Experience with 2000+ Transalp

[al_baylis]

G'day Transalpians,

I am preparing for a RTW starting in late March '08. I plan to cover some 70000 ks over 2 years. Ideally I wanted an older BMW 80/100GS, no luck with tracking one down. Now I just want a bike for the trip (not a big fan of singles - route is australia to europe - more tarmac than dirt). I would very happily get on an Africa Twin, but hens teeth in Aussie.

I have been doing some background reading on the NEW transalp 650 (or I guess were new until the 750). There is a huge following for the old TA, but not much hype surrounding the post 2000 TA.

I would be really keen on hearing from anyone doing a RTW trip on the new (post 2000) TA, or anyone with a high mileage 2003?-2006 TA. Any major issues, things you wished you had done, did you ride on the stock shocks, how many ks on the engine? Maintenance woes?

Would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards

[Keith1954]

G'day Al

I've got one, a 2005 (Oct) model, which I keep across the Ditch from you in New Zealand.

I clocked-up around 18,000 ks last summer, from Dec '06 -to- April '07, around NZ.

Stock shocks - in fact, stock everything. I had absolutely no issues whatsoever regarding maintenance thoughout the whole 18K ride. This is a great dual purpose bike - and wholly reliable.



I'll be back down in the southern hemisphere again in February 2009, at which time I then intend kitting-out the Trannie for long-distance stuff after which I'll ship it across the Tasman to Australia, then go around and through Oz and up to Indonesia; across to Malaysia and then through to the Southeast Asian mainland; then up and around Central Asia and the Sub Continent to the Middle East, then across eastern~~>central~~>western Europe to the UK and home. In other words, I'm gonna ride the bike back to England from NZ ... Sould be quite an adventure !!

So I might very well be following in your tyre tracks, albeit a year later. So keep me/us posted about all your prep and your ride in general. I for one would be very interested indeed to learn and hear about your story.

Good luck Al, you a facing a trip of a lifetime, which is now just around the corner.

Regards

KEITH

[Hä®ski]

Hello Al,

I'm too having new 2007 model without anything changed and its working very well. This summer we drove from Finland to Russia and via southern part of Mongolia to Ulan Bataar, then back to russian side, Chita and from there to Vladivostok. Couple days "vacation" there and then back to Finland. Totalling 10 weeks and around 21000km without any problems at all. My buddy had a Varadero and he lost 2 rear shocks during that trip, 2nd one lasting only 3000km!!! So he drove 7000km back from Chita to Moscow having only working spring...
During last 7 month been driving almost 36000km so its really reliable piece of machinery. Even low octane fuel (76oct or so...) in Mongolia worked well.

Regards,
Hä®ski

We run a couple of 650 Transalps a V3 and V4 both have around 20000 miles each, no issues to mention. Spokes can discolour and become loose and I have heard the steering bearings can fail at lowish mileages.
I am getting ours ready for the Americas next year, when i say getting ready it amounts to a service and renewing brake pads and chain and sprockets.

fuel range is not bad, in touring mode we get 200 miles plus to a tank. MPG is around the 50 mark, they don't use oil. I have uprated the forks with some Racetech emulators which have improved the front end greatly.

I took mine to Iceland earlier this year
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...p-2007-a-28855

Very underated bike.

Steve

[al_baylis]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. The trip to mongolia and now having 36K and no major issues is very heartening. Fantastic photos, both of the TA in NZ and iceland......just magic!

I might add there are quite a few companies selling accessories for the transalp, Crash bars panniers & frames etc.
I would reccomend changing the original sumpguard as it's made of plastic and it leaves the water pump and sump exposed.

Steve