is a solid (non-floating) 316mm rotor (this page has excellent Hawk information), and this is probably the most common braking upgrade performed on Transalps.

Several companies produce stock-size Hawk rotors:

• EBC MD1021LS

  

  • Listed in the EBC catalog as an 'S/F' type, meaning floating conversion for solid rotors.
  • Same as 1991-2003 CB750 Nighthawk, 1994-2003 VF750C Magna, 1991-2002 ST1100, 1995 ST1100A.
• Braking HO26FLD ('wave' or 'petal' style rotor)

  

Since the diameter of the rotor is larger, a new brake caliper spacer is needed. This can be custom machined, or presumably the "Lenac" spacer can be obtained.

MAP Engineering

MAP Engineering used to produce an oversized rotor and caliper spacer kit for the Transalp. This has been discontinued. When contacted, they replied that they may be able to provide the oversize rotor (which is likely a Hawk rotor), but without the caliper spacer this isn't useful.

XR650L

The XR650L uses a different bolt pattern (four bolt instead of five, I believe), so aftermarket rotors for it cannot be used on the Transalp.

Caliper Spacer

With the larger diameter disc, a new spacer must be used to move the Transalp's brake caliper outward.

This thread (advrider.com) mentions a guy making a spacer so you can use a stock Hawk rotor (316mm) on the TA (276mm stock).

Anyway- potential very good news- I asked the guy who built a brake 
kit for Honda Hawks (a 6 piston caliper and GSXr rotor- works great- 
I have one on my Hawk) to look at a potential TA solution. He designed 
and built a bracket that relocates the stock TA caliper so that you 
can use a stock Hawk rotor which is larger (and I think a little 
thicker) than the stock TA rotor. Combined with steel braided lines 
and HH pads (which he thinks might not even be necessary) this should 
provide a relatively inexpensive upgrade to the TA.

I should be doing this in the next month or so and will let you all 
know how it works. Keep fingers crossed

This thread (advrider.com) mentions the Hawk rotor again.

Stainless brake line is a good investment. Speigler, and Galfer both offer
one. Maybe others. The trick brake upgrade is get a used rotor from 88-91
NT650 Hawk. Same bolt pattern but 40mm bigger diameter. Then you have to
machine an adapter to offset the caliper. I'm working on this now.

Also:

Steve (Fast By Big Boy) Lenac (bigboy11@sigmaweb.net) has (or will
shortly have) the full kits for this. I have one on mine (shown in 
the "show me" thread) and it makes a difference.

Sources and Prices

EBC MD1021LS
$168.95	MAW
$174	Ron Ayers
$179	AZ Motorsports
Braking (wave) HO26FLD (that's ho, not h-zero)
$186.95 ($200.36 w/S/H)	Streetbike Accessory Warehouse
$203.88	Motorcycleproshop
$212	Cyclepages
$214.95	AZ Motorsports
Galfer (stainless) DF022 (022)
$185.35	AZ Motorsports

Exhaust

GSXR-1000

According to this thread (advrider.com), 2001 - 2004 GSXR1000 mufflers are a relatively easy add-on.

Not quite a direct bolt-on but close. I got two 15° bend stainless steel tubes from Burns Stainless and rotated them until I got the right angle. Then I made the flange to bolt on the muffler. I attached the muffler and then tacked the flange and the two sections in place. I'm not a welder so you won't see a close-up shot. I originally had a GSXR1000 muffler on because it was titanium. But when I put the bags and mounts on, the muffler was too big and in the way. So I swapped it out for a 750 or 600 unit, shorter but not titanium. Fortunately, it weighs the same due to the shorter length.

Electrical

Battery

YTX14AH-BS

According to this thread, the stock lead-acid battery, YB12A-B, can be replaced with a sealed lead-acid battery, YTX14AH-BS. The only modification necessary is to remove the battery insulator sleeve.

NT650

The same thread indicates that the sealed battery specified for a Hawk NT650V can be used on the Transalp, but it requires a 1/8" shim underneath and possible cutting of the battery sleeve.

Repair

Fuel

Petcock Diaphragm

The petcock diaphragm develops a leak and cuts off fuel to the engine. This is a common problem. K&L sells a diaphragm repair kit. It's available here and other places as well (presumably the K&L part number is 18-2701).

Also note that the vacuum line running from the cylinder head to the petcock diaphragm (vacuum side) can develop a leak, leading to backfiring.

Accessories

Luggage

Racks

• Happy Trails makes aluminum panniers and steel luggage racks. Their mounting kits are also usable with GIVI and Pelican cases.
• GIVI offers topcase adapters which replace the plate on the Transalp's rear carrier. They also produce crashbars.
  • The E200 Monorack plate is available for 1988-1996 applications (note that the E211 may also be listed, but is for 1997-1998 applications):
    • Midwest Cycle Supply
    • AZ Motorsports
    • Happy Trails

Crashbars

• The TN363 crash bars are available from AZ Motorsports and Happy Trail. Mounting these to a US-spec Transalp requires longer bolts across the front and minor trimming of the bike's plastic radiator guard.

Misc

• African Queens sells hard-core accessories.

Resources

• The great "Show us your TransAlp modifications" thread on ADVrider.com.
• "Transalp Transformation" on ADVrider.com (90k mile Transalp gets XR-L forks, a 30mm rear spacer, a custom dash, and ProTaper bars).
• Jeff Stoess's Transalp to AfricaTwin 'conversion' thread. Uses XR600 forks, a 30mm rear spacer, and Africa Twin tank, headlights, and body parts.
• Modifications thread on Transalp.org.