Your Alaska Steed – 1989 Honda Transalp

In Dual-Sport, Japan, Less than 5k by Ted CloughLeave a Comment

Need a bike for a long trip? It needs to be reliable, comfy, and not too complicated to fix if it needs work in some far-away place. Here’s your bike. It is a 1989 Honda XL600V Transalp. While it was common in Europe for many years, not that many were sold in the US. It is a 600cc V-twin that put out approximately 50hp. With a large fairing reminiscent of Dakar bikes of the era, and its 17″ rear/ 21″ front wheel setup, it was a capable dual-sport tourer.

This bike has decent crash protection, a Corbin seat, and some very utilitarian, possibly homemade panniers. Mileage is 40K, but the owner claims to be a responsible adult, so it should have been maintained along the way.

If you have an adventure trip planned and need a steed, this could be an affordable starting point. You can find this Transalp for sale here on Craigslist in Readyville, Tennessee for $2,500.