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 Conversion

For information on putting Africa Twin parts onto a US-spec Transalp, go to: Honda Transalp and Africa Twin.

Forks

XR600 and XR650L

• This post provides a template for the fuse box holder.

Spring Rates

Putting XR600, XR400, or XR650L forks on a bike as heavy as the Transalp will require stiffer fork springs.

• This post mentions 0.52 kg Eibach springs for a 170 pound rider and 400 pound bike.
• The preceeding post mentions 0.47kg springs.
• This post says 0.52kg springs for a 260 pound rider with good results.
• This post mentions that stock XR600 (?) springs may be only 0.38kg.
• This post says the first two years of XR400s had 0.38kg springs, after which they switched to 0.40kg.
• This post says a tuner calculated 0.54kg/mm to be optimal for road use.

Engine

Hawk NT650 Engine

• This post shows the difference in front exhaust port angles between the Transalp and Hawk engines.

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

M.A.P. Engineering

M.A.P. Engineering lists a 320mm rotor and adapter kit on their website. Last time I talked to them, it had been discontinued, but perhaps it's back.

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)
  • 318mm diameter
    

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.

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/Adapter

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

Sealed Batteries

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.

• Froogle: $66 - $100+

Deka

This post details the Deka ETX15, which fits in the stock Transalp battery cage without the battery sleeve, and has redundant lugs which could be helpful with auxiliary wiring.

• Froogle: $55 - $72

NT650

This post details how a 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.
• Photos of "marathon" and auxiliary tanks.
• Transalp build-up featuring a hand-built exhaust.